So I have been meaning to get back to Christmas Island for awhile, just have been waiting for the right time to do so. It happened just a week or so ago when some of Emerald Water Anglers best clients escorted me there for a week of saltwater frolic that led us down a path we had been hinted to existed but never to the degree we experienced. For those going to be introduced to bonefish, it is wonderful, plenty of them and they like nearly any fly you put in front of them, I fished at least a dozen different patterns and caught fish on every one.
By the end of day 2, the group had already done the “bone” thing and were ready to take a shot at the big leagues, GT’s! Knowing only from talking with those who have done it elsewhere in the world such as the Seychelles, I came with what I thought was the correct fire power…we all left realizing we needed to step it up next time we pursue this species at this size!
We landed with 10 12wts from various manufacturers all of which had time with a GT in excess of 70 pounds on it. While we only broke one rod and exploded, literally, 1 reel, the time it took to land many of these fish that were closer to 100 pounds was around 1 and a half to 2 hours. This is where next time, it will be 14wts for the sole purpose of landing and releasing these fish in a more timely manner.
The equipment that took the hardest hit were our Airflo lines, just getting shredded on the coral and simply lost at sea with some of these beasts that by the look of them when they took and after landing fish nearing a 100 pounds, they were likely pushing 120 or more! Hooks by Gamakatsu, Owner, Tiemco and others were opened up enough to release fish prematurely or straightened. Amazing to see that!
All in all, we will be going back but more to put one of the daddy GT’s in our hands that got away this trip and I won’t go into the 30-40 pound parrot fish that were not landable in the surf with a 10wt! Brian O’Keefe said it best to me a long time ago when he was talking about fishing Midway before it closed, he said, “I saw GT’s that were so big I didn’t even cast at them. I knew they were unlandable and that was scary!” Seeing a fish in excess of 100+ pounds voraciously take your fly less that 30 feet from you while half a dozen others are swarming around is indeed a bit scary!
After getting over 80 surf perch, I put the new Airflo Bass/Musky line on a reel, stuck it on the ION nine foot 6wt and went to work. Both rod and line performed great landing 6 large mouth bass and 3 carp.
Not only does the rod handle the sinking lines but it also works with the Bass floater.
I feel like Steve Martin in the “Jerk” when he ran down the street yelling that the new phone book was here. Well, THE NEW ION 6WT IS HERE and it is everything I wanted. This journey started almost 4 years ago when Tim Rajeff finally caved in to my request, re: demand, for a 9 foot 6wt based in their ION line of rods. I wanted a rod that was fast so casting sinking lines in the surf was a breeze, good reel seat that would accommodate a large reel foot with good knurling on the lock up rings. Two seasons ago I had a prototype but it was too slow and back to the drawing board we went. He now exceeded my expectations. This is a great rod for the surf, the only one I need now out of the nine I own. Also, if you ever want to have a humbling experience, have Tim call you up to ask “how do you want this rod to preform?”. He listened and this rod is a winner. I fished it this morning, from the first cast in the dark I was in love. In pitch black, well I did have a light on my hat, I caught a large surf perch on the second cast and in total, 45 perch in a hour and a half. Plus 3 snagged shovelnose tossed into the mix so it was mega wide open. I can’t wait to go back out tomorrow…………
The first perch on the second cast. It was dark out there at 6am!
Another toad to hand. When you can lip them, they have size.
This isn’t going to come as any surprise to those of us who use Airflo already but for those wondering if they should and why, here are some thoughts from my end of the rod.
Recently I spent a couple weeks in Honduras at a new lodge and will be going back again in October for another week and while there on the last trip, I spent all my time throwing a 10wt at bones and permit. Not because the bones are that big (even though there are some 10+ ones here) but because in the flurry of packing to leave for the trip, I packed my 8wt tube which didn’t have my 8wt in it! A quick recollection placed it hanging in my garage as I had just been doing some casting lessons with it. Soooo I was left with the 10wt which as it turned out had a broken stripping guide on it! So this is sort of a multi message with things to learn for the average or even above average reader! Not only check your rod cases for rods but also travel with super glue and duct tape.
Back to the lines…the saltwater ridge lines were awesome in dealing with the obvious heat and warm water but also in withstanding a 2 weeks of shooting and being drug through the duct tape, super glue and broken aluminum eyelet of my first stripping guide. Along with the man made obstacles the bottom here in Honduras is either cutting turtle grass or coral, very little sand so while you are presenting a fly to fish the line is taking a beating on the bottom structure.
Also, for those who haven’t permit fished much these fish are pretty fickle. Turning big crab patterns over on long leaders in the wind is tough and yet there was no problem. For much of this region as well, the bottom is often times a very slight shade of beige and the mid tone brown of these lines tends to be very visually unobtrusive to fish that were otherwise spooking with other lines (and presentations) of others on the trip.
I like to know how my equipment can be pushed so for 2 weeks I didn’t rinse rod, line or reel and each day, that line still went through the guides without issue. I don’t recommend doing this but from someone who has done it and will continue to do so just know they can handle the abuse very easily if cared for even a little bit.
2 weeks and one line later, we were in good shape, that same line is headed back again in October for a reunion.
Any second guesses on how these perform should be put to bed, they are professional lines all the way. Other lines didn’t fair as well…
Saturday August 27th found our team enjoying the fantastic weather, the water, and of course the fishing that is such a part of our company and the Great Northwest. Sales manager Jarrod Black ramroded us for a day of floating the Kalama River, drinking brews and BBQ’ing brats. The main quest was education and fun, hooking a fish or two was wished for, but not expected.
The chosen day was perfect for such an occasion, warm and sunny, but not so hot as to bake you. We all decided to wade wet, except our two fearless float leaders Jarrod and Jamie, something about river critters biting ankles? The whole office was present, Tim, Katherine, Jarrod, Jamie, Anna, Lisa, and Randy. Our “flotilla” consisted of four single person pontoon boats and one large party pontoon (had to have the mothership for spirits and food). There is something about floating a river that gives you a much more intimate experience with it, seeing every inch as you quietly slip down her currents and secret waters.
The big challenge of the day was not hooking any splash and giggle tubers as they floated by. Some of whom were having a grand time, and others airing out their drunken marital spats. By the end of the float Lisa and Anna, both of whom had never attempted fly fishing for steelhead, let alone floating a river were old hands. Anna jumped in one of the single man pontoons early on and was not going to give it up; she looked like Mario ANNA-dretti zipping around the river. Lisa had the good fortune of raising a fish to the surface while Tim was working with her on two hand casting skills.
Late afternoon, with the shadows making their way across the surface and the feeling of the witching hour approaching, we all stood around the mothership eating brats, drinking spirits and enjoying the whole experienced. The unspoken word between us all, “life just doesn’t get any better”.
We decided that moving our entire operation riverside would be great for moral. Could you imagine!!!
Ok, I’m skeptical about trends, I admit it and I figured this shorter rod thing was a trend, maybe even a gimmick. So I accepted my ECHO Edge 84 8wt with a certain amount of trepidation. It came the day before I left for Loreto, Baja Sur, I unpacked the 84, strung it up with a 300grn Depthfinder and started plugging away at the Sargasso patties here on the Sea of Cortez. It cast fine but felt a tad slow for my liking, fish seemed to like it though. I landed some dorado in the 10 to 15 lb range but this slow rod handled it just great.
The next day I loaded the rod with a 225qrn Quickmax and had the same results…hmmmmmmmmm
Here’s some video of the rod in action.
The third day I loaded it with a 8wt Bone fish line, same one I used to land a 35lb Black Drum in New Orleans the previous week. This is when I absolutely fell in love with this rod. It cast that line so easily; well, I asked where you’d been all my life. Look, I cast fast rods with heavy sinking lines and I could never really toss a floater with the same ease I could a sinker and I tried some of the most expensive rods out there. Not anymore boys and girls, I’m home.
Matching the line with a heavy popper version of my Bull Candy Baja fly, I hammered the dorado. Did I say I could cast this easily? If I would have come down with the 10wt version of this rod I’d have never unpacked the ION or ECHO 2 10wts. I’m a creature of habit, I eat at the same restaurants’, drive the same make of car and have been married to the same woman for over 30 years, well you get. When I find something I like I stick with it and this rod is going to be with me for a long time. Think of it terms of that friend that lost weight on a particular diet and thinks everyone should try it. Same with me with this rod.
Run, don’t walk to your nearest ECHO dealer and ask to try this rod out with a floating line. If you don’t like it, email me and I’ll tell you didn’t use the correct line…
I wrote the above before I was finished fishing and near the end of the trip I landed a 30lb dorado on this rod on a 12lb leader in just over 7 minutes. This rod can put the hurt on big fish!
So I have been meaning to get back to Christmas Island for awhile, just have been waiting for the right time to do so. It happened just a week or so ago when some of Emerald Water Anglers best clients escorted me there for a week of saltwater frolic that led us down a path we had been hinted to existed but never to the degree we experienced. For those going to be introduced to bonefish, it is wonderful, plenty of them and they like nearly any fly you put in front of them, I fished at least a dozen different patterns and caught fish on every one.
By the end of day 2, the group had already done the “bone” thing and were ready to take a shot at the big leagues, GT’s! Knowing only from talking with those who have done it elsewhere in the world such as the Seychelles, I came with what I thought was the correct fire power…we all left realizing we needed to step it up next time we pursue this species at this size!
We landed with 10 12wts from various manufacturers all of which had time with a GT in excess of 70 pounds on it. While we only broke one rod and exploded, literally, 1 reel, the time it took to land many of these fish that were closer to 100 pounds was around 1 and a half to 2 hours. This is where next time, it will be 14wts for the sole purpose of landing and releasing these fish in a more timely manner.
The equipment that took the hardest hit were our Airflo lines, just getting shredded on the coral and simply lost at sea with some of these beasts that by the look of them when they took and after landing fish nearing a 100 pounds, they were likely pushing 120 or more! Hooks by Gamakatsu, Owner, Tiemco and others were opened up enough to release fish prematurely or straightened. Amazing to see that!
All in all, we will be going back but more to put one of the daddy GT’s in our hands that got away this trip and I won’t go into the 30-40 pound parrot fish that were not landable in the surf with a 10wt! Brian O’Keefe said it best to me a long time ago when he was talking about fishing Midway before it closed, he said, “I saw GT’s that were so big I didn’t even cast at them. I knew they were unlandable and that was scary!” Seeing a fish in excess of 100+ pounds voraciously take your fly less that 30 feet from you while half a dozen others are swarming around is indeed a bit scary!
