14 Jul Planet Fish

PICK A POINT ON A MAP and you’ll find there are fish to catch on the fly. Whether it is a brilliantly colored and toothy Golden Dorado in the dense jungle of South America or the shy, delicate trout of the Northern Rockies, the challenge awaits.

Interestingly, no matter where in the world I travel, nor how distant the waters I fish, often the specific flies seem to “match” the species I am pursuing. Take the Peacock bass of the Amazon: incredibly bright, flashy, electric in coloration. It makes perfect sense that the flies would be the same: large, colorful, flamboyant. Caribbean permit and bonefish are spooky, selective and typically hard to catch, likewise, the patterns used for these fish are also subdued, understated and downright stealthy. Think of the small mountain trout and how they react well to small caddis, mayfly and stonefly imitations, while the sabertoothed tigerfish of Africa will violently attack flies that are only slightly smaller than itself.

It’s the chase, the texture and adventure in the pursuit of these exotic fish that inspire me to pursue the next catch: Planet Fish awaits.