Christmas (Kiritimati) Island has been considered one of the best flats fishing locations since it was first explored in the 1970s. It has allowed countless anglers to cut their teeth fly fishing for bonefish, trevally and triggerfish. The chance to visit this destination once is on every anglers bucket list.
Imagine having the chance to fish Christmas Island, not only once, but every year for the last 20 years. And not just for a week but the entire month of January. Sound impossible? Let me introduce you to one of the nicest guys to walk the flats of Christmas Island, Rob Ramsay. Rob began fly fishing Christmas Island in the 1990s and once he wrapped his head around the fishery and the quirks that make it truly unique he began organizing trips for his friends and family. As the word quickly spread through immediate group the sphere of anglers began to increase and soon Rob had the month of January planned out.
THE ULTIMATE ATOLL – Dylan Rose, Fly Water Travel
Every trip that arrives into Cassidy International Airport has a person that is assigned as the host. The host typically facilitates guests preparation for the trip, their arrival and smooths wrinkles as they move through the week. The ability of a host to do this well once is commendable. To do this for 4 weeks in a row is unbelievable. To do this every year for almost years earns the unique designation of SuperHost.
In today’s world it is common to have the sentiment of “been there, done that” and move onto the next adventure. I find Rob’s stories and appreciation of Christmas Island so authentic that I could listen to them for hours. From his first trip and then through the years Rob allowed Christmas Island and the great people that live there touch him deeply.
You will hear Rob download some amazing nuggets of info and experiences of why he has earned and wears the moniker of SuperHost. Rob recaps the history of fly fishing on Christmas Island, his own personal experiences and how he is still pushing the boundaries of what anglers experience on his trips.
Rob shares his experiences of success and failure and we get to discuss some of the common myths and narratives surrounding Christmas Island and what it takes to chase the fish there with a fly rod. Having hosted trips over the past 5 years I thought I was developing a pretty good understanding of the destination. At the end of our conversation not only did I realize I, excitingly, have a long way to go to understanding Christmas Island. But this recording made me as excited to visit as I was before my very first trip.
I hope you get stoked on this great saltwater destination and think hard about visiting for your first time or revisiting one of the most unique saltwater fly fishing destinations in the world.
I hope you enjoy
SHOW NOTES:
April 14-21, 2021 Christmas Island trip hosted by Jim Litchfield and the Reno Fly Shop
Tide Info for Christmas Island (spend some time with this to dial in your dates)
Rob’s Bio:
Born into a fishy family in the East San Francisco Bay area. Outings to family in Nevada City/Grass Valley included fishing the many forks of the Yuba River. My Grandparent visits included Clear Lake bass excursions and a Great Uncle had a cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains that was awesome for winter steelhead on the San Lorenzo River.
Keenly supported by my Father and family. I was hooked. All of this late 50’s early 60’s exposure provided a firm foundation for my love of this sport.
I spent the late 60’s and early 70’s going to college in Southern Oregon and tried to talk my fiance into getting married at an old fish hatchery in the Ft. Klamath area. We ended up at Lake Tahoe.
Destination travel fishing started in the early 80’s to Alaska . Late 80’s through current times added saltwater venues to most of the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera and the Gulf side, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Seychelles atolls, St. Brandon’s atoll in Mauritius and my favorite Christmas Island.
Alaska’s March-Oct fishing season has had me as a resident since completing my cabin in 2008. Santa Cruz Mountains and Bishop is my residence in late Fall through Winter. Small late Fall stream fishing for resident browns and Goldens can be epic . San Lorenzo River kicks
into gear Dec1. Christmas Island is all of January. Feb is prep time for Alaska. ……………….repeat.
New and vintage fiberglass rods have been added to my freshwater excursions over the past few years and have added another twist to this sport for me.
Dr. Helen Neville, Senior Scientist with Trout Unlimited, and Dr. Mary Peacock, professor of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, have been instrumental in the efforts to protect and recover the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to its historic range. While both specialize in the genetic sequencing of LCT, Helen’s and Mary’s research have differed in that their recent focus has been on the stream form and lake form, respectively.
Much of our conversation focuses on the Truckee River watershed and the complex issues that must be considered in the recovery of the LCT in a significantly altered landscape. This recording covers some challenging topics that are difficult to unpack. One thing that is agreed upon is that humans have significantly altered the landscape within the Truckee River watershed from its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada to the terminus in Pyramid Lake. Altered to a degree that is not recoverable.
These issues are tough, complex and, at times, emotionally charged. We discuss several of the issues and some of the management scenarios the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are considering for the Truckee River. While nothing has been formally proposed or planned for implementation it is important that we stay informed and involved in the process to contribute to what the Truckee River will look like in the future.
Enjoy this very informative conversation with Helen and Mary.
Dr. Helen Neville, PhD., has been with Trout Unlimited since 2006, mostly recently as TU’s Senior Scientist. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Brown University, a Master’s degree in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego, and her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She specializes in applying genetic tools to improve our understanding of the ecology and conservation needs of salmon and trout. She fell in love with Lahontan cutthroat trout when she had a wonderful opportunity to study them in the Marys River in eastern NV for her dissertation two decades ago, and has since maintained a focus on providing science to inform the conservation of this amazing trout.
Dr. Mary Peacock, PhD., is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her field of research is Conservation Biology specifically Conservation Genetics primarily on desert fishes, but students and she also work on pikas, plants and amphibians. Conservation Genetics uses molecular genetic markers and techniques to identify and track individuals across space and time and examines the impact of human land use on persistence and viability of wild populations. Mary has a large research program on the federally listed Lahontan cutthroat trout that she has been working on since 1995. Her laboratory is involved in the genetic monitoring of wild populations as well as the Pilot Peak strain that is currently being raised at the USFWS Lahontan National Fish Hatchery. The Pilot Peak strain was native to Pyramid Lake and Lake Tahoe prior to the loss of these populations in the 1940s, but was rediscovered and brought into hatchery production for restoration into its historic lake habitat.
Show Notes:
Historic maximum limit of Lake Lahontan
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (sources USFWS)
Research by Helen Neville and Mary Peacock
The Lahontan Basin Evolutionary Lineage of Cutthroat Trout
Monitoring Demographic and Genetic Responses of a Threatened Inland Trout to Habitat Reconnection
[optinform]
"The biggest surprise for the new carp angler is that carp don't always live in ugly places."
- John Bartlett, @johnmontanacarp
16 years ago, John Bartlett started to chase carp on the fly…
As a lifelong trout angler, John grew up using light rods and fine tippet around Montana and the Pacific Northwest but as things began to evolve in his life he had to adapt if he was going to get to fly fish.
He began to explore and establish an option for fly fishing closer to home to allow spending time with his growing family. Today, he still chases the occasional trout and goes on annual trips to the Louisiana coast for red fish and black drum, but the fishery he found close to home 16 years ago occupies the majority of his fly fishing adventures.
Check out our article on Tips and Tricks for Carp on the Fly (by clicking the image)
As you will hear John explain, carp at first simply satisfied the craving of catching fish on a fly, but as John became more experienced and adept at finding larger fish he began to truly appreciate the challenge, nuance and the details of what it takes to catch a trophy carp on a fly rod.
John’s willingness to share this experience has led to a strong reputation in the Carp community and a social media presence. In this recording John shares some of this hard earned experience, as well as, his 4 rules to catch carp on the fly.
John's The Hybrid Fly Pattern
He takes the time to explain how carp’s adaptability to habitat and their environment have allowed for a vast global distribution are why carp are now one of the most popular game fish in the world. He believes that there is likely a carp within a mile of where most listeners are enjoying this episode.
And from this experience John shares that where there is a carp there is a carp to be caught.
When not chasing carp you might find John playing pickleball with his wife and enjoying time with family around his home state of Oregon.
I hope you have some fun with this informative conversation with one of the most experienced carp fly fisherman out there.
Show Notes:
Finding John on Instagram @johnmontanacarp
John's 4 Rules for Carp on the Fly
- Know the local carp forage.
- Don't cast until you can see their head.
- You have to make the carp move to your fly.
- To catch more carp, cast less often.
European carp fishing techniques in America
Today’s podcast episode is one that I have thought about doing for a while. It finally came down to the 1,000th time I heard shop staff stress to a customer how important a fly line is to overall casting performance that I went ahead and recorded this episode with Brad Befus, the president of Scientific Anglers.
If you have spent any time here in the shop you will undoubtedly heard us stress the importance of considering the line when purchasing a new rod/reel setup. It is the component part that most likely is the least expensive in the whole rig and/but will have the greatest single impact on overall performance. Everyday shop staff stress to customers the importance of understanding what and where you will fish most often and steer you to a fly line that will fit the most likely scenarios and your intended purpose.
Temperature, casting styles, fly size and weight all play into the selection and as you will hear from Brad in this episode it is easy and important to arrive at the right line for your needs.
This conversation starts with getting to know Brad’s background and history and then quickly gets into the nuts and bolts of what makes a fly line perform and how listeners can better understand how they will impact your cast. A highlight for me in this recording is when Brad breaks down each component part of a fly line’s geometry and how it contributes to overall casting performance.
Brad Befus has been flyfishing and fly tying for more than 35 years. He has spent his life in the fly fishing industry as a fly shop employee/owner, destination host, fly tyer, author, most recently as a manufacturer’s Sales Director for nearly two decades. He is an accomplished freshwater and saltwater angler who holds several I.G.F.A. flyrod world records and has fished many destinations worldwide. Brad is an innovative fly tier with many of his patterns being produced and sold by Umpqua Feather Merchants through their “Fly Designer Program”. His flies have appeared in books and articles, as well as the University of Idaho Prichards Art Gallery and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. Brad is the co-author of “Carp on the Fly” a flyrodders guide to carp and “Basic Techniques for Successful Fly Tying”. He has contributed articles and images to many of the flyfishing periodicals. Brad currently resides in Midland, Michigan with his wife Lisa and their four children where he is the President of Scientific Anglers.
