Come Fly With Me

Last spring at Front Range Anglers in Boulder, I watched Lori-Ann Murphy (fly fishing director at El Pescador, Belize) passionately demonstrate strip setting the hook for a bonefish, permit and tarpon on fly.  There was no 10-wt rod in her hands and no exotic fish on the line ... but I could IMAGINE it all so very clearly.  In 1989, she was the first woman to be named an Orvis-Endorsed fly fishing guide.  In 2009, 175 men applied for the fly fishing director position at El Pescador (not one woman applied - not even her) ... and she got the job offer.   She is a fishing Goddess. 

Lori-Ann Murphy

We were greeted at the tiny San Pedro airport on Ambergris Caye (the largest island of Belize) by an El Pescador representative.  

Tropic Air to San Pedro

In San Pedro, our luggage was swiftly loaded onto a small boat, we took our new ocean front seats and an ice-cold Belikin magically appeared in our hands.  

The seven minute water taxi from San Pedro to El Pescador was intoxicating.  

As we were pulling up to the dock at El Pescador Resort, the Fishing Goddess herself was strolling towards our boat to welcome us "home" … it felt like we were all characters in an International Fly Fishing Film Tour (IF4) short.  I was overcome with joy by the realization of a dream becoming reality in my life.

Mi Casa

Up at 5:00 AM, breakfast at 5:30, on the boat at 6:00 AM.  

5:30 AM

You think fly fishing on a Colorado trout stream is hard?  Try standing on the front of a 22' panga with an expert guide (who just poled the boat 100 yards hunting bonefish) desperately shouting at you to hit "flashing" fish at 11:00, 40' out with incoming wind.  OMG - talk about pressure.  I knew that it would be difficult.  So, I purchased a Helios 2 8-wt fly rod a month in advance to practice the double-haul cast (a variation of the overhead cast, increases line speed thus adding length to your casts) for this very moment.  I practiced a LOT ... the neighbors probably thought I was insane for fishing in the cul-de-sac for imaginary fish every evening before bedtime.  UnFORTunately, my land-based casting technique didn't completely transfer to water and I had a very hard time sight casting to fish.  I landed only 2 bones on Day 1.  Deb was shocked and slightly delighted - she said evidently I was "human" after all.

"There (s)he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O'Neil, 1965

Back at the resort, we took advantage of the free casting clinic offered each evening.  I received instruction from the El Pescador Associate/fly casting specialist Mr. Issa and Deb received a casting lesson from The Goddess herself, Lori-Ann Murphy.   Needless to say, it helped tremendously.  

Torpedo of the Flats

Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.


At the end of a hard day of fishing, there was plenty of pool time and Belizean Painkillers :)

The seafood was caught local that day and served family style each evening (with a side of fishing lies).  

Eat. Sleep. Fish. Repeat ...

Mi Amor

Riding out to the flats each morning was a blessing.  It was absolutely amazing and no picture can capture the hallelujahISH of that experience.  I felt incredibly alive ...

Tomas

Baracuda

Bent Rod

I'm thankful for bent rods and tight lines.