| Isla del Sabalo - The Newest Frontier for Yucatan Tarpon |
|
Angling on the Fly is excited to offer the Yucatan's newest frontier for baby Tarpon - Isla del Sabalo Lodge! After years of exploration in this remote area, owner and native of the Yucatan, Marco Ruz (Yucatan Fly Fishing Adventures), discovered that this fishery is an untapped angling resource. Its very remote locale has kept this region in a virgin state - the fortunate few that have fished this area with us have coined their experience as, "how the rest of the Yucatan probably would have fished 100 years ago..." Fortunately enough for today's angler, Isla del Sabalo has been built amidst this incredible fishery.
Isla del Sabalo is located along the northwestern shoreline of the Yucatan on the remote island of Isla Arena. Currently, it is the only lodge established in this vast region and is positioned to readily access the prime fishing areas. The environs of this fishery are diverse with mangrove-lined shorelines, rivers, lagoons, and channels. However, the absolute hallmark of this fishery is the clear water flats that offer fly anglers opportunities to sight fish to cruising Tarpon. The entire ecosystem is super-charged with abundant baitfish and crustaceans... Tarpon food.
The quality of the baby Tarpon in this region is astounding - big shoulders, deep bodies, and the speed and strength to go with it. Most baby Tarpon range in size from 8 to 20 pounds. Therefore, 8 and 9 weight rods fit the task of battling these silver armored brutes.
We encourage you to fish this new frontier destination with us soon. It is not too often that we, as anglers, have such an opportunity to experience a fishery that is like "stepping back in time." Welcome to Isla del Sabalo! |
| 10% DISCOUNT on Spring B.C. Steelhead Trips at Nicholas Dean Lodge |
 Located in Terrace, British Columbia, Nicholas Dean Lodge is situated in the heartland of world-class Steelhead and Salmon fly fishing.
For spring Steelhead trips in 2008 at Nicholas Dean Lodge, we are able to offer a 10% discount on all available weeks.
DISCOUNT RATE: $3,145 CDN per angler (double occupancy - 5 day fishing package)
|
| Angling Techniques: The Tarpon "Strip-Strike" |
|
 An essential key to staying hooked up on Tarpon...
OK, here is the scene,... your Yucatan guide has quietly poled you into position for a prime shot at a cruising Tarpon. You skillfully lead the Tarpon with your cast and land your fly in the "zone". The Tarpon takes notice of your fly, charges your offering, and you feel the grab. Up to this point, you and your guide have come through well on some critical steps in the Tarpon angling game. The next step is the determining factor of whether the game is over at halftime with a Tarpon lost, or if the angler will prevail and have the honor of hand-releasing the Tarpon to fight another day. Here are some important points for setting the hook properly on Tarpon:
- "Feel" the Tarpon eat your fly - you may see the Tarpon attempt to eat your fly, but do not set the hook until you feel the weight of the Tarpon
- Set the hook with a quick and firm "strip-strike" (see image above) - sometimes, multiple line strips are required to get firmly tight to the fish
- Keep your rod tip low and pointed inline with your fly and fish during the strip-strike - this applies maximum energy transfer to drive the hook point into the Tarpon's hard mouth
- NEVER lift the rod to set the hook - your rod is a "shock-absorbing" lever that minimizes your hook setting power and will often result in just a "jumped" Tarpon (ie. lost fish)
Once you are hooked up on the Tarpon, the second half of the Tarpon angling game ensues and the fight is ON! There are numerous essentials for fighting Tarpon properly, however we will reserve those tips for a future newsletter... FISH ON! |
