Download - ANGLER'S ANNUAL TWENTY SEVENTEEN
01
ARTICLES
02 BOZEMAN BOOTLEGGERS
04 SPRING CREEKS
06 CATCHING UP WITH CONFLUENCE FILMS
12 PICK YOUR POISON
14 ETIQUETTE ESSENTIALS: ANGLING IN SCOTL AND
18 BA JA OBSESSION
REELS
20 FINATICAL
21 1 FRAME, 2 SPOOLS
21 1 PLUS FINATIC
22 2+3 PLUS FINATIC
23 4+5 PLUS FINATIC
24 7+9 PLUS FINATIC
25 11+12 PLUS FINATIC
26 DESIGN FE ATURES
ACCESSORIES
28 NOMAD PLIERS
29 HATCH NIPPERS
30 KNOT TENSION TOOL NEW
31 BACKING
32 FLY LINE NEW
34 FLUORO + MONO NEW
36 REEL SPECS
I N V E N T O R Y—
Fall is my favorite time of year. The
fi shing and hunting are at their peak and
the forests are on fi re with color. Fall also
brings a time of refl ection, personally and
professionally. It’s an opportunity to take
stock in all things important, including
planning for the events of the New Year.
By this time of year, my calendar is damn
near full for the next. Carefully coordinating
family, fi shing (business), and hunting outings
with military-like precision. It’s a process
that proves to be both daunting and exciting
at the same time. For whatever reason, it
provides me with a sense of purpose and
lays the foundation for what lies ahead. I
couldn’t imagine my life without a plan or,
more importantly, a trip on the books +1.
On a recent archery elk hunting trip
in Colorado, a friend and colleague
of mine discovered that we both
live by the same formula: t+1.
While the minimum number of trips
one should have on the books is two,
the correct number is t+1, where t is
the number of trips currently booked.
This equation may also be rewritten as
s-1, where s is the number of trips that would
result in separation from your partner.*
Now it doesn’t have to be an epic journey
to a far off land—although those are
nice. It could be as simple as a weekend
getaway to connect with a friend, family
member, or mother nature. Everyone
needs these getaways. They provide us
with a much needed chance to reboot
the batteries and often fi ll us with a
sense of balance and perspective. So get
out there and hit the road in 2017, and
don’t forget to take your gear with you.
We would like to thank everyone inside and
outside of the industry who have supported
us over the years. We feel truly blessed to be
able to do what we do, and honored to be
part of such a great sport. Without you there
wouldn’t be Hatch, and we never lose sight of
that fact. Take care and hook ’em hard in ’17.
Cheers — John & Danny
*Adapted from Rule #12 at Velominati.com
01
ARTICLES
02 BOZEMAN BOOTLEGGERS
04 SPRING CREEKS
06 CATCHING UP WITH CONFLUENCE FILMS
12 PICK YOUR POISON
14 ETIQUETTE ESSENTIALS: ANGLING IN SCOTL AND
18 BA JA OBSESSION
REELS
20 FINATICAL
21 1 FRAME, 2 SPOOLS
21 1 PLUS FINATIC
22 2+3 PLUS FINATIC
23 4+5 PLUS FINATIC
24 7+9 PLUS FINATIC
25 11+12 PLUS FINATIC
26 DESIGN FE ATURES
ACCESSORIES
28 NOMAD PLIERS
29 HATCH NIPPERS
30 KNOT TENSION TOOL NEW
31 BACKING
32 FLY LINE NEW
34 FLUORO + MONO NEW
36 REEL SPECS
I N V E N T O R Y—
Fall is my favorite time of year. The
fi shing and hunting are at their peak and
the forests are on fi re with color. Fall also
brings a time of refl ection, personally and
professionally. It’s an opportunity to take
stock in all things important, including
planning for the events of the New Year.
By this time of year, my calendar is damn
near full for the next. Carefully coordinating
family, fi shing (business), and hunting outings
with military-like precision. It’s a process
that proves to be both daunting and exciting
at the same time. For whatever reason, it
provides me with a sense of purpose and
lays the foundation for what lies ahead. I
couldn’t imagine my life without a plan or,
more importantly, a trip on the books +1.
On a recent archery elk hunting trip
in Colorado, a friend and colleague
of mine discovered that we both
live by the same formula: t+1.
While the minimum number of trips
one should have on the books is two,
the correct number is t+1, where t is
the number of trips currently booked.
This equation may also be rewritten as
s-1, where s is the number of trips that would
result in separation from your partner.*
Now it doesn’t have to be an epic journey
to a far off land—although those are
nice. It could be as simple as a weekend
getaway to connect with a friend, family
member, or mother nature. Everyone
needs these getaways. They provide us
with a much needed chance to reboot
the batteries and often fi ll us with a
sense of balance and perspective. So get
out there and hit the road in 2017, and
don’t forget to take your gear with you.
We would like to thank everyone inside and
outside of the industry who have supported
us over the years. We feel truly blessed to be
able to do what we do, and honored to be
part of such a great sport. Without you there
wouldn’t be Hatch, and we never lose sight of
that fact. Take care and hook ’em hard in ’17.
Cheers — John & Danny
*Adapted from Rule #12 at Velominati.com
0302
Harris then teamed up with Thomas McGuane to help produce
and distill all of the spirits. Both are Montana State University
grads who focused most of their previous years on their artistic
sides—McGuane, a knife maker and Harris, a photographer. Those
artistic values carry through to the distillery in many forms.
BSD is located in Historic Downtown Bozeman, Montana. Arguably,
in the heart of the best fl y fi shing in the country. All the manufacturing,
distilling, and bottling happens on Main Street at their facility located
in the old Schnees Boots and Shoes building, where the iconic
Schnees brand initiated. Harris jokes, “they used to make boots in
this building and now we make booze...so we are a true ‘Bootlegger!’”
“There is a great sense of community within the craft distillery
movement,” Harris says. With craft distilleries across America making
up less than 1% of all liquor consumed, distillers tend to reach out to
one another to form friendships and work together to grow awareness.
Montana’s distillers formed the Montana Distillers Guild, where they
join forces to help promote Montana made products across the state.
Supporting local agriculture is important to BSD’s brand and
products. The simple philosophy of buying local extends to eating
locally raised produce and meats, and now, to drinking local. While
using Montana grains and fruits as much as possible, we end up
supporting Montana families throughout the state. “It’s pretty cool
to go see a fi eld full of barley being harvested that will end up in
the distillery. Once the grain arrives, McGuane will mash, ferment &
distill 600lbs at a time. After the whiskey is distilled several times, it
will be placed into new 53 gallon American white oak barrels to age.
“That’s 100% American made by Montanans,” Harris explains.
Bozeman Spirits Distillery manufactures several types of
spirits: Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, Rum, Huckleberry Vodka and their
most recent creation, Lemon Flavored Vodka. With expansion
plans already under way, Harris acquired an additional 12,000
square foot building this past January to house bottles, grain,
empty barrels and everything else that goes into producing
spirits. “We ran out of room the day we opened,” Harris jokes.
The distillery also produces a line of spirits only sold in Yellowstone
National Park—Roche Jaune—a name given to Yellowstone by
18th Century French Fur Trappers meaning ‘Rock Yellow’.
While the distillery movement is very similar to the brewery
movement of the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bozeman Spirits Distillery
has positioned itself as a fi xture of Bozeman and the state of
Montana. “We have a great group of people (employees), from the
tasting room to the manufacturing side of things. I couldn’t be
happier with all the new friends we have made and the jobs we
have created,” says Harris. “With the expansion plans to enable
production of more whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum, we are all excited
about the future and creating more local jobs for Montana.”
The distillery offers a tasting room on Main Street located in Historic
Downtown Bozeman Montana. Feel free to stop in, sip on some
Montana 1889 Whiskey or enjoy one of their famous cocktails like the
Huckleberry Mule made with our award winning Huckleberry Flavored
Vodka, ginger beer with a squeeze of lime served in a copper mug!
BOZEMANSPIRITS.COM121 W MAIN STBOZEMAN, MT 59715
BOZEMAN BOOTLEGGERS
—
AS AN AVID ANGLER AND LOVER OF GREAT TASTING SPIRITS, JIM HARRIS FOUNDED BOZEMAN SPIRITS DISTILLERY IN LATE 2012.ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, MARY PAT, HE PUT IN AN IMMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF TIME OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THE DISTILLERY OPENED ITS DOORS ON OCTOBER 31ST, 2014.
STORY & PHOTOS // JIM HARRIS
0302
Harris then teamed up with Thomas McGuane to help produce
and distill all of the spirits. Both are Montana State University
grads who focused most of their previous years on their artistic
sides—McGuane, a knife maker and Harris, a photographer. Those
artistic values carry through to the distillery in many forms.
BSD is located in Historic Downtown Bozeman, Montana. Arguably,
in the heart of the best fl y fi shing in the country. All the manufacturing,
distilling, and bottling happens on Main Street at their facility located
in the old Schnees Boots and Shoes building, where the iconic
Schnees brand initiated. Harris jokes, “they used to make boots in
this building and now we make booze...so we are a true ‘Bootlegger!’”
“There is a great sense of community within the craft distillery
movement,” Harris says. With craft distilleries across America making
up less than 1% of all liquor consumed, distillers tend to reach out to
one another to form friendships and work together to grow awareness.
Montana’s distillers formed the Montana Distillers Guild, where they
join forces to help promote Montana made products across the state.
Supporting local agriculture is important to BSD’s brand and
products. The simple philosophy of buying local extends to eating
locally raised produce and meats, and now, to drinking local. While
using Montana grains and fruits as much as possible, we end up
supporting Montana families throughout the state. “It’s pretty cool
to go see a fi eld full of barley being harvested that will end up in
the distillery. Once the grain arrives, McGuane will mash, ferment &
distill 600lbs at a time. After the whiskey is distilled several times, it
will be placed into new 53 gallon American white oak barrels to age.
“That’s 100% American made by Montanans,” Harris explains.
Bozeman Spirits Distillery manufactures several types of
spirits: Whiskey, Vodka, Gin, Rum, Huckleberry Vodka and their
most recent creation, Lemon Flavored Vodka. With expansion
plans already under way, Harris acquired an additional 12,000
square foot building this past January to house bottles, grain,
empty barrels and everything else that goes into producing
spirits. “We ran out of room the day we opened,” Harris jokes.
The distillery also produces a line of spirits only sold in Yellowstone
National Park—Roche Jaune—a name given to Yellowstone by
18th Century French Fur Trappers meaning ‘Rock Yellow’.
While the distillery movement is very similar to the brewery
movement of the late 80’s and early 90’s, Bozeman Spirits Distillery
has positioned itself as a fi xture of Bozeman and the state of
Montana. “We have a great group of people (employees), from the
tasting room to the manufacturing side of things. I couldn’t be
happier with all the new friends we have made and the jobs we
have created,” says Harris. “With the expansion plans to enable
production of more whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum, we are all excited
about the future and creating more local jobs for Montana.”
The distillery offers a tasting room on Main Street located in Historic
Downtown Bozeman Montana. Feel free to stop in, sip on some
Montana 1889 Whiskey or enjoy one of their famous cocktails like the
Huckleberry Mule made with our award winning Huckleberry Flavored
Vodka, ginger beer with a squeeze of lime served in a copper mug!
BOZEMANSPIRITS.COM121 W MAIN STBOZEMAN, MT 59715
BOZEMAN BOOTLEGGERS
—
AS AN AVID ANGLER AND LOVER OF GREAT TASTING SPIRITS, JIM HARRIS FOUNDED BOZEMAN SPIRITS DISTILLERY IN LATE 2012.ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, MARY PAT, HE PUT IN AN IMMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF TIME OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THE DISTILLERY OPENED ITS DOORS ON OCTOBER 31ST, 2014.
STORY & PHOTOS // JIM HARRIS
0504
SPRING CREEKS
—
SPRING CREEKS ARE SPECIAL PLACES FOR TROUT AND ANGLERS. COLD, CLEAN AND NUTRIENT RICH WATERS MAKE FOR THE PERFECT TROUT AND BUG HABITAT.
Longtime a mecca for anglers, the spring creeks near Livingston
Montana—Armstrong, Nelson, and Depuy’s—are some of the
fi nest examples of these unique bodies of water that you can fi nd
anywhere in the world. Located on large, private ranches in Paradise
Valley, they charge a daily rod fee to get on. These are the type of
properties that make guys like Ted Turner green with envy. It is a
testament to the generosity of the families that own them and still
let people on, in a world of wealthy land owners that do not.
A lot of people balk at paying a fee to fi sh them, which is
understandable in a state with such liberal stream access
laws. I can burn more gas in my truck in one day than
the rod fees cost, so I have never had any issues fi shing
these creeks a few minutes drive from my house.
They are a reliable piece of home water. It can be -5 or 95 degrees
and you can always count on the fi sh willing to play ball, along
with cold clear water that will remind you of a bottle of Bombay
Sapphire. So many times the fi sh are hidden from our view, but
spring creeks can deliver a sight fi shing experience second to none
in trout fi shing. However, there is a price to pay with this: the fi sh
can also see you in exquisite detail. As much as you like that bright
turquoise shirt, best to leave it at home and wear something dull.
During a good hatch, which there are many throughout the year,
these creeks are magical dry fl y fi sheries and challenging match-the-
hatch type fi shing. Tiny fl ies, 6-7x tippet and picky fi sh, fl at water,
and moving targets the size of a shot glass… really challenging stuff,
particularly late in the summer after they have been sharpened up
by anglers. These fi sh regularly humble people and it is a great
opportunity to learn technical dry fl y fi shing. There is still plenty
of room for outside of the box thinking though, particularly during
summer terrestrial time. If you are a fl y tyer, this is a great laboratory
to test your bugs. If they can cut it here, you have done a good job.
In addition to the prolifi c amount of bugs in these creeks, they
are a perfect spawning habitat for trout. Many of the fi sh that
reside in the Yellowstone River downstream were spawned in
these spring creeks, and there is no telling how many young trout
they contribute to the overall system. Throughout the year, there
are thousands of juvenile trout in these creeks. Generally these
youngsters, at least the smart ones, keep a low profi le in marginal
water out of the way of the adults for good reason: they get eaten.
My Home Invader streamer, tied small and in the proper color
scheme, is a lock for a baby trout. I came up with the design
almost 20 years ago and it has proved itself over the years as a
baby trout imposter. I remember the fi rst time I fi shed Depuy’s
ten years ago on a breezy (blowing 50 mph) November day. I
caught a good-sized brown trout on this fl y on my very fi rst cast
and have been pressing their buttons with it ever since.
STO
RY
// D
OU
G M
CKN
IGH
TPH
OTO
S //
JER
EMIE
HO
LLM
AN
Catching trout, especially big ones on dry fl ies during a hatch,
is without a doubt the most satisfying way to catch a trout.
Watching a big brown trout become unglued over a streamer is
a thrill to experience, especially when you can watch it. Sight
nymphing a fi sh, or even watching your bobber go down, it’s all
fun and satisfying in its own right. Even though these creeks
see lots of anglers, there are plenty of spots that still don’t get
fi shed. It is often these odd little spots that hold an exceptional
fi sh, and it never gets old seeing where these fi sh will hold.
A few of my more dry fl y elite type friends (most of these guys have
glasses and grey hair) give me all kinds of shit for fi shing streamers
on such hallowed dry fl y ground. “McKnight you’re going to hell…
Doug, Joe Brooks is rolling over in his grave… Ernie Schwiebert is
going to have you struck by lightning one of these days…” I calmly
explain that I am just doing some unconventional match-the-hatch
type fi shing. Don’t get me wrong, bugs hatching and rising fi sh, I
will clip back my 2x and put some light stuff on and grab my small
fl y box fi lled with Harrop patterns. Which by the way, work as well
on these spring creeks as they do on the fabled Railroad Ranch.
However, if dries are not on the table, I generally gravitate
towards this method. Who knows, maybe there are big red-spotted
brown trout sitting next to log jams on the River Styx? I defi nitely
don’t want to live in hell, but if the rivers down there have good
fi shing, I would pay a rod fee to get on once in a while.
0504
SPRING CREEKS
—
SPRING CREEKS ARE SPECIAL PLACES FOR TROUT AND ANGLERS. COLD, CLEAN AND NUTRIENT RICH WATERS MAKE FOR THE PERFECT TROUT AND BUG HABITAT.
Longtime a mecca for anglers, the spring creeks near Livingston
Montana—Armstrong, Nelson, and Depuy’s—are some of the
fi nest examples of these unique bodies of water that you can fi nd
anywhere in the world. Located on large, private ranches in Paradise
Valley, they charge a daily rod fee to get on. These are the type of
properties that make guys like Ted Turner green with envy. It is a
testament to the generosity of the families that own them and still
let people on, in a world of wealthy land owners that do not.
A lot of people balk at paying a fee to fi sh them, which is
understandable in a state with such liberal stream access
laws. I can burn more gas in my truck in one day than
the rod fees cost, so I have never had any issues fi shing
these creeks a few minutes drive from my house.
They are a reliable piece of home water. It can be -5 or 95 degrees
and you can always count on the fi sh willing to play ball, along
with cold clear water that will remind you of a bottle of Bombay
Sapphire. So many times the fi sh are hidden from our view, but
spring creeks can deliver a sight fi shing experience second to none
in trout fi shing. However, there is a price to pay with this: the fi sh
can also see you in exquisite detail. As much as you like that bright
turquoise shirt, best to leave it at home and wear something dull.
During a good hatch, which there are many throughout the year,
these creeks are magical dry fl y fi sheries and challenging match-the-
hatch type fi shing. Tiny fl ies, 6-7x tippet and picky fi sh, fl at water,
and moving targets the size of a shot glass… really challenging stuff,
particularly late in the summer after they have been sharpened up
by anglers. These fi sh regularly humble people and it is a great
opportunity to learn technical dry fl y fi shing. There is still plenty
of room for outside of the box thinking though, particularly during
summer terrestrial time. If you are a fl y tyer, this is a great laboratory
to test your bugs. If they can cut it here, you have done a good job.
In addition to the prolifi c amount of bugs in these creeks, they
are a perfect spawning habitat for trout. Many of the fi sh that
reside in the Yellowstone River downstream were spawned in
these spring creeks, and there is no telling how many young trout
they contribute to the overall system. Throughout the year, there
are thousands of juvenile trout in these creeks. Generally these
youngsters, at least the smart ones, keep a low profi le in marginal
water out of the way of the adults for good reason: they get eaten.
My Home Invader streamer, tied small and in the proper color
scheme, is a lock for a baby trout. I came up with the design
almost 20 years ago and it has proved itself over the years as a
baby trout imposter. I remember the fi rst time I fi shed Depuy’s
ten years ago on a breezy (blowing 50 mph) November day. I
caught a good-sized brown trout on this fl y on my very fi rst cast
and have been pressing their buttons with it ever since.
STO
RY
// D
OU
G M
CKN
IGH
TPH
OTO
S //
JER
EMIE
HO
LLM
AN
Catching trout, especially big ones on dry fl ies during a hatch,
is without a doubt the most satisfying way to catch a trout.
Watching a big brown trout become unglued over a streamer is
a thrill to experience, especially when you can watch it. Sight
nymphing a fi sh, or even watching your bobber go down, it’s all
fun and satisfying in its own right. Even though these creeks
see lots of anglers, there are plenty of spots that still don’t get
fi shed. It is often these odd little spots that hold an exceptional
fi sh, and it never gets old seeing where these fi sh will hold.
A few of my more dry fl y elite type friends (most of these guys have
glasses and grey hair) give me all kinds of shit for fi shing streamers
on such hallowed dry fl y ground. “McKnight you’re going to hell…
Doug, Joe Brooks is rolling over in his grave… Ernie Schwiebert is
going to have you struck by lightning one of these days…” I calmly
explain that I am just doing some unconventional match-the-hatch
type fi shing. Don’t get me wrong, bugs hatching and rising fi sh, I
will clip back my 2x and put some light stuff on and grab my small
fl y box fi lled with Harrop patterns. Which by the way, work as well
on these spring creeks as they do on the fabled Railroad Ranch.
However, if dries are not on the table, I generally gravitate
towards this method. Who knows, maybe there are big red-spotted
brown trout sitting next to log jams on the River Styx? I defi nitely
don’t want to live in hell, but if the rivers down there have good
fi shing, I would pay a rod fee to get on once in a while.
0706
CATCHING UP WITH CONFLUENCE FILMS:Q&A WITH JIM KLUG& CHRIS PATTERSON—
THIS IS YOUR 5TH FILM TOGETHER AND YOU’RE STILL TALKING TO EACH OTHER. WHAT’S THE SECRET?
CP: Ha, it's a bit like a marriage, so you know there are a few
tough moments. Jim and I actually make great partners on these
fi lms. We each have our defi ned roles and we respect, without
question, each persons strengths and opinions. I feel that this is
such a rewarding way to work. To be honest, I have it easy, I just
get to do what I love and make movies. Jim keeps researching and
suggesting the ideas and then he fi nds a way to get them paid for!
JK: I would say the secret is that we both bring very different
things to the table. We defi nitely compliment each other and
let each other focus on the things that we do best. If Chris was
not my partner in this, I have no doubt that I never would have
entered the realm of fi lmmaking. I am fortunate to work with
the best shooter and cinematographer in the business.
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM FOCUSED ON A SINGLE LOCATION VERSUS SEGMENTS. WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND THIS DECISION?
CP: When we shot Waypoints, we spent two weeks with the
FlyCastaway crew on St Brandon’s Atoll and they have a lot of
great stories. Big adventure stuff that only guys from Africa can
tell. Gerhard told us the story of Providence Atoll that detailed
the amazing fi shing and the remote nature of the Atoll. Then he
continued with the chapter about the live-aboard ship that they had
previously operated being taken by pirates, which lead to the outer
atolls then being completely closed off for the last six years. The
story of a possible return to the area was amazing, and both Jim
and I felt that it could easily make a movie in itself. It is too good a
story to jam into a 15-minute segment like those in our traditional
multi-location movies. We knew it would be expensive to pull off,
but we have great, longtime partners (Hatch, Simms, Yeti, Costa,
Yellow Dog) who trust us and were willing to support this project.
JK: So many times with previous fi lm segments we would
shoot a ton of amazing footage and capture so many interesting
things only to then cut everything down to 15 minutes. Chris
and I had talked numerous times about shooting a project
where we could really dive into a story in detail, creating a full-
length fi lm about a single area, group of people and fi shery.
Providence Atoll and the story of piracy throughout the area
was perfect for our fi rst full-length, single-story project.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF THE LOCATION OF THE FILM. WHERE IS PROVIDENCE?
JK: Providence is the largest, most remote, and least-visited
island in the Seychelles. Few people have ever fi shed there, and
the eco-system exists in a state that has been 100% untouched by
the hand of man. The fi shery is truly amazing—exactly what you
would expect from a destination that sees virtually zero pressure.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOCATION AND WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO THERE?
JK: Overall, the Seychelles are still a relative newcomer to the
international saltwater scene when it comes to destination angling.
And while destinations like Alphonse and Farquhar are becoming
fairly well known, the distant out-islands like Cosmoledo, Astove
and Providence are still considered the “new frontier” in the region.
Providence and some of the other out-islands had been fi shed by a
handful of people and a couple of South African operators during
the early and mid-2000s, but all of these areas and islands were
then closed by the Seychellois government in 2009 after a number
of ships were hijacked by Somali pirates. For six long years these
atolls and islands sat untouched—completely unvisited and unfi shed.
You can imagine how good the fi shing was when we went back in!
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TARGET SPECIES?
JK: Fishing Providence is like fi shing in one of the world’s most
exotic saltwater aquariums. There are literally HUNDREDS of
species found on the fl ats and all throughout the shallow waters of
the atoll, including giant trevally, huge bonefi sh, permit, bumphead
parrotfi sh, Napoleon wrasse, bluefi sh trevally, milkfi sh, barracuda,
countless kinds of snapper and grouper... the list is defi nitely kind
of overwhelming. And the great thing is that every one of these fi sh
seems to eat like they’ve never before seen a fl y or an angler!
WHO WERE THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE FILM?
JK: The fi lm primarily profi les Gerhard Laubscher and Tim
Babich from South Africa and Camille Egdorf from Montana.
There are also great interviews with Ryan Hammond of
South Africa as well as Francis Roucou, the former captain
of the MV Indian Ocean Explorer who was captured and held
hostage by Somali pirates for several months in 2009.
PROVIDENCE IS THE LARGEST, MOST REMOTE, AND LEAST-VISITED ISLAND IN THE SEYCHELLES. FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER FISHED THERE. . .”
“INTERVIEW // JOHN TOROKPHOTOS // CHRIS PATTERSON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JIM KLUG
CINEMATOGRAPHYCHRIS PATTERSONCOLIN WITHERILL
DIRECTED AND EDITED CHRIS PATTERSON
0706
CATCHING UP WITH CONFLUENCE FILMS:Q&A WITH JIM KLUG& CHRIS PATTERSON—
THIS IS YOUR 5TH FILM TOGETHER AND YOU’RE STILL TALKING TO EACH OTHER. WHAT’S THE SECRET?
CP: Ha, it's a bit like a marriage, so you know there are a few
tough moments. Jim and I actually make great partners on these
fi lms. We each have our defi ned roles and we respect, without
question, each persons strengths and opinions. I feel that this is
such a rewarding way to work. To be honest, I have it easy, I just
get to do what I love and make movies. Jim keeps researching and
suggesting the ideas and then he fi nds a way to get them paid for!
JK: I would say the secret is that we both bring very different
things to the table. We defi nitely compliment each other and
let each other focus on the things that we do best. If Chris was
not my partner in this, I have no doubt that I never would have
entered the realm of fi lmmaking. I am fortunate to work with
the best shooter and cinematographer in the business.
THIS IS THE FIRST FILM FOCUSED ON A SINGLE LOCATION VERSUS SEGMENTS. WHAT WAS THE THINKING BEHIND THIS DECISION?
CP: When we shot Waypoints, we spent two weeks with the
FlyCastaway crew on St Brandon’s Atoll and they have a lot of
great stories. Big adventure stuff that only guys from Africa can
tell. Gerhard told us the story of Providence Atoll that detailed
the amazing fi shing and the remote nature of the Atoll. Then he
continued with the chapter about the live-aboard ship that they had
previously operated being taken by pirates, which lead to the outer
atolls then being completely closed off for the last six years. The
story of a possible return to the area was amazing, and both Jim
and I felt that it could easily make a movie in itself. It is too good a
story to jam into a 15-minute segment like those in our traditional
multi-location movies. We knew it would be expensive to pull off,
but we have great, longtime partners (Hatch, Simms, Yeti, Costa,
Yellow Dog) who trust us and were willing to support this project.
JK: So many times with previous fi lm segments we would
shoot a ton of amazing footage and capture so many interesting
things only to then cut everything down to 15 minutes. Chris
and I had talked numerous times about shooting a project
where we could really dive into a story in detail, creating a full-
length fi lm about a single area, group of people and fi shery.
Providence Atoll and the story of piracy throughout the area
was perfect for our fi rst full-length, single-story project.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF THE LOCATION OF THE FILM. WHERE IS PROVIDENCE?
JK: Providence is the largest, most remote, and least-visited
island in the Seychelles. Few people have ever fi shed there, and
the eco-system exists in a state that has been 100% untouched by
the hand of man. The fi shery is truly amazing—exactly what you
would expect from a destination that sees virtually zero pressure.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LOCATION AND WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GO THERE?
JK: Overall, the Seychelles are still a relative newcomer to the
international saltwater scene when it comes to destination angling.
And while destinations like Alphonse and Farquhar are becoming
fairly well known, the distant out-islands like Cosmoledo, Astove
and Providence are still considered the “new frontier” in the region.
Providence and some of the other out-islands had been fi shed by a
handful of people and a couple of South African operators during
the early and mid-2000s, but all of these areas and islands were
then closed by the Seychellois government in 2009 after a number
of ships were hijacked by Somali pirates. For six long years these
atolls and islands sat untouched—completely unvisited and unfi shed.
You can imagine how good the fi shing was when we went back in!
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TARGET SPECIES?
JK: Fishing Providence is like fi shing in one of the world’s most
exotic saltwater aquariums. There are literally HUNDREDS of
species found on the fl ats and all throughout the shallow waters of
the atoll, including giant trevally, huge bonefi sh, permit, bumphead
parrotfi sh, Napoleon wrasse, bluefi sh trevally, milkfi sh, barracuda,
countless kinds of snapper and grouper... the list is defi nitely kind
of overwhelming. And the great thing is that every one of these fi sh
seems to eat like they’ve never before seen a fl y or an angler!
WHO WERE THE CHARACTERS INVOLVED IN THE FILM?
JK: The fi lm primarily profi les Gerhard Laubscher and Tim
Babich from South Africa and Camille Egdorf from Montana.
There are also great interviews with Ryan Hammond of
South Africa as well as Francis Roucou, the former captain
of the MV Indian Ocean Explorer who was captured and held
hostage by Somali pirates for several months in 2009.
PROVIDENCE IS THE LARGEST, MOST REMOTE, AND LEAST-VISITED ISLAND IN THE SEYCHELLES. FEW PEOPLE HAVE EVER FISHED THERE. . .”
“INTERVIEW // JOHN TOROKPHOTOS // CHRIS PATTERSON
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JIM KLUG
CINEMATOGRAPHYCHRIS PATTERSONCOLIN WITHERILL
DIRECTED AND EDITED CHRIS PATTERSON
0908
ANY DRONES USED IN THE FILMING? ANY MILITARY DRONES AROUND?
CP: We did use a drone to get the birds-eye view of the atoll and
the fi shery. It was amazing. Once we were there and shooting with
the drone from 1800 feet above the water, I realized that if we had
tried making this movie fi ve years ago or even two years ago, we could
have never shown the incredible scale of the place without a drone.
The drone was a fantastic tool and Colin Witherill—an old friend that
I’ve worked with all over the world in my job with Warren Miller—did
all of the fl ying and shooting. We even built what we referred to as our
“mini aircraft carrier” out of a regular skiff to take off and land the
drone while on the water. The aerial shots are amazing. When you see
things like a huge school of Bumpies coming right at a casting angler
or GTs feeding from above, it is defi nitely a very cool perspective.
ANY “ADVENTUROUS” MOMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE?
CP: We had our share of super-sharky moments while fi lming
the underwater footage, including some large and very curious
bull sharks. We also had a “real world” pirate scare, but you’ll
have to see the movie to see how that one turned out.
WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT WAS USED FOR FISHING?
JK: We fi shed a lot of big rods, great reels and heavy leaders
for GTs. When you’re fi shing for these trevally, you usually fi sh
a 12 wt. rod, a large Hatch 12+ reel, and Hatch backing and
lines. When you’re fi shing for species that are completely violent
and destructive, you better bring the best gear possible. These
fi sh specialize in wrecking tackle, breaking rods, taking entire
fl y lines, and generally destroying everything they can. When
you are in such a remote location with nothing available but the
gear you brought along, its important to have the very best.
LOGISTICALLY, HOW DID THIS SHOOT COMPARE TO THE OTHER FILMS?
JK: It was certainly more remote and “out there” than just about
any place we’ve ever visited. We sailed from Mahe to Farquhar,
which took about three days on the open ocean. From there
another eight hours or so to cross over to Providence Atoll. Since
the atoll is totally uninhabited with no infrastructure at all, the
mothership was the perfect platform for fi shing and exploring the
atoll. We lived on the boat for three weeks while fi lming. Overall,
there were a lot of moving pieces, a lot of crew, a full-time team
of security guards, and tons of equipment. The end result will be
impressive, so I have no doubt that it will have all been worth it.
WHAT WAS THE FILM SHOT ON? CAMERAS, ETC.
CP: Well there’s our underwater drone, mini-sub, an 8K ultra-
slow motion camera and... Actually, what’s funny is that with every
other project that I work on and shoot these days (car commercials,
Warren Miller fi lms, Hollywood productions) I am constantly using
all kinds of big fancy cameras, cranes, dollies, helicopters and all
the trendy gear. When I shoot these fi lms for Confl uence, however,
I always go with the simple approach of an old-school documentary
fi lmmaker. I actually keep the gear small and simple and typically
shoot with Canon DSLR cameras—both above and below the water.
It’s such a great system for these types of fi lms. In the places
we shoot these movies, it’s paramount that you keep up with the
story as it unfolds, so we can never be inhibited or slowed down
by our gear. We need to be mobile and ready to roll all the time.
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM MONTANA. WHAT PUSHES YOU BOYS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH?
CP: Honestly, today it’s getting harder and harder to really
WOW people with movies and locations. I can get pretty negative
sometimes about how there are so many people making so many
movies about this and that. At times it feels like “everything
has been already done.” Then, something new comes up and
a great story or great location inspires me. The Providence
project was a perfect challenge for us to make into a fi lm.
JK: There is no doubt that the world is getting a lot smaller
these days, and with the advent of Instagram, social media and
all kinds of instant “video shorts,” it is defi nitely getting harder
to show people something that they have yet to see. The great
thing about fi shing fi lms is, that often times, fi sh live in places
that would never be visited or seen were it not for the promise of
great fi shing. These places are often hard to get to and expensive,
but the sponsors that we have with Confl uence have always been
great about supporting these types of adventurous projects.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS / MOTHERSHIP?
CP: I have been a Cousteau fan since childhood, so I’ve
always loved the concept of long-range “live-aboard” trips. Our
boat was big and solid and defi nitely felt like an expedition
ship. We would bust ass all day and work hard to the point of
exhaustion, so a comfortable room with air conditioning and
plenty of cold beer at the end of the day was a huge help. And
really, an army marches on its stomach. I think Napoleon said
that. The kitchen on the boat produced some incredible meals.
JK: It was a great platform for the weeks that we were out
there. I defi nitely felt like we were living aboard the Belafonte from
The Life Aquatic. I felt like Steve Zissou should be captaining
the boat, and all of us should be wearing red beanies.
I HAD REQUESTED THAT YOU FILM A SEGMENT ON THE FLATS AROUND SOMALIA THAT LOOKED PROMISING ON GOOGLE EARTH. DOESN’T APPEAR THAT IT MADE THE CUT. WHAT GIVES?
CP: I think that’s what we’re planning for the next movie. We
also want to extend an invite to you and Danny. We’ll need some
key logistics guys when it comes to negotiating ransoms.
IS THIS A TRIP THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE?
JK: For sure. We are already booking and offering this trip through
Yellow Dog Flyfi shing Adventures. It’s not a trip that is suited for
everyone, but for those that want the fi nest GT action in the world, in
a fi shery that is huge, pristine and totally untouched, this is a great
trip. I would have to say that there is no place like it on the planet.
IN THE PLACES WESHOOT THESE MOVIES,IT’S PARAMOUNT THATYOU KEEP UP WITH THESTORY AS IT UNFOLDS. . .”
“
0908
ANY DRONES USED IN THE FILMING? ANY MILITARY DRONES AROUND?
CP: We did use a drone to get the birds-eye view of the atoll and
the fi shery. It was amazing. Once we were there and shooting with
the drone from 1800 feet above the water, I realized that if we had
tried making this movie fi ve years ago or even two years ago, we could
have never shown the incredible scale of the place without a drone.
The drone was a fantastic tool and Colin Witherill—an old friend that
I’ve worked with all over the world in my job with Warren Miller—did
all of the fl ying and shooting. We even built what we referred to as our
“mini aircraft carrier” out of a regular skiff to take off and land the
drone while on the water. The aerial shots are amazing. When you see
things like a huge school of Bumpies coming right at a casting angler
or GTs feeding from above, it is defi nitely a very cool perspective.
ANY “ADVENTUROUS” MOMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE?
CP: We had our share of super-sharky moments while fi lming
the underwater footage, including some large and very curious
bull sharks. We also had a “real world” pirate scare, but you’ll
have to see the movie to see how that one turned out.
WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT WAS USED FOR FISHING?
JK: We fi shed a lot of big rods, great reels and heavy leaders
for GTs. When you’re fi shing for these trevally, you usually fi sh
a 12 wt. rod, a large Hatch 12+ reel, and Hatch backing and
lines. When you’re fi shing for species that are completely violent
and destructive, you better bring the best gear possible. These
fi sh specialize in wrecking tackle, breaking rods, taking entire
fl y lines, and generally destroying everything they can. When
you are in such a remote location with nothing available but the
gear you brought along, its important to have the very best.
LOGISTICALLY, HOW DID THIS SHOOT COMPARE TO THE OTHER FILMS?
JK: It was certainly more remote and “out there” than just about
any place we’ve ever visited. We sailed from Mahe to Farquhar,
which took about three days on the open ocean. From there
another eight hours or so to cross over to Providence Atoll. Since
the atoll is totally uninhabited with no infrastructure at all, the
mothership was the perfect platform for fi shing and exploring the
atoll. We lived on the boat for three weeks while fi lming. Overall,
there were a lot of moving pieces, a lot of crew, a full-time team
of security guards, and tons of equipment. The end result will be
impressive, so I have no doubt that it will have all been worth it.
WHAT WAS THE FILM SHOT ON? CAMERAS, ETC.
CP: Well there’s our underwater drone, mini-sub, an 8K ultra-
slow motion camera and... Actually, what’s funny is that with every
other project that I work on and shoot these days (car commercials,
Warren Miller fi lms, Hollywood productions) I am constantly using
all kinds of big fancy cameras, cranes, dollies, helicopters and all
the trendy gear. When I shoot these fi lms for Confl uence, however,
I always go with the simple approach of an old-school documentary
fi lmmaker. I actually keep the gear small and simple and typically
shoot with Canon DSLR cameras—both above and below the water.
It’s such a great system for these types of fi lms. In the places
we shoot these movies, it’s paramount that you keep up with the
story as it unfolds, so we can never be inhibited or slowed down
by our gear. We need to be mobile and ready to roll all the time.
IT’S A LONG WAY FROM MONTANA. WHAT PUSHES YOU BOYS TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH?
CP: Honestly, today it’s getting harder and harder to really
WOW people with movies and locations. I can get pretty negative
sometimes about how there are so many people making so many
movies about this and that. At times it feels like “everything
has been already done.” Then, something new comes up and
a great story or great location inspires me. The Providence
project was a perfect challenge for us to make into a fi lm.
JK: There is no doubt that the world is getting a lot smaller
these days, and with the advent of Instagram, social media and
all kinds of instant “video shorts,” it is defi nitely getting harder
to show people something that they have yet to see. The great
thing about fi shing fi lms is, that often times, fi sh live in places
that would never be visited or seen were it not for the promise of
great fi shing. These places are often hard to get to and expensive,
but the sponsors that we have with Confl uence have always been
great about supporting these types of adventurous projects.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS / MOTHERSHIP?
CP: I have been a Cousteau fan since childhood, so I’ve
always loved the concept of long-range “live-aboard” trips. Our
boat was big and solid and defi nitely felt like an expedition
ship. We would bust ass all day and work hard to the point of
exhaustion, so a comfortable room with air conditioning and
plenty of cold beer at the end of the day was a huge help. And
really, an army marches on its stomach. I think Napoleon said
that. The kitchen on the boat produced some incredible meals.
JK: It was a great platform for the weeks that we were out
there. I defi nitely felt like we were living aboard the Belafonte from
The Life Aquatic. I felt like Steve Zissou should be captaining
the boat, and all of us should be wearing red beanies.
I HAD REQUESTED THAT YOU FILM A SEGMENT ON THE FLATS AROUND SOMALIA THAT LOOKED PROMISING ON GOOGLE EARTH. DOESN’T APPEAR THAT IT MADE THE CUT. WHAT GIVES?
CP: I think that’s what we’re planning for the next movie. We
also want to extend an invite to you and Danny. We’ll need some
key logistics guys when it comes to negotiating ransoms.
IS THIS A TRIP THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE?
JK: For sure. We are already booking and offering this trip through
Yellow Dog Flyfi shing Adventures. It’s not a trip that is suited for
everyone, but for those that want the fi nest GT action in the world, in
a fi shery that is huge, pristine and totally untouched, this is a great
trip. I would have to say that there is no place like it on the planet.
IN THE PLACES WESHOOT THESE MOVIES,IT’S PARAMOUNT THATYOU KEEP UP WITH THESTORY AS IT UNFOLDS. . .”
“
1110
WHAT DO YOUR WIVES THINK OF YOUR SHENANIGANS?
CP: By now they hardly notice that we’re gone, but they’re also
probably happy we have them on speed dial on the SAT phone. I think
that both Jim and myself were traveling like this and doing these types
of adventures since before either of us were married, so the wives
are defi nitely used to our travel schedules and bizarre destinations.
ANY FILM FESTIVALS ON THE HORIZON?
CP: Not yet. We’re focused on editing, fi nalizing things and
keeping our heads down to make sure we get this story ready
for the big screen in October. There will for sure be dozens
of screenings events throughout the country on October 15
(check the Confl uence Films website for locations and details)
and I’m sure some fi lm festivals down the road a bit.
KNOWING JIM’S DIETARY RESTRICTIONS (STRICTLY MEAT AND POTATOES) WHAT THE HELL DID HE EAT THE WHOLE TRIP?
CP: Jim usually brings a lot of energy bars and
beef jerky along. He’s also big on Pringles. I have seen
him survive for weeks on these travel staples.
YOU TWO ARE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP WITH REGARDS TO FLY FISHING FILM-MAKING. ANY ADVICE YOU’D CARE TO SHARE WITH THE LEGIONS OF ASPIRING VIDEO MAKERS?
CP: Thanks John. I’d tell them to do whatever they can to always
approach the process with a new perspective. Don’t simply copy a
style or technique that has already saturated the genre. Like I said
earlier, at times you’ll feel like “everything has been done,” but if you
look hard, you can fi nd something that feels new and inspiring. With
regards to “technique,” try not to use too many gizmos and try not to
over-use the slow-motion button. I see so many short fi lms that literally
look and feel identical. Take a leap of faith and try something (a
different technique) that seems a bit risky. In the end, you’ll feel better
about it (especially if it works). For me, I didn’t shoot a frame of slow
motion on this movie, as I wanted it to feel as “natural” as possible.
JK: I honestly believe that the huge surge in video projects and
fi lms has been great for fl y fi shing. The more people that are exposed
to this sport—that see just how cool and how wild fl y fi shing really
is—the better. Yes, it is frustrating at times when you see more
and more people on the water, but we all need to remember that
in time when conservation, public lands and access are all in the
crosshairs of some seriously destructive people, that more people
involved ultimately means more voices that can and will stand up
for our resources and our sport. Fly fi shing fi lms can give a great
voice to these issues, and I always believe that it is a great thing.
WHAT’S NEXT?
CP: It’s funny that whenever I fi nish putting one of these fi lms
together, I sometimes assume that “I’ll never want to do it again.”
The reality, however, is totally the opposite. When the movie is
done, I am climbing the walls to make something else. The sense
of accomplishment just pushes me further towards the next
project. Hopefully by November we are off on another journey. Jim
never rests. He seriously does not stop. He’s already got another
great movie idea that he is presenting to our faithful partners,
but in today’s world we’ll keep that idea quiet for now!
1110
WHAT DO YOUR WIVES THINK OF YOUR SHENANIGANS?
CP: By now they hardly notice that we’re gone, but they’re also
probably happy we have them on speed dial on the SAT phone. I think
that both Jim and myself were traveling like this and doing these types
of adventures since before either of us were married, so the wives
are defi nitely used to our travel schedules and bizarre destinations.
ANY FILM FESTIVALS ON THE HORIZON?
CP: Not yet. We’re focused on editing, fi nalizing things and
keeping our heads down to make sure we get this story ready
for the big screen in October. There will for sure be dozens
of screenings events throughout the country on October 15
(check the Confl uence Films website for locations and details)
and I’m sure some fi lm festivals down the road a bit.
KNOWING JIM’S DIETARY RESTRICTIONS (STRICTLY MEAT AND POTATOES) WHAT THE HELL DID HE EAT THE WHOLE TRIP?
CP: Jim usually brings a lot of energy bars and
beef jerky along. He’s also big on Pringles. I have seen
him survive for weeks on these travel staples.
YOU TWO ARE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP WITH REGARDS TO FLY FISHING FILM-MAKING. ANY ADVICE YOU’D CARE TO SHARE WITH THE LEGIONS OF ASPIRING VIDEO MAKERS?
CP: Thanks John. I’d tell them to do whatever they can to always
approach the process with a new perspective. Don’t simply copy a
style or technique that has already saturated the genre. Like I said
earlier, at times you’ll feel like “everything has been done,” but if you
look hard, you can fi nd something that feels new and inspiring. With
regards to “technique,” try not to use too many gizmos and try not to
over-use the slow-motion button. I see so many short fi lms that literally
look and feel identical. Take a leap of faith and try something (a
different technique) that seems a bit risky. In the end, you’ll feel better
about it (especially if it works). For me, I didn’t shoot a frame of slow
motion on this movie, as I wanted it to feel as “natural” as possible.
JK: I honestly believe that the huge surge in video projects and
fi lms has been great for fl y fi shing. The more people that are exposed
to this sport—that see just how cool and how wild fl y fi shing really
is—the better. Yes, it is frustrating at times when you see more
and more people on the water, but we all need to remember that
in time when conservation, public lands and access are all in the
crosshairs of some seriously destructive people, that more people
involved ultimately means more voices that can and will stand up
for our resources and our sport. Fly fi shing fi lms can give a great
voice to these issues, and I always believe that it is a great thing.
WHAT’S NEXT?
CP: It’s funny that whenever I fi nish putting one of these fi lms
together, I sometimes assume that “I’ll never want to do it again.”
The reality, however, is totally the opposite. When the movie is
done, I am climbing the walls to make something else. The sense
of accomplishment just pushes me further towards the next
project. Hopefully by November we are off on another journey. Jim
never rests. He seriously does not stop. He’s already got another
great movie idea that he is presenting to our faithful partners,
but in today’s world we’ll keep that idea quiet for now!
1312
PICK YOUR POISON
—
IF YOU FREQUENT FLORIDA IN YOUR FISHINGTRAVELS THEN YOU PROBABLY STAY CONFLICTEDLIKE I DO. One day you may fancy putting a permit in the palms
of your hands, the next you could be two hand stripping for tarpon
while they are violently attacking your fl y at your feet. With so many
options to fi ll your saltwater appetite sometimes it’s hard to choose.
Every angler has their crux, that one fi sh that serves to make you
purely insane chasing them. The more time I spend in my home state
of Florida, the more indecisive I become on which fi sh that is for me.
It all starts at my fl y tying desk. Do I tie a permit crab or a gurgler for
reds? What do I need to tie to target juvi poons? Or would it be better
to knock out some toad fl ies that I could potentially catch snook,
reds and tarpon on? I often end up blankly staring at my vice until I
snap into the zone of what I really desire to target at the moment.
When I was living in Belize my crux was permit. I could go all
day, weeks, and even a year without catching another one, while
remaining undoubtedly just as crazy about them from the fi rst day
I landed one on fl y. Even when I was tempting tailing bones I was
still thinking about permit. It didn’t matter if I was brushing my teeth
or lounging in my hammock, I was still thinking about permit.
I returned to Florida nearly two years ago with a open slate.
All the wiser in the permit game I started to broaden my angling
horizons. If someone would’ve told me a few years back that I
would go bonkers over a barracuda on fl y I would’ve probably
laughed them right off my skiff. They pack the punch of a tarpon
when they attack the fl y and jump as many times or more than the
Silver King. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before? Could
this be my next poison? What fl ies do I need to tie for these bad
boys of the fl ats? The fi rst ’Cuda Bowl I fi shed in the Keys left
me with more questions and curiosity than I could handle.
Following my departure from the winter time fl y fi shing for ’cudas
in the Keys, I nestled in a new fi shery along the Nature Coast of
Florida, often referred to as the Big Bend. I had no idea what I was
sticking my push pole into as I explored these foreign shorelines.
My fi rst thought was that this coastline reminded me of Louisiana.
Marshy mudfl ats lined with sawgrass and oyster bars surrounded
by oak hammocks and mangrove islands. Look a little closer and
you’ll be fi shing for giant tarpon close to where the mermaids are
swimming in natural springs at the world famous Weeki Wachee.
So this is where they grow giant tarpon in gin clear water? The
fabled Homosassa, FL was my new love. Why are they all so big here?
What do they want to dine on? Do you think they would eat this fl y? So
many questions and so many more blank stares into my vice. If they
eat the worm patterns in the Keys would they do the same up here?
Just when I thought my curiosity was maxed out, I fi shed my fi rst
fl ood tide for tailing reds. Copper clad crab crunchers mowing down
in every direction I looked. Will they eat a top water even though
they are tailing? Let’s fi nd out! “BOOOOOM, FISH ON!” Long casts,
short casts, they pretty much all eat. So if the fl ood tide is so good
here then surely a negative tide would be money, right? I wasn't let
down. Unreal! And if for some reason you become tired of catching
reds just wait for the Jack attack and pick off the poor man’s
permit. Tired of the Jacks? No problem. If you’re ready for a game
of hide and go seek just start cruising the clam beds for tripletail.
There should be an 800 number for anglers like
me. I’m so confl icted on a daily basis. It’s hard to
pick your poison when you want them all.
STORY // LACEY KELLYPHOTOS // LACEY KELLY & COLORBLIND MEDIA
1312
PICK YOUR POISON
—
IF YOU FREQUENT FLORIDA IN YOUR FISHINGTRAVELS THEN YOU PROBABLY STAY CONFLICTEDLIKE I DO. One day you may fancy putting a permit in the palms
of your hands, the next you could be two hand stripping for tarpon
while they are violently attacking your fl y at your feet. With so many
options to fi ll your saltwater appetite sometimes it’s hard to choose.
Every angler has their crux, that one fi sh that serves to make you
purely insane chasing them. The more time I spend in my home state
of Florida, the more indecisive I become on which fi sh that is for me.
It all starts at my fl y tying desk. Do I tie a permit crab or a gurgler for
reds? What do I need to tie to target juvi poons? Or would it be better
to knock out some toad fl ies that I could potentially catch snook,
reds and tarpon on? I often end up blankly staring at my vice until I
snap into the zone of what I really desire to target at the moment.
When I was living in Belize my crux was permit. I could go all
day, weeks, and even a year without catching another one, while
remaining undoubtedly just as crazy about them from the fi rst day
I landed one on fl y. Even when I was tempting tailing bones I was
still thinking about permit. It didn’t matter if I was brushing my teeth
or lounging in my hammock, I was still thinking about permit.
I returned to Florida nearly two years ago with a open slate.
All the wiser in the permit game I started to broaden my angling
horizons. If someone would’ve told me a few years back that I
would go bonkers over a barracuda on fl y I would’ve probably
laughed them right off my skiff. They pack the punch of a tarpon
when they attack the fl y and jump as many times or more than the
Silver King. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this before? Could
this be my next poison? What fl ies do I need to tie for these bad
boys of the fl ats? The fi rst ’Cuda Bowl I fi shed in the Keys left
me with more questions and curiosity than I could handle.
Following my departure from the winter time fl y fi shing for ’cudas
in the Keys, I nestled in a new fi shery along the Nature Coast of
Florida, often referred to as the Big Bend. I had no idea what I was
sticking my push pole into as I explored these foreign shorelines.
My fi rst thought was that this coastline reminded me of Louisiana.
Marshy mudfl ats lined with sawgrass and oyster bars surrounded
by oak hammocks and mangrove islands. Look a little closer and
you’ll be fi shing for giant tarpon close to where the mermaids are
swimming in natural springs at the world famous Weeki Wachee.
So this is where they grow giant tarpon in gin clear water? The
fabled Homosassa, FL was my new love. Why are they all so big here?
What do they want to dine on? Do you think they would eat this fl y? So
many questions and so many more blank stares into my vice. If they
eat the worm patterns in the Keys would they do the same up here?
Just when I thought my curiosity was maxed out, I fi shed my fi rst
fl ood tide for tailing reds. Copper clad crab crunchers mowing down
in every direction I looked. Will they eat a top water even though
they are tailing? Let’s fi nd out! “BOOOOOM, FISH ON!” Long casts,
short casts, they pretty much all eat. So if the fl ood tide is so good
here then surely a negative tide would be money, right? I wasn't let
down. Unreal! And if for some reason you become tired of catching
reds just wait for the Jack attack and pick off the poor man’s
permit. Tired of the Jacks? No problem. If you’re ready for a game
of hide and go seek just start cruising the clam beds for tripletail.
There should be an 800 number for anglers like
me. I’m so confl icted on a daily basis. It’s hard to
pick your poison when you want them all.
STORY // LACEY KELLYPHOTOS // LACEY KELLY & COLORBLIND MEDIA
1514
ETIQUETTE ESSENTIALS: ANGLING IN SCOTLAND
—
There are conspicuous no-nos in Scotland: If you call it a
skirt, you’re bound to get yourself kilt. If your unruly dog chases a
crofter’s fl ock of sheep, you’re equally likely to fi nd yourself cold
in the ground. If you wear a visor on the golf course, be ready
to defend yourself against cold stares or worse, a Glasgow Kiss
(that’s a vicious head butt). And then, there are subtle faux pas—
especially with angling—that elude the newly-arrived Yank.
The thought of angling in Scotland can be hugely appealing and
simultaneously, a wee bit daunting to the casual American angler.
There’s books-worth of things to know when fi shing these lochs and
rivers, where sporting tradition is tradition. But by no means is this
setting unapproachable to the contemporary angler of the New West.
Hatch sent me afi eld with the task to observe the delicate nuances
of angling etiquette in the land of wild Atlantic salmon and brown
trout. Under the tutelage of Corin Smith, a Scotsman raised on a
Highland sheep farm, an international guide, and owner of The Wild
Rise Company, I was converted from a common cack-handed boor
to a proper Scottish fl y angler in a matter of days. By following a few
simple rules, you’ll blend in like one of the Old Boys in no time.
RULE 1: DON’T FREAK WHEN YOU FANKLE
Scots fi sh with a “cast of fl ies”. Three fl ies are tied to the
leader, a point fl y at the end and two droppers tied on at eight-
inch intervals, hanging from about four inches of tippet. When
this formidable Cat o’ Three Tails catches the wind and gnarls into
an orgy of fl ies, you have not a tangle on your hands, but rather a
“fankle”, which just sounds like a fated meeting of “f*ck”, “dang”
and “cankle.” A fi tting word for this unfortunate circumstance.
Fishing for browns in lochs requires ideal conditions, that
is, blasting wind. A heavy chop and white-capping are ideal,
which means you’ll be roll casting a lot and false casting
as little as possible. Finding yourself in a fankle is likely, no
matter how experienced a wind caster you are. The key is:
don’t freak when you fankle. Scots are salty folk and unseemly
neuroticism is not part of their general national character.
I had my fi rst brush with the Dreaded F on Loch Damph. I
swear before God and the ghosts of all my ancestors that I barely
lifted my fl ies from the water to ensure they weren’t fouled. A
roaring gale caught the fi rst two droppers, then lifted the third
from the water. Before I knew it, I was all kinds of fankled-up.
I attempted to surreptitiously work out this mono nest in the
back of the boat, but much like their American counterparts,
you can’t conceal much from a good Scottish guide.
“I appreciate the optimism back there, but just cut them
off,” Corin instructed. I was then demoted to two fl ies.
RULE 2: IT’S WHISKY, NOT WHISKEY
And you should sample it often, especially if it’s pissing rain and
the boat’s taking in water. WARNING: if you’re looking for a lighter
dram, you’ve come to the wrong place. Smoky or sweet, it’s worth
sampling the full spectrum of these powerful malts and there are
endless options to try, many from distilleries that are hundreds of
years old. Scots take their scotch whisky neat, with barely a half inch
in the glass. No rocks. No water. No cherries. Don’t even inquire.
STORY // SARAH GRIGGPHOTOS // SARAH GRIGG & CORIN SMITH
1514
ETIQUETTE ESSENTIALS: ANGLING IN SCOTLAND
—
There are conspicuous no-nos in Scotland: If you call it a
skirt, you’re bound to get yourself kilt. If your unruly dog chases a
crofter’s fl ock of sheep, you’re equally likely to fi nd yourself cold
in the ground. If you wear a visor on the golf course, be ready
to defend yourself against cold stares or worse, a Glasgow Kiss
(that’s a vicious head butt). And then, there are subtle faux pas—
especially with angling—that elude the newly-arrived Yank.
The thought of angling in Scotland can be hugely appealing and
simultaneously, a wee bit daunting to the casual American angler.
There’s books-worth of things to know when fi shing these lochs and
rivers, where sporting tradition is tradition. But by no means is this
setting unapproachable to the contemporary angler of the New West.
Hatch sent me afi eld with the task to observe the delicate nuances
of angling etiquette in the land of wild Atlantic salmon and brown
trout. Under the tutelage of Corin Smith, a Scotsman raised on a
Highland sheep farm, an international guide, and owner of The Wild
Rise Company, I was converted from a common cack-handed boor
to a proper Scottish fl y angler in a matter of days. By following a few
simple rules, you’ll blend in like one of the Old Boys in no time.
RULE 1: DON’T FREAK WHEN YOU FANKLE
Scots fi sh with a “cast of fl ies”. Three fl ies are tied to the
leader, a point fl y at the end and two droppers tied on at eight-
inch intervals, hanging from about four inches of tippet. When
this formidable Cat o’ Three Tails catches the wind and gnarls into
an orgy of fl ies, you have not a tangle on your hands, but rather a
“fankle”, which just sounds like a fated meeting of “f*ck”, “dang”
and “cankle.” A fi tting word for this unfortunate circumstance.
Fishing for browns in lochs requires ideal conditions, that
is, blasting wind. A heavy chop and white-capping are ideal,
which means you’ll be roll casting a lot and false casting
as little as possible. Finding yourself in a fankle is likely, no
matter how experienced a wind caster you are. The key is:
don’t freak when you fankle. Scots are salty folk and unseemly
neuroticism is not part of their general national character.
I had my fi rst brush with the Dreaded F on Loch Damph. I
swear before God and the ghosts of all my ancestors that I barely
lifted my fl ies from the water to ensure they weren’t fouled. A
roaring gale caught the fi rst two droppers, then lifted the third
from the water. Before I knew it, I was all kinds of fankled-up.
I attempted to surreptitiously work out this mono nest in the
back of the boat, but much like their American counterparts,
you can’t conceal much from a good Scottish guide.
“I appreciate the optimism back there, but just cut them
off,” Corin instructed. I was then demoted to two fl ies.
RULE 2: IT’S WHISKY, NOT WHISKEY
And you should sample it often, especially if it’s pissing rain and
the boat’s taking in water. WARNING: if you’re looking for a lighter
dram, you’ve come to the wrong place. Smoky or sweet, it’s worth
sampling the full spectrum of these powerful malts and there are
endless options to try, many from distilleries that are hundreds of
years old. Scots take their scotch whisky neat, with barely a half inch
in the glass. No rocks. No water. No cherries. Don’t even inquire.
STORY // SARAH GRIGGPHOTOS // SARAH GRIGG & CORIN SMITH
1716
RULE 3: DON’T CAST CACK-HANDED ON THE RIVER SPEY
Much like the days of the Salem Witch Trials, relying on your
left-hand can get you in a world of trouble. As a novice Spey
caster, I thought I would “get a hand up” so to speak, by asking
an experienced two-handed angler for a lesson prior to Scotland.
I pulled more, pushed less, through the Snap T, Double Spey and
Snake Roll. Proud of my small progressions, I decided to unveil
all I had learned on the Holiest of Holy Spey-Casting Rivers, the
River Spey, King Edward VIII’s preferred fi shing hole for years.
Standing on River Left, I got into position, left hand below,
right hand on top. I let the current carry my line taut and prepared
to form an anchor. “What’s this cack-handed nonsense,” Corin
asked before I could even lift the rod. “I’m going to attempt
a Double Spey,” I defended. “Not like that you aren’t.”
Sent back to square one, I spent the bulk of the morning learning
a proper Scottish two-handed cast—with the left hand above, right
hand below when standing on River Left, and vice versa on River
Right. Do yourself a favor and like a good Puritan, iron out any
cack-handed tendencies prior to stepping foot in Scottish waters.
RULE 4: READ THE TWEED MEMO
Anglers in Scotland may wear whatever fi shing attire they please
in most places, especially when loch fi shing. “You don’t have to
wear a tie or any of that bollocks,” notes Corin. But do consider
mixing some tweed into your angling wardrobe for fi shing on
rivers within formal estates. It can be a tweed hat, a tweed vest,
or tweed pants if you really want to give it a go. But for the love
of Queen Victoria, have some scrap of tweed on your person.
We met with Lawrence, a ghillie with 32 years of experience,
18 of those at Tulchan Lodge. Ghillies in Victorian sporting
culture were traditionally guides and loch or river keepers
on private estates. The role has changed over the years, but
much remains the same. Part of Lawrence’s job is to maintain
the grounds along the river and escort guests to beats.
He accompanied us along mowed paths to Beat 3 on the River
Spey, where spawning Atlantic salmon were breaching in gleeful belly
fl ops. Lawrence estimated that 80% of anglers here wore tweed of
some kind, stating, “We try to keep tradition, hence why we have
tweed suits. We avoid what you see on some of the beats where
they’re all decked out like Scandinavian anglers. I’m not saying that’s
a bad thing. I’m not putting Scandinavians down. They’re very good
anglers. We just want to keep our name, if you like, keep our name.”
“Am I dressed like a Scandinavian, Lawrence?” I asked, already
having a good idea of the answer. Lawrence looked over my fl eece
jacket, trucker hat, aviators, and waders as he hand-rolled a cigarette
and said, “Well...you look like a very contemporary angler.”
RULE 5: LESS IS MORE
Scottish anglers carry a little, but never much, of
anything—a handful of fl ies, a spool or two of mono, one rod
for multiple settings. They use less of everything than their
cowboy cousins across the pond when it comes to gear.
It’s not that they aren’t up-to-date on the latest and
greatest. It’s that they simply don’t care how the rest of
the world does it. They’ve been fi shing a long time and
they’ll carry on their traditions on their own terms.
Beyond the kitsch and cliché of tartans, shortbread, whisky, and
Braveheart, Scotland is a world-class destination and an amazing
place to try your hand at wild brown trout, sea trout and salmon that
have persisted in freshwater lochs, sea lochs and rivers for millennia.
And the Scots will be happy to show you the proper way of doing
things along the way... so long as you can hold your whisky.
1716
RULE 3: DON’T CAST CACK-HANDED ON THE RIVER SPEY
Much like the days of the Salem Witch Trials, relying on your
left-hand can get you in a world of trouble. As a novice Spey
caster, I thought I would “get a hand up” so to speak, by asking
an experienced two-handed angler for a lesson prior to Scotland.
I pulled more, pushed less, through the Snap T, Double Spey and
Snake Roll. Proud of my small progressions, I decided to unveil
all I had learned on the Holiest of Holy Spey-Casting Rivers, the
River Spey, King Edward VIII’s preferred fi shing hole for years.
Standing on River Left, I got into position, left hand below,
right hand on top. I let the current carry my line taut and prepared
to form an anchor. “What’s this cack-handed nonsense,” Corin
asked before I could even lift the rod. “I’m going to attempt
a Double Spey,” I defended. “Not like that you aren’t.”
Sent back to square one, I spent the bulk of the morning learning
a proper Scottish two-handed cast—with the left hand above, right
hand below when standing on River Left, and vice versa on River
Right. Do yourself a favor and like a good Puritan, iron out any
cack-handed tendencies prior to stepping foot in Scottish waters.
RULE 4: READ THE TWEED MEMO
Anglers in Scotland may wear whatever fi shing attire they please
in most places, especially when loch fi shing. “You don’t have to
wear a tie or any of that bollocks,” notes Corin. But do consider
mixing some tweed into your angling wardrobe for fi shing on
rivers within formal estates. It can be a tweed hat, a tweed vest,
or tweed pants if you really want to give it a go. But for the love
of Queen Victoria, have some scrap of tweed on your person.
We met with Lawrence, a ghillie with 32 years of experience,
18 of those at Tulchan Lodge. Ghillies in Victorian sporting
culture were traditionally guides and loch or river keepers
on private estates. The role has changed over the years, but
much remains the same. Part of Lawrence’s job is to maintain
the grounds along the river and escort guests to beats.
He accompanied us along mowed paths to Beat 3 on the River
Spey, where spawning Atlantic salmon were breaching in gleeful belly
fl ops. Lawrence estimated that 80% of anglers here wore tweed of
some kind, stating, “We try to keep tradition, hence why we have
tweed suits. We avoid what you see on some of the beats where
they’re all decked out like Scandinavian anglers. I’m not saying that’s
a bad thing. I’m not putting Scandinavians down. They’re very good
anglers. We just want to keep our name, if you like, keep our name.”
“Am I dressed like a Scandinavian, Lawrence?” I asked, already
having a good idea of the answer. Lawrence looked over my fl eece
jacket, trucker hat, aviators, and waders as he hand-rolled a cigarette
and said, “Well...you look like a very contemporary angler.”
RULE 5: LESS IS MORE
Scottish anglers carry a little, but never much, of
anything—a handful of fl ies, a spool or two of mono, one rod
for multiple settings. They use less of everything than their
cowboy cousins across the pond when it comes to gear.
It’s not that they aren’t up-to-date on the latest and
greatest. It’s that they simply don’t care how the rest of
the world does it. They’ve been fi shing a long time and
they’ll carry on their traditions on their own terms.
Beyond the kitsch and cliché of tartans, shortbread, whisky, and
Braveheart, Scotland is a world-class destination and an amazing
place to try your hand at wild brown trout, sea trout and salmon that
have persisted in freshwater lochs, sea lochs and rivers for millennia.
And the Scots will be happy to show you the proper way of doing
things along the way... so long as you can hold your whisky.
1918
BAJA OBSESSION
—
EVERY SO OFTEN AN EXPERIENCE COMES ALONG THAT ILLUMINATES A NEW PATH IN LIFE.
In my case, there were no rods or reels involved. No ocean in sight.
The kilo of scallops I bought in Mulege were the closest thing to a fi sh
within 50 miles. However, fi shing was part of the grand scheme. This
I can assure you.
Unhindered by the lights of cities or towns of any signifi cance,
the milky way stretched across the sky with brilliant clarity.
Hanging starkly in the midst of this curtain of countless stars
was, of all things, a comet. The curiously named, Hale-Bopp
Comet to be exact. It’s ghostly tail swept along behind the
glowing mountain of ice and dirt as it hurtled through the solar
system, creating a most impressive visage to say the least.
I was deep in the Sierra de la Giganta. At a ranch which in
all likelihood had existed there for well over 100 years. Tucked
into Mexican blankets on a homemade cow-hide cot, digesting
a belly full of the aforementioned scallops, I stared up into the
vastness of the universe. Enveloped by cool mountain air and
entranced by the comet: I was completely lost in time.
This moment could have been 1997; it could have been 1897. This
place was also timeless. This was escapism and adventure the likes
of which are rarely found in our modern world. My life was offi cially
redirected at that moment. I was gripped by the magnetic allure of
Baja California not unlike the comet on it's relentless trek around
the sun. In ancient Mexico, comets were considered portents of
disaster, or great change. The latter was defi nitely true in my case.
Great change took root in my mind. The idea of living in Baja
California Sur dominated my thoughts. By the time I had been
spellbound by the comet, I had already caught my fi rst fi sh on
the fl y in the Sea of Cortez. However, it would be a couple of
years before the ultimate watershed moment: when I caught my
fi rst roosterfi sh from the beach. It was approximately the size of
the palm of my hand. Like all roosters, it was a thing of beauty.
17 years later that fi rst pez gallo is still vivid in my memory.
For a die hard beach rat who cut his chops on the cold
shores of the Olympic Peninsula, that fi rst rooster was the
embodiment of all things warm and exotic. It was everything
I ever dreamed of while watching TV fi shing shows on rainy
Saturday mornings. It triggered the same sense of timeless
escapism I felt that night under the comet. My fascination with
the Baja Peninsula grew into all-encompassing obsession.
Fast forward a few years. The transition was well under way.
Courtesy of Baja fl y fi shing pioneer Gary Graham, I found myself
stationed at his beachfront home on the Sea of Cortez for months on
end. It was the turn of the 21st century yet somehow the unspoiled
beaches of the East Cape and the angling opportunities they harbored
were virtually unknown to most of the fl y fi shing world. The number
of beach anglers who really knew the ways of the ever mysterious
rooster could be counted on one hand, with fi ngers to spare.
I certainly wasn't one of those anglers. However, I was
determined to emulate them. I could think of nothing more
important than laying hands on my fi rst big roosterfi sh. Not
palm sized. Not a 10 pounder. Rather, a proper “Grande” of
25 pounds or more. I set myself to relentless hunting and
unfettered experimentation. It was a special time and place
indeed. The beaches were largely devoid of anglers, dense shoals
of sardina still hugged the shores, and the fi shing was excellent.
Trophy caliber pez gallo were nonetheless diffi cult to feed.
They were common but they still behaved like roosters: masters
of what a well-known angler would later dub “ER”—Encouraging
Refusals. Encouraged beyond words, my wife and I sold everything
we owned and raced southward in my trusty old Toyota truck to
begin a new life of total immersion in the world of pez gallo.
Innumerable “comb ups” and near misses paved the road to
enlightenment. In a rather comical coincidence, I landed my fi rst
grande on a sunny Cinco de Mayo, Mexico’s most well known holiday
which celebrates a military victory over the French in 1862. My fi rst
successful bout with the epitome of my wildest angling fantasies was
not a victory per se. Defi nitely a milestone, but victory implies struggle
against an adversary. The roosterfi sh has never been an adversary.
To the contrary, I hold them in the highest esteem. Much like a
star-struck fan seeking an autograph from a favorite celebrity—I’m
a full blown rooster geek, willing to stand in the scorching sun for
hours on end simply to catch a glimpse of nematistius pectoralis.
Nearly two decades and many thousands of beach hours later,
the thrill of the hunt has not even remotely worn off. Baja remains
epic. I’m still every bit as stoked to put in my time, scouring
the water for the combed apparition. Some have likened it to
mental illness. Frankly, they might be right. I prefer to consider it
damning evidence of a misspent youth. Or, a properly spent youth
as the case may be. In either case, I blame the comet.
STORY & PHOTOS // LANCE PETERSON
1918
BAJA OBSESSION
—
EVERY SO OFTEN AN EXPERIENCE COMES ALONG THAT ILLUMINATES A NEW PATH IN LIFE.
In my case, there were no rods or reels involved. No ocean in sight.
The kilo of scallops I bought in Mulege were the closest thing to a fi sh
within 50 miles. However, fi shing was part of the grand scheme. This
I can assure you.
Unhindered by the lights of cities or towns of any signifi cance,
the milky way stretched across the sky with brilliant clarity.
Hanging starkly in the midst of this curtain of countless stars
was, of all things, a comet. The curiously named, Hale-Bopp
Comet to be exact. It’s ghostly tail swept along behind the
glowing mountain of ice and dirt as it hurtled through the solar
system, creating a most impressive visage to say the least.
I was deep in the Sierra de la Giganta. At a ranch which in
all likelihood had existed there for well over 100 years. Tucked
into Mexican blankets on a homemade cow-hide cot, digesting
a belly full of the aforementioned scallops, I stared up into the
vastness of the universe. Enveloped by cool mountain air and
entranced by the comet: I was completely lost in time.
This moment could have been 1997; it could have been 1897. This
place was also timeless. This was escapism and adventure the likes
of which are rarely found in our modern world. My life was offi cially
redirected at that moment. I was gripped by the magnetic allure of
Baja California not unlike the comet on it's relentless trek around
the sun. In ancient Mexico, comets were considered portents of
disaster, or great change. The latter was defi nitely true in my case.
Great change took root in my mind. The idea of living in Baja
California Sur dominated my thoughts. By the time I had been
spellbound by the comet, I had already caught my fi rst fi sh on
the fl y in the Sea of Cortez. However, it would be a couple of
years before the ultimate watershed moment: when I caught my
fi rst roosterfi sh from the beach. It was approximately the size of
the palm of my hand. Like all roosters, it was a thing of beauty.
17 years later that fi rst pez gallo is still vivid in my memory.
For a die hard beach rat who cut his chops on the cold
shores of the Olympic Peninsula, that fi rst rooster was the
embodiment of all things warm and exotic. It was everything
I ever dreamed of while watching TV fi shing shows on rainy
Saturday mornings. It triggered the same sense of timeless
escapism I felt that night under the comet. My fascination with
the Baja Peninsula grew into all-encompassing obsession.
Fast forward a few years. The transition was well under way.
Courtesy of Baja fl y fi shing pioneer Gary Graham, I found myself
stationed at his beachfront home on the Sea of Cortez for months on
end. It was the turn of the 21st century yet somehow the unspoiled
beaches of the East Cape and the angling opportunities they harbored
were virtually unknown to most of the fl y fi shing world. The number
of beach anglers who really knew the ways of the ever mysterious
rooster could be counted on one hand, with fi ngers to spare.
I certainly wasn't one of those anglers. However, I was
determined to emulate them. I could think of nothing more
important than laying hands on my fi rst big roosterfi sh. Not
palm sized. Not a 10 pounder. Rather, a proper “Grande” of
25 pounds or more. I set myself to relentless hunting and
unfettered experimentation. It was a special time and place
indeed. The beaches were largely devoid of anglers, dense shoals
of sardina still hugged the shores, and the fi shing was excellent.
Trophy caliber pez gallo were nonetheless diffi cult to feed.
They were common but they still behaved like roosters: masters
of what a well-known angler would later dub “ER”—Encouraging
Refusals. Encouraged beyond words, my wife and I sold everything
we owned and raced southward in my trusty old Toyota truck to
begin a new life of total immersion in the world of pez gallo.
Innumerable “comb ups” and near misses paved the road to
enlightenment. In a rather comical coincidence, I landed my fi rst
grande on a sunny Cinco de Mayo, Mexico’s most well known holiday
which celebrates a military victory over the French in 1862. My fi rst
successful bout with the epitome of my wildest angling fantasies was
not a victory per se. Defi nitely a milestone, but victory implies struggle
against an adversary. The roosterfi sh has never been an adversary.
To the contrary, I hold them in the highest esteem. Much like a
star-struck fan seeking an autograph from a favorite celebrity—I’m
a full blown rooster geek, willing to stand in the scorching sun for
hours on end simply to catch a glimpse of nematistius pectoralis.
Nearly two decades and many thousands of beach hours later,
the thrill of the hunt has not even remotely worn off. Baja remains
epic. I’m still every bit as stoked to put in my time, scouring
the water for the combed apparition. Some have likened it to
mental illness. Frankly, they might be right. I prefer to consider it
damning evidence of a misspent youth. Or, a properly spent youth
as the case may be. In either case, I blame the comet.
STORY & PHOTOS // LANCE PETERSON
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
21
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
20
ONE FRAME, TWO SPOOLS—ULTIMATE VERSATILITY. The 3–12 Plus Finatic reels are offered in both large and mid arbor confi gurations.Both spools can run on the same frame, allowing anglers to run three or more line weights on a single reel.Both spools can run on the same frame, allowing anglers to run three or more line weights on a single reel.
A R E YO U A F I N AT I C ?
1 PLUS FINATIC—FISHING WITH 0–2 WEIGHT RODS REQUIRES A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN ROD AND REELin order to create harmonious bliss. Achieving thiscritical ratio makes the 1 Plus a must-have for anyserious creeky angler.
REEL $350 // SPOOL $158
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
2.9" 0.85" 2.8 oz. 0–2 MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
21
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
20
ONE FRAME, TWO SPOOLS—ULTIMATE VERSATILITY. The 3–12 Plus Finatic reels are offered in both large and mid arbor confi gurations.Both spools can run on the same frame, allowing anglers to run three or more line weights on a single reel.Both spools can run on the same frame, allowing anglers to run three or more line weights on a single reel.
A R E YO U A F I N AT I C ?
1 PLUS FINATIC—FISHING WITH 0–2 WEIGHT RODS REQUIRES A DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN ROD AND REELin order to create harmonious bliss. Achieving thiscritical ratio makes the 1 Plus a must-have for anyserious creeky angler.
REEL $350 // SPOOL $158
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
2.9" 0.85" 2.8 oz. 0–2 MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
23
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
22
2 PLUS FINATIC—COMBINING THE LIGHT WEIGHT OF THE 1 PLUS WITH DRAG POWER SIMILAR TO THE 3 PLUS, the 2 Plus creates the ultimate dry fl y trout reel for 2- to 3-weight rods. We’ve also used it on ultra light 4-weight rods with great success.
REEL $380 // SPOOL $170
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.0" .875" 3.7 oz. 2–4 LARGE ARBOR
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
4 PLUS FINATIC—THE PERFECT WESTERN TROUT FISHING REEL, the 4 Plus is capable of running 4-, 5-, and 6-weight lines with ease. If you can only buy one reel to use for both dry and nymph fi shing then this is the one.
REEL $450 // SPOOL $190
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.425" .90" 5.6 oz. 4–6 LARGE + MID ARBOR
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
3 PLUS FINATIC—THIS IS THE PERFECT REEL TO ACCOMPANY YOUR FAVORITE 4-WEIGHT DRY FLY ROD, or you can rig it with WF5F on the mid arbor spool for a lightweight 5-weight alternative. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with the 3 Plus.
REEL $400 // SPOOL $175
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.25" .825" 5.3 oz. 3–5 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.625" .9375" 6.5 oz. 5–7 LARGE + MID ARBOR
5 PLUS FINATIC—WHEN THE FISH GET A LITTLE BIGGER AND HARDER TO HANDLE, THIS IS THE PERFECT REEL—whether streamer fi shing or hucking big drys at 20" plus fi sh. Italso serves double duty as a lightweight 6- or 7-weight setup for stalking bones on the fl ats.
REEL $500 // SPOOL $205
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
23
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
22
2 PLUS FINATIC—COMBINING THE LIGHT WEIGHT OF THE 1 PLUS WITH DRAG POWER SIMILAR TO THE 3 PLUS, the 2 Plus creates the ultimate dry fl y trout reel for 2- to 3-weight rods. We’ve also used it on ultra light 4-weight rods with great success.
REEL $380 // SPOOL $170
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.0" .875" 3.7 oz. 2–4 LARGE ARBOR
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
4 PLUS FINATIC—THE PERFECT WESTERN TROUT FISHING REEL, the 4 Plus is capable of running 4-, 5-, and 6-weight lines with ease. If you can only buy one reel to use for both dry and nymph fi shing then this is the one.
REEL $450 // SPOOL $190
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.425" .90" 5.6 oz. 4–6 LARGE + MID ARBOR
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
3 PLUS FINATIC—THIS IS THE PERFECT REEL TO ACCOMPANY YOUR FAVORITE 4-WEIGHT DRY FLY ROD, or you can rig it with WF5F on the mid arbor spool for a lightweight 5-weight alternative. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong with the 3 Plus.
REEL $400 // SPOOL $175
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.25" .825" 5.3 oz. 3–5 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
3.625" .9375" 6.5 oz. 5–7 LARGE + MID ARBOR
5 PLUS FINATIC—WHEN THE FISH GET A LITTLE BIGGER AND HARDER TO HANDLE, THIS IS THE PERFECT REEL—whether streamer fi shing or hucking big drys at 20" plus fi sh. Italso serves double duty as a lightweight 6- or 7-weight setup for stalking bones on the fl ats.
REEL $500 // SPOOL $205
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
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H AT C H O U T D O O R S
24
9 PLUS FINATIC—CAPABLE OF RUNNING 9–11 WEIGHT LINES AND YOUR CHOICE OF MID OR LARGE ARBOR SPOOLS, this reel is one versatile hombre. If you are truly serious about saltwater or spey fi shing then this is your next reel.
REEL $750 // SPOOL $350
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.25" 1.375" 10.6 oz. 9–11 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
5.0" 1.6875" 15.6 oz. 12–16 LARGE + MID ARBOR
12 PLUS FINATIC—DESIGNED FOR FISH THAT ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GTsBEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GTsBEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GT OR TUNA,to name a few. You will not fi nd a better fi sh-fi ghtingtool on the market for these situations and it’s alsogreat for big spey applications.
REEL $900 // SPOOL $400
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
7 PLUS FINATIC—IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND HAD ONLY ONE REEL TO BRING IT SHOULD BE THE 7 PLUS. It’s the perfect crossover reel for both salt and fresh water fl y fi shing. From bonefi sh to permit or steelhead to carp, this reel has you covered.
REEL $600 // SPOOL $225
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.0" 1.125" 8.6 oz. 7–9 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
11 PLUS FINATIC—WE HAD ONE THING IN MIND WHEN WE DESIGNED THIS REEL: TARPON. Bridging the gap between the 9 and 12 Plus models, an oversized handle provides greater grip control and the mid arbor option is great for spey rods from 13.5–14.5 feet.
REEL $825 // SPOOL $375
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.625" 1.5" 11.1 oz. 11–12 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
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H AT C H O U T D O O R S
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9 PLUS FINATIC—CAPABLE OF RUNNING 9–11 WEIGHT LINES AND YOUR CHOICE OF MID OR LARGE ARBOR SPOOLS, this reel is one versatile hombre. If you are truly serious about saltwater or spey fi shing then this is your next reel.
REEL $750 // SPOOL $350
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.25" 1.375" 10.6 oz. 9–11 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
5.0" 1.6875" 15.6 oz. 12–16 LARGE + MID ARBOR
12 PLUS FINATIC—DESIGNED FOR FISH THAT ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GTsBEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GTsBEING REALLY HARD TO HANDLE—GT OR TUNA,to name a few. You will not fi nd a better fi sh-fi ghtingtool on the market for these situations and it’s alsogreat for big spey applications.
REEL $900 // SPOOL $400
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
7 PLUS FINATIC—IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND AND HAD ONLY ONE REEL TO BRING IT SHOULD BE THE 7 PLUS. It’s the perfect crossover reel for both salt and fresh water fl y fi shing. From bonefi sh to permit or steelhead to carp, this reel has you covered.
REEL $600 // SPOOL $225
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.0" 1.125" 8.6 oz. 7–9 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
11 PLUS FINATIC—WE HAD ONE THING IN MIND WHEN WE DESIGNED THIS REEL: TARPON. Bridging the gap between the 9 and 12 Plus models, an oversized handle provides greater grip control and the mid arbor option is great for spey rods from 13.5–14.5 feet.
REEL $825 // SPOOL $375
DIAMETER WIDTH WEIGHT LINES SPOOLS
4.625" 1.5" 11.1 oz. 11–12 LARGE + MID ARBOR
REEL COLORS
CLEAR / RED CLEAR / BLUE CLEAR / GREEN
CLEAR / BLACK BLACK / SILVER
FOR COMPLETE REEL SPECS, SEE INSIDE BACK COVER
2726
A C
D
E
G
H
DESIGN FEATURES—
A // MACHINED FINISHWe don’t polish our reels. No buff outs or cover-ups. You can see the witness marks and quality machining. Its more diffi cult,
and takes more time, but it’s worth it.
B // FRAME /SPOOL CONNECTIONMaking a positive frame-to-spool connection is essential. Our
“power fl ower” design feature locks both together creating a bomb-proof fi t.
C // MACHINED REEL SE ATA single solid is stronger than two pieces, and by eliminating
the screws you’ve eliminated the corrosion points.
D // CRANKS & COUNTERBAL ANCEUnlike many manufacturers whose counterbalance is merely cosmetic, we’ve made the two pieces the same weight to
achieve true balance in the spool.
E // DIMENSION IN THE FRAMEIncreased rigidity, strength, and reduced lateral fl ex. With the reel and spool together you get virtually no lateral fl ex when you push/pull the two. This means the reel tracks truer and it
eliminates the spool wobbling in high-speed runs.
F // HOOK GUARDKeep those hooks tucked into the arbor of the reel and out of
the way of your hands.
G // SPOOL TENSION NUTEasily taken on and off, with or without full gloves. The nut is press-fi t into the spool so it won’t fall out into the water or your
gear bag.
H // DRAGA multi-disc drag cassette comprised of Rulon® and precision stamped stainless steel discs is employed in all models. With a multi-disc drag, you are applying braking pressure and heat dispersion over several surfaces. This virtually eliminates start
up inertia and stick-slip problems.
F
B
2726
A C
D
E
G
H
DESIGN FEATURES—
A // MACHINED FINISHWe don’t polish our reels. No buff outs or cover-ups. You can see the witness marks and quality machining. Its more diffi cult,
and takes more time, but it’s worth it.
B // FRAME /SPOOL CONNECTIONMaking a positive frame-to-spool connection is essential. Our
“power fl ower” design feature locks both together creating a bomb-proof fi t.
C // MACHINED REEL SE ATA single solid is stronger than two pieces, and by eliminating
the screws you’ve eliminated the corrosion points.
D // CRANKS & COUNTERBAL ANCEUnlike many manufacturers whose counterbalance is merely cosmetic, we’ve made the two pieces the same weight to
achieve true balance in the spool.
E // DIMENSION IN THE FRAMEIncreased rigidity, strength, and reduced lateral fl ex. With the reel and spool together you get virtually no lateral fl ex when you push/pull the two. This means the reel tracks truer and it
eliminates the spool wobbling in high-speed runs.
F // HOOK GUARDKeep those hooks tucked into the arbor of the reel and out of
the way of your hands.
G // SPOOL TENSION NUTEasily taken on and off, with or without full gloves. The nut is press-fi t into the spool so it won’t fall out into the water or your
gear bag.
H // DRAGA multi-disc drag cassette comprised of Rulon® and precision stamped stainless steel discs is employed in all models. With a multi-disc drag, you are applying braking pressure and heat dispersion over several surfaces. This virtually eliminates start
up inertia and stick-slip problems.
F
B
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
29
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
28
NOMAD PLIERS—THE I-BEAM ARMS ARE CRAFTED FROM 6061-T6 ALUMINUM AND PROTECTED WITH TYPE II ANODIZE. The cutters are made from tungsten carbide for abrasion resistance and reliable cuts through all fi shing line material. The jaws are machined from 17-4 stainless steel made for ultimate corrosion resistance. Nomad Pliers come with a custom Hatch bungee lanyard and black leather sheath.
$300
HATCH NIPPERS—THE HATCH NIPPER IS CRAFTED FROM 6061-T6 ALUMINUM AND PROTECTED WITH TYPE II ANODIZE. The replaceable cutters are made from tungsten carbide for abrasion resistance and reliable cuts through mono and fl uorocarbon materials. Hatch Nippers come with a handmade paracord lanyard.
$100
LENGTH WIDTH WEIGHT COLORS
6.25" 2.0" (CLOSED) 4.2 oz RED, CLEAR, BLUE
LENGTH WEIGHT COLORS
2" 0.8 oz CLEAR, BLUE, RED, BLACK
STAINLESS STEEL BOTTLE OPENER
BLACKLEATHERSHEATH
MACHINED LANYARD ATTACHMENT
REPLACEABLE BLADES AND JAWS
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
29
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
28
NOMAD PLIERS—THE I-BEAM ARMS ARE CRAFTED FROM 6061-T6 ALUMINUM AND PROTECTED WITH TYPE II ANODIZE. The cutters are made from tungsten carbide for abrasion resistance and reliable cuts through all fi shing line material. The jaws are machined from 17-4 stainless steel made for ultimate corrosion resistance. Nomad Pliers come with a custom Hatch bungee lanyard and black leather sheath.
$300
HATCH NIPPERS—THE HATCH NIPPER IS CRAFTED FROM 6061-T6 ALUMINUM AND PROTECTED WITH TYPE II ANODIZE. The replaceable cutters are made from tungsten carbide for abrasion resistance and reliable cuts through mono and fl uorocarbon materials. Hatch Nippers come with a handmade paracord lanyard.
$100
LENGTH WIDTH WEIGHT COLORS
6.25" 2.0" (CLOSED) 4.2 oz RED, CLEAR, BLUE
LENGTH WEIGHT COLORS
2" 0.8 oz CLEAR, BLUE, RED, BLACK
STAINLESS STEEL BOTTLE OPENER
BLACKLEATHERSHEATH
MACHINED LANYARD ATTACHMENT
REPLACEABLE BLADES AND JAWS
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
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H AT C H O U T D O O R S
30
CROSS SECTION OF HATCH PE
HATCH PREMIUMBRAIDED BACKING—THE TOUCH AND FEEL OF DACRON® COMBINED WITH THE STRENGTH AND DIAMETER OF GEL SPUN in a single 8-braid polyethylene (PE) line. These lines are smaller in diameter and greater in strength when compared to traditional backing materials. They have greater abrasion resistance, are UV resistant, tie lower profi le knots, provide less drag through the water, and are capable of lasting a lifetime.
FROM $29
KNOTTENSION TOOL—THE ULTIMATE HATCH MULTI-TOOL. A knot tensioner, bottle opener, gas cap opener & ass kicking device all rolled into one. Each Knot Tension Tool comes with a paracord wrist lanyard.
$40
100M 200M 400M 1200M 3000M
DIAMETER .018" / .45 mm
STRENGTH 68 lb / 30.8 kg
PRICE $29 $53 $100 $293 $700
LENGTH WEIGHT COLORS
4.3" 1.6 oz CLEAR/RED
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
31
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
30
CROSS SECTION OF HATCH PE
HATCH PREMIUMBRAIDED BACKING—THE TOUCH AND FEEL OF DACRON® COMBINED WITH THE STRENGTH AND DIAMETER OF GEL SPUN in a single 8-braid polyethylene (PE) line. These lines are smaller in diameter and greater in strength when compared to traditional backing materials. They have greater abrasion resistance, are UV resistant, tie lower profi le knots, provide less drag through the water, and are capable of lasting a lifetime.
FROM $29
KNOTTENSION TOOL—THE ULTIMATE HATCH MULTI-TOOL. A knot tensioner, bottle opener, gas cap opener & ass kicking device all rolled into one. Each Knot Tension Tool comes with a paracord wrist lanyard.
$40
100M 200M 400M 1200M 3000M
DIAMETER .018" / .45 mm
STRENGTH 68 lb / 30.8 kg
PRICE $29 $53 $100 $293 $700
LENGTH WEIGHT COLORS
4.3" 1.6 oz CLEAR/RED
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
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H AT C H O U T D O O R S
32
TROPICAL FLOATING SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO TO OUR DESIGN SPECS,
our fl oating lines cast their specifi c weight class with ease,
eliminating the need for species specifi c lines. Simply
purchase the appropriate line weight for your fl y outfi t and
use in any tropical location.
$80
TROPICAL INTERMEDIATE SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO TO OUR SPECIFIC
DESIGN AND SPANNING 10WT THROUGH 12WT,
our focused range helps the angler dial in their saltwater rigs
specifi cally for big fl ats fi sh. An all purpose taper punches
easily through the wind to deliver the fl y at a 1.5 IPS sink rate.
$80
TROPICAL SINKING SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO, OUR SINK TIP LINES
FEATURE FAST SINKING HEADS WITH INTERMEDIATE
running lines. Loaded with tungsten weight and evenly
distributed for a gradual fall helps the fl y angler stay in close
touch with their fl y even at great depths. New for 2017, 250G,
300G, and 350G sinking lines are the perfect matchup with
6–8 wt. rods.
$85
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE CORE LENGTH COLOR
WF7F–WF9F 28# BRAIDED POWERCORE 100' SAND TAN / TURTLE GRASS
WF10F–WF12F 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' SAND TAN / TURTLE GRASS
TROPICALFLOATINGSALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE CORE LENGTH COLOR
WF10I-WF12I 1.5 IPS 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' AQUA / GHOST GRAY
TROPICALINTERMEDIATESALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE (TIP) SINK RATE (INT) CORE LENGTH COLOR
250G 6.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' LT BLUE / DK GRAY
300G 7.0 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' LT GRAY / DK GRAY
350G 7.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' CHARTREUSE / DK GRAY
TROPICALSINKINGSALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE (TIP) SINK RATE (INT) CORE LENGTH COLOR
400G 7.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' CYAN / DK GRAY
500G 8.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 50# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' YELLOW / DK GRAY
650G 10.0 IPS 1.5 IPS 50# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' GREEN / DK GRAY
WEIGHT 7–12
WEIGHT 10–12
WEIGHT 250G, 300G, 350G, 400G, 500G, 650G
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
33
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
32
TROPICAL FLOATING SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO TO OUR DESIGN SPECS,
our fl oating lines cast their specifi c weight class with ease,
eliminating the need for species specifi c lines. Simply
purchase the appropriate line weight for your fl y outfi t and
use in any tropical location.
$80
TROPICAL INTERMEDIATE SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO TO OUR SPECIFIC
DESIGN AND SPANNING 10WT THROUGH 12WT,
our focused range helps the angler dial in their saltwater rigs
specifi cally for big fl ats fi sh. An all purpose taper punches
easily through the wind to deliver the fl y at a 1.5 IPS sink rate.
$80
TROPICAL SINKING SALTWATER FLY LINE—
MANUFACTURED BY BVG-AIRFLO, OUR SINK TIP LINES
FEATURE FAST SINKING HEADS WITH INTERMEDIATE
running lines. Loaded with tungsten weight and evenly
distributed for a gradual fall helps the fl y angler stay in close
touch with their fl y even at great depths. New for 2017, 250G,
300G, and 350G sinking lines are the perfect matchup with
6–8 wt. rods.
$85
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE CORE LENGTH COLOR
WF7F–WF9F 28# BRAIDED POWERCORE 100' SAND TAN / TURTLE GRASS
WF10F–WF12F 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' SAND TAN / TURTLE GRASS
TROPICALFLOATINGSALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE CORE LENGTH COLOR
WF10I-WF12I 1.5 IPS 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' AQUA / GHOST GRAY
TROPICALINTERMEDIATESALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE (TIP) SINK RATE (INT) CORE LENGTH COLOR
250G 6.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' LT BLUE / DK GRAY
300G 7.0 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' LT GRAY / DK GRAY
350G 7.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 30# BRAIDED POWERCORE 110' CHARTREUSE / DK GRAY
TROPICALSINKINGSALTWATERFLY LINE
72’8’23’6’1’
62’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF7F–WF9F
WF10F–WF12F
72’8’23’6’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
WF10I–WF12I
120’1’23’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
400G
500G
650G
70’10’24’5’1’
RUNNINGLINE
REARTAPER
BELLYFRONTTAPER
TIP
250G
300G
350G
SIZE SINK RATE (TIP) SINK RATE (INT) CORE LENGTH COLOR
400G 7.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 40# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' CYAN / DK GRAY
500G 8.5 IPS 1.5 IPS 50# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' YELLOW / DK GRAY
650G 10.0 IPS 1.5 IPS 50# BRAIDED POWERCORE 150' GREEN / DK GRAY
WEIGHT 7–12
WEIGHT 10–12
WEIGHT 250G, 300G, 350G, 400G, 500G, 650G
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
35
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
34
PRO SALTWATER SERIESSHOCK TIPPET—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE
FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Shock Tippet has a consistent
diameter and advanced abrasion resistance. The superior strength,
low memory, soft texture, and durability of our Shock Tippet
makes it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIES MONOFILAMENT LEADER —
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE OF
NYLON MONOFILAMENT AVAILABLE, Hatch monofi lament
is given a proprietary surface treatment to provide reliable
diameter measurements, smooth texture, and enhanced UV
protection. The superior knot strength, excellent presentation,
and durability of our Monofi lament Leader Material makes
it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIESLEADER—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE
FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Leader has a consistent diameter,
varying less than half the width of a human hair! The superior
strength, low memory, soft texture, and durability of our Leader
material makes it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIESTAPERED LEADER—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST
GRADE FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our leaders
have low memory, high abrasion resistance, a hand-
tied perfection loop, and consistent diameter. Every
Hatch tapered leader is designed to make a superior
presentation to your next targeted fi sh on the fl ats.
$13
PRO SALTWATER SERIESTIPPET—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN COMBINING TWO OF THE BEST
GRADES OF FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Saltwater Tippet has
a consistent diameter through the entire length, superior strength,
low memory, and durability to make a reliable connection to the fl y.
$22
LENGTH WEIGHT (LB)
9FT 8, 10, 12, 16, 20
SPOOL WEIGHT (LB)
25M 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25
25M SPOOL 40LB 50LB 60LB 80LB
PRICE $28 $32 $40 $48
50M SPOOL 20LB 25LB 30LB 40LB 50LB 60LB
PRICE $15 $15 $15 $15 $20 $20
50M SPOOL 30LB 40LB 50LB 60LB 80LB
PRICE $38 $50 $58 $70 $82
2 0 1 7 A N G L E R ’ S A N N U A L
35
H AT C H O U T D O O R S
34
PRO SALTWATER SERIESSHOCK TIPPET—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE
FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Shock Tippet has a consistent
diameter and advanced abrasion resistance. The superior strength,
low memory, soft texture, and durability of our Shock Tippet
makes it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIES MONOFILAMENT LEADER —
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE OF
NYLON MONOFILAMENT AVAILABLE, Hatch monofi lament
is given a proprietary surface treatment to provide reliable
diameter measurements, smooth texture, and enhanced UV
protection. The superior knot strength, excellent presentation,
and durability of our Monofi lament Leader Material makes
it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIESLEADER—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST GRADE
FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Leader has a consistent diameter,
varying less than half the width of a human hair! The superior
strength, low memory, soft texture, and durability of our Leader
material makes it the ultimate choice for your big game leaders.
PRO SALTWATER SERIESTAPERED LEADER—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN USING THE HIGHEST
GRADE FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our leaders
have low memory, high abrasion resistance, a hand-
tied perfection loop, and consistent diameter. Every
Hatch tapered leader is designed to make a superior
presentation to your next targeted fi sh on the fl ats.
$13
PRO SALTWATER SERIESTIPPET—
MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN COMBINING TWO OF THE BEST
GRADES OF FLUOROCARBON AVAILABLE, our Saltwater Tippet has
a consistent diameter through the entire length, superior strength,
low memory, and durability to make a reliable connection to the fl y.
$22
LENGTH WEIGHT (LB)
9FT 8, 10, 12, 16, 20
SPOOL WEIGHT (LB)
25M 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 25
25M SPOOL 40LB 50LB 60LB 80LB
PRICE $28 $32 $40 $48
50M SPOOL 20LB 25LB 30LB 40LB 50LB 60LB
PRICE $15 $15 $15 $15 $20 $20
50M SPOOL 30LB 40LB 50LB 60LB 80LB
PRICE $38 $50 $58 $70 $82
36
1 PLUS 2 PLUS 3 PLUS 4 PLUS 5 PLUS 7 PLUS 9 PLUS 11 PLUS 12 PLUS
DIAMETER 2.9" 3.0" 3.25" 3.425" 3.625" 4.0" 4.25" 4.625" 5.0"
WIDTH .85" .875" .825" .90" .9375" 1.125" 1.375" 1.50" 1.6875"
WEIGHT 2.8 oz 3.7 oz 5.3 oz 5.6 oz 6.5 oz 8.6 oz 10.6 oz 11.1 oz 15.6 oz
LINE WEIGHT 0–2 2–4 3–5 4–6 5–7 7–9 9–11 11–12 12–16
SPOOLS MIDARBOR
LARGEARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
20# DACRONBACKING(YARDS)
LA:WF0F-60,WF1F-50,WF2F-40
LA:WF2F-70,WF3F-60,WF4F-50
LA:WF3F-110,WF4F-100,WF5F-80
MA:WF4F-130,WF5F-115
LA:WF5F-100,WF6F-80
MA:WF5F-160,WF6F-130
LA:WF5F-130,WF6F-110,WF7F-100
MA:WF5F-200,WF6F-180,WF7F-160
LA:WF7F-220,WF8F-210,WF9F-200
MA:WF7F-280,WF8F-270,WF9F-260
— — —
30# DACRONBACKING(YARDS)
— — — — — — LA:WF9F-285,WF10F-240,WF11F-205
MA:WF9F-360,WF10F-335,WF11F-300
LA:WF11F-275,WF12F-250
MA:WF11F-425,WF12F-400
—
HATCH PREMIUMBACKING(YARDS)
LA:WF0F-70,WF1F-60,WF2F-50
LA:WF2F-80,WF3F-70,WF4F-60
LA:WF3F-118,WF4F-108,WF5F-86
MA:WF4F-140,WF5F-124
LA:WF5F-110,WF6F-88
MA:WF5F-150,WF6F-120
LA:WF5F-120,WF6F-100,WF7F-180
MA:WF5F-160,WF6F-140,WF7F-120
LA:WF7F-300,WF8F-275,WF9F-250
MA:WF7F-375,WF8F-350,WF9F-325
LA:WF9F-300,WF10F-275,WF11F-250
MA:WF9F-400,WF10F-375,WF11F-350
LA:WF11F-350,WF12F-300
MA:WF11F-500,WF12F-450
LA:WF12F-450
MA:WF12F-1000
PROTECTION ALL HATCH REELS ARE PROTECTED WITH A TYPE 2 ANODIZE FINISH
COLORS CLEAR / RED, CLEAR / BLUE, CLEAR / GREEN, CLEAR / BLACK, BLACK / SILVER
hatchoutdoors.com
Hatch-Premium Fly Fishing Reels
@HatchHoncho
hatchoutdoors
HATCH OUTDOORS, INC.
1001 Park Center Drive
Vista, California 92081
+1 877 634 4343 Toll Free
+1 760 734 4343 Tel
+1 760 734 4344 Fax
DEALER INQUIRIES //
Hatch is always looking for quality dealers to
help promote our reels and products around
the world. [email protected]
WARRANTY //
Hatch reels are carefully inspected to assure
product consistency and quality and are
guaranteed against manufacturer’s defects
in materials and craftsmanship for the
life of the product by its original owner.
PHOTOGS //
Jim Klug, Jim Harris, Jeremie Hollman, Chris
Peterson, Colorblind Media, Lacey Kelly,
Sarah Grigg, Corin Smith, Lance Peterson,
Brett Seng, Bryan Gregson, and John Torok
FINATIC REELSSPECIFICATIONS—
36
1 PLUS 2 PLUS 3 PLUS 4 PLUS 5 PLUS 7 PLUS 9 PLUS 11 PLUS 12 PLUS
DIAMETER 2.9" 3.0" 3.25" 3.425" 3.625" 4.0" 4.25" 4.625" 5.0"
WIDTH .85" .875" .825" .90" .9375" 1.125" 1.375" 1.50" 1.6875"
WEIGHT 2.8 oz 3.7 oz 5.3 oz 5.6 oz 6.5 oz 8.6 oz 10.6 oz 11.1 oz 15.6 oz
LINE WEIGHT 0–2 2–4 3–5 4–6 5–7 7–9 9–11 11–12 12–16
SPOOLS MIDARBOR
LARGEARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
LARGE + MID ARBOR
20# DACRONBACKING(YARDS)
LA:WF0F-60,WF1F-50,WF2F-40
LA:WF2F-70,WF3F-60,WF4F-50
LA:WF3F-110,WF4F-100,WF5F-80
MA:WF4F-130,WF5F-115
LA:WF5F-100,WF6F-80
MA:WF5F-160,WF6F-130
LA:WF5F-130,WF6F-110,WF7F-100
MA:WF5F-200,WF6F-180,WF7F-160
LA:WF7F-220,WF8F-210,WF9F-200
MA:WF7F-280,WF8F-270,WF9F-260
— — —
30# DACRONBACKING(YARDS)
— — — — — — LA:WF9F-285,WF10F-240,WF11F-205
MA:WF9F-360,WF10F-335,WF11F-300
LA:WF11F-275,WF12F-250
MA:WF11F-425,WF12F-400
—
HATCH PREMIUMBACKING(YARDS)
LA:WF0F-70,WF1F-60,WF2F-50
LA:WF2F-80,WF3F-70,WF4F-60
LA:WF3F-118,WF4F-108,WF5F-86
MA:WF4F-140,WF5F-124
LA:WF5F-110,WF6F-88
MA:WF5F-150,WF6F-120
LA:WF5F-120,WF6F-100,WF7F-180
MA:WF5F-160,WF6F-140,WF7F-120
LA:WF7F-300,WF8F-275,WF9F-250
MA:WF7F-375,WF8F-350,WF9F-325
LA:WF9F-300,WF10F-275,WF11F-250
MA:WF9F-400,WF10F-375,WF11F-350
LA:WF11F-350,WF12F-300
MA:WF11F-500,WF12F-450
LA:WF12F-450
MA:WF12F-1000
PROTECTION ALL HATCH REELS ARE PROTECTED WITH A TYPE 2 ANODIZE FINISH
COLORS CLEAR / RED, CLEAR / BLUE, CLEAR / GREEN, CLEAR / BLACK, BLACK / SILVER
hatchoutdoors.com
Hatch-Premium Fly Fishing Reels
@HatchHoncho
hatchoutdoors
HATCH OUTDOORS, INC.
1001 Park Center Drive
Vista, California 92081
+1 877 634 4343 Toll Free
+1 760 734 4343 Tel
+1 760 734 4344 Fax
DEALER INQUIRIES //
Hatch is always looking for quality dealers to
help promote our reels and products around
the world. [email protected]
WARRANTY //
Hatch reels are carefully inspected to assure
product consistency and quality and are
guaranteed against manufacturer’s defects
in materials and craftsmanship for the
life of the product by its original owner.
PHOTOGS //
Jim Klug, Jim Harris, Jeremie Hollman, Chris
Peterson, Colorblind Media, Lacey Kelly,
Sarah Grigg, Corin Smith, Lance Peterson,
Brett Seng, Bryan Gregson, and John Torok
FINATIC REELSSPECIFICATIONS—