Emerald Water Anglers

Seattle Fly Shop - Guide Service - Global Travel Outfitter

4502 42nd Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98116
10-7 Mon-Fri, 10-6 Sat, 11-5 Sun
info@emeraldwateranglers.com
206-708-7250
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EWA Fly Fishing Events – May

April 26, 2018 by adminewa Leave a Comment


EWA Fly Fishing events coming up in May and beyond…here are some things to put on your calendar for sure!  As we head into summer, now is the time to freshen up your casting with some private casting, finally pick up fly tying or join us on one of our many fishing excursions we offer throughout the summer.  Creeks, Yakima, Puget Sound, bass and summer steelhead are all on the table, we know them all and are excited to get on the water with you. 

Yakima May Day’s – May is maybe the month to be on the Yakima as caddis are out, fish are focused and the sun is usually shining.  Here are some dates in May we still have open to get you out throwing dry flies on the Yak:

May 9th
May 27th

May 8, 2018 — Christmas Island Revisited! — 7pm @ EWA Store — FREE
Come listen and watch as Karlie and Caldwell revisit their trips to Christmas Island this past spring.  Beverages will be provided and good times will be had for sure!

June 2, 2018 – EWA Fly Fest @ Me Kwa Mooks Park in West Seattle – FREE
What has become quite an event continues to grow.  Cast every rod available from Winston, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Epic, Echo, Fenwick and Thomas and Thomas.  See the latest in reels from Nautilus, Bauer, Lamson, Sage, Tibor, 3 Tand and more as well as put new lines on your favorite rod.  Instruction, classes, seminars and our 11th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off.

July 20-21, 2018 — 2nd Annual EWA Carp Tournament @ Banks Lake — $75 per angler/50 Max
If you haven’t pursued carp on the fly before you haven’t lived!  Sight casting to these selective and strong fish either by foot, from an SUP or $60K boat, either way, they live up to what fly fishing is supposed to be…fun!  Sponsored by Sage, winners will walk with some extraordinary prizes and all with leave humbled for sure!  Please call the store to book you space, few slots left.

December 1 -2, 2018 — Dec Hogan Spey Clinic — $295 per person/6 maximum
The man, myth and legend, Dec himself will be back in the PNW to enlighten and answer questions on all things spey and steelhead.  Whether just learning or well seasoned, Dec is always a pleasure to spend the day with.  Please call the store to reserve your space.

Bug’s ‘N Brew’s – $20 – EWA Store @ 7-9pm – Women Only!
May 3rd – 7-9pm
May 17th – 7-9pm

1 Day Intro to Fly Fishing Schools – $225 – Forks of the Snoqualmie – 3 people max
June 23rd – 1 spot open
July 11th – 2 spots open

2 Day Fly Fishing Immersion Schools – $425 – Forks of the Snoqualmie -3 people max
May 5-6 – 2 spots open
June 20-21 – 2 spots open
June 23-24 – 1 spot open
July 14 – 15 – 1 spot open

Drift Boat Rowing – $250 – Snoqualmie River, 3 people max
June 23rd
July 7th

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers, Events Tagged With: bass, boat rowing, carp tournament, Dec Hogan, Emerald Water Anglers, fly fishing event, fly fishing schools, fly tying, guiding trips, Seattle, spey casting, steelhead, trout, Washington, women's fly fishing, Yakima River

Travel Journal – Sea Run Brown Trout – Argentina

April 7, 2018 by adminewa Leave a Comment


Bucket list trip you might be thinking?  Absolutely!  This adventure to the southern tip of the America’s was on everyone’s list as a “must do very soon” and it did not disappoint! 

For those beginning to ponder some fly fishing travel in the near future, we would like to put a few thoughts in front of you.  Travel has exploded over the past 10 years or so in our industry with many claiming to be experts in it.  Our sport has always been associated with the telling of tall “tails” with a bit of embellishment so always keep this in mind. 

One thing we would like to point out is that just because you see and hear about a lodge or location all over the place by everyone in the game, does not mean it is a great location.  Even if it is, it may not be all of the time.  Often you are seeing and hearing about it with such frequency because it is easy and most of us know what is easy is not always best. 


“Best” is another term to be wary of as you shop around for your next location to visit, it is highly subjective so it is imperative you understand who is tossing this term around like a caddis in May and assure their idea of it resembles yours, otherwise disappointment is likely.  Attention to the finer details and the goal of exceeding expectations is paramount, not just hoping you have an OK time…

Secondly, we didn’t get into this industry with the idea of being within close proximity to other anglers all the time.  Sometimes it is unavoidable but often, with a little sniffing around, other options will appear and in our experience, these should be fully investigated.  Typically for us, those who enjoy solitude while pursuing all these great species of fish around the world have a very similar interest to ours and this is extraordinarily important to us when choosing our next destination. 


Off the beaten path, great opportunities, competent guiding, food and culture all resonate with us and with several options at our disposal, we chose Las Buitreras Lodge. 


Choosing which lodge, which river, time of year, food and all the other particulars involved in planning a trip like this make the anticipation all that much more intense as jump time approaches.  We chose Las Buitreras Lodge for several reasons over other big name sea run brown operations so here is a brief look into the reasoning behind ending up here.


First was the exhaustive amount of water at the lodge’s disposal, almost 25 miles of shoreline to fish without fear of seeing another angler.  In the fly fishing world, this is a head turner as we are all growing accustomed to more angling pressure globally on many of our favorite waters.  This will not be an issue here with about 25 miles of privately accessed water which was one of the biggest reasons for choosing this over other sea run brown lodges.

Having known the owners via a small industry, Solid Adventures runs a well oiled machine here with everyone and all facets of the experience working seamlessly together, very impressed from beginning to end with this place.


So on to the meat of the trip, the fishing.  The Rio Gallegos is a low gradient, slow moving river with very a subtle nuance to the runs and where the fish will sit and when.  This is where not just covering water but listen to the guides will make a huge difference, particularly if you are relatively new to reading this type of water.


While a single hand rod would work quite well on certain parts of this river, our entire group is enamored with spey casting so all of us toted down our two handed rods with a variety of PNW type heads the guides didn’t like at all! 


Being a guide for the past 25+ years, I enjoy challenging what the local guides are pushing for not other reason than to see if I can make it work when they say it won’t.  So while most of the team was converted to Scandi heads, I stuck with a Skagit Switch and also a Rage Compact.  As it turned out, both seemed to work just fine as I hooked fish when I fished, between taking photos. 


The wind was considerable nearly every day which if you have ever looked into fly fishing at the bottom of the planet, the word/term “wind” seems to come up often as does the wind itself.  Even at its worst we still managed to cast and find fish, not always in a beautiful fashion but the fish don’t really care, beautiful casts are for photographers mainly!


Fly wise we experienced low water conditions for most of the trip so we found smaller bugs of the Girdle bug variety to be preferred by both guides and fish it appeared.  I fished hard with surface flies hoping entice a brown brute to the surface to no avail, none I fished over were willing to rise to the occasion so I relented and went subsurface…reluctantly!


Black with white legged small girdle bugs were the ticket…or because that was what we were fishing they were what caught fish, it is always a question that rests in the front of my brain when fishing this whole anadromous fish world.  We were using long leaders, 12ft or longer down to 8lb test or so and attaching flies with a loop knot of your choice…or that is what the guides were putting on everyone else but by this time they had all collectively decided to leave me alone, sort of the way I like it actually.


For many, the split day of early AM fly fishing until lunch, with a 3 course meal and then a 3 hour nap before an evening session can be awkward.  I am not going to argue that it’s not but…when met after an early morning of hail and rain with a generous pour of local Malbec and savory finger food I am just saying…give it a chance! 


Essentially you fish from 8am to 1pm and then from 5pm to 10pm, still affording you ample fishing time during the day and if really driven, you are able to walk about a half mile to the river and fish the home pool during the break.  For me, a couple more Malbec’s, find Argentine steak and some Tiramisu followed by a little shut eye put a whole new spin on the evening session.  Possibly a bit more optimistic and less defeated than having battled the weather for 10 straight hours.  Not that I am at turned by doing so but this does make it more digestible if you will!


Now for those accustomed to above average accommodations and cuisine to match a finicky palette you will be in good hands here I assure you.  Lamb, steak and empanada’s every night and all the sublime red wine you could possibly consume with a staff ensuring you didn’t have to lift a finger if you didn’t want to. Pretty sure I left weighing more than when I arrived.  This was not a goal I had set out to achieve on this trip!


Flora and fauna are of considerable interest to me on trips like this as I believe it lends to the culture of the region and helps me appreciate each and every location I travel to.  I was absolutely stunned at the variety of wild animals in the region.  I would say there was one that was more impressive than another but I would be lying.  Wild fox, Rhea, armadillo, Pink Flamingo and Guanaco were everywhere and it was fun to see them in such good numbers throughout the week. 


Each night, sipping wine after the evening session, we could sit on the front porch of the lodge and watch as fox would scurry down the driveway, slinking low to the ground and disappearing into the grass.  Rhea were everywhere but unwilling to pose for selfies as were most of the other local residents.  Happy to see them still with a healthy mistrust of humans.


At the end of a trip, what always makes it seem whole are the little stories and adventures that took place between arrival and departure.  Some are directly associated with fishing but most are not. 


Sequestered at the Estancia Buitreras kept us mostly in check but between chasing sheep and Rhea across potholed hillsides, trying to pull armadillos out of their burrows by the tail, wet wading the evening session because waders were left at the lodge and of course watching great friends catch the fish of their life.  Capturing these moments are what drive us to chase fish around this large round orb we call home. 


A special thanks for our new Swedish friends who we shared this experience with who made the experience that much more special and fun.  Without you guys we would have been in bed earlier, fished harder and left a bit of wine for the next group! 

Would we return to Las Buitrera Lodge — ABSOLUTELY!

A few more images from the trip:

A wild Rhea stands still for just a moment…don’t need any feathers, just a photo, thank you!

Bright afternoon on Beat 4.  High sun must mean lunch time is near!

I will need serious help if these make it into the U.S.  I will drink 3 times the coffee I already do…

John Baughn getting a facial from his first big sea run…THAT is what we came for!

Chef proudly displaying today’s lunch. 

Any fish returning from the ocean to a river presents itself with such majesty in color and strength.

Parting thought…

Many would say, “Sadly every trip must come to an end.”  I beg to differ.  New friends were made along with some fabulous memories which will remain with each of us forever.  The finality of a trip is only so if you have nothing on the horizon to look forward to.  Each adventure provides a new gathering of friends to relive this trip by while generating experiences to share on the one after.  So travel people, it is vivacious and healthy and I promise you will have zero regrets.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers, Events

G.Loomis IMX PRO Short-Spey Rod Review

January 3, 2018 by Caldwell Rohrbach 1 Comment

From the moment you pick up the IMX Pro 7 11’11” you know this rod is different. It redefines lightweight while also maintaining a strong enough rod to turn big fish in heavy water. Where I used to think a 13′ 7wt and a 9′ 8wt with a single hand skagit line were the perfect quiver on a number of Washington rivers, I now think the compact modern “Short Spey” will take the place of both.

This is the first short spey of it’s kind and I do differentiate this from other switch rods. THIS IS NOT A SWITCH ROD! This is the next generation of Spey rods that marry’s the feel of a 13′ rod with the fast action necessary of modern short skagit heads.

The first time I cast this rod was with a 480 grain Skagit Scout line (18.5′) and 44lb Impact mono running line and there wasn’t a situation this rod struggled with. We fished the Deschutes for two day’s in high water and cast a number of tips effortlessly including: 10′ Flo Tips in the t-10 and t-14 ranges as well as straight sections up to 12’ in t-10 and t-14. We battled high winds as well as cold temperatures and were able to feel a few nice tugs on the end of our line. (Since that trip, I have enjoyed fishing the 480 grain Skagit Switch line, just a foot longer than the Scout at 19.5’.

When you cast this rod, you seem to forget how compact it is until you find yourself tucked under overhanging trees and wading deep, tight against the bank.

The other thing you can’t seem to believe is the price of this rod. Compared to other rods in excess of $1000, this rod excels. For $575, this rod is a home run and one that I can’t wait to get out and fish. A component I typically overlook on other spey rods is the reel seat. However, on this one you are drawn in by its modern looks, sleek design, and smoothness.

For those gearing up for our winter run fish, the 7wt is the perfect addition to your existing lineup or a single rod quiver for the new spey angler.

As for trout spey, I think you can stop searching once you land on the IMX Pro 4wt 11’11”. This rod has all the power you could want but still has some major play when fighting a fish. For those searching for the lightest rod, that can still throw big streamers and heavy sink tips, the 3wt can be another great option. Karlie Roland prefers the 3wt.

As for the con’s associated with this rod, it is hard to come by. We literally cant keep these on the shelf. If there was one thing that I had to change, it would be the bottom grip, I prefer a slightly larger knob but that is one that you quickly forget once fishing! GLoomis knocked this one out of the park.

Other lines we enjoy on the IMX Pro 7 11’11”: Skagit Switch G2 510, Rage Compact 450, Scandi Compact 450

Karlie: 3wt 270 Scout, 225 OPST Commando

Give us a call with any more questions or feel free to stop by the shop to see for yourself 206.708.7250.

Photo’s and text: Caldwell Rohrbach

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Emerald Water Anglers, fly shop, Gloomis, IMX Pro, Olympic Peninsula, PNW, Puget Sound, rod review, Sauk River, Seattle, Short Spey, Skagit River, steelhead, swinging flies, Washington, wild fish

Upcoming Events – December

December 9, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment


December 14, 2010 —
Open Late Holiday Event — 7-9pm — FREE
We will be staying open late Thursday evening to help you busy shoppers get in some last minute shopping with some special incentives that evening only.  Some sips and snacks will be around as well.  No RSVP necessary just show up and be ready to ask questions and have fun as we approach the holiday season.

Februry 10, 2018 – EWA Spey Day — Ben Howard boat launch from 9am-2pm – FREE
Come cast as many different spey rods, lines and heads as you possibly can in a day under the watchful eye of industry reps, EWA Staff and regional casting pros.  

February 7th & 8th, 2018 – Fly Fishing Film Tour – 7pm – $15
The annual industry infusion of hype to get you through the winter.  Great films, huge raffle with trips, rods, coolers, sunglasses and other swag for those willing to show up, enjoy a beer and hang out! Final dates for Seattle still being determined.

February 17th-18th, 2018 – The Fly Fishing Show in Lynwood – $15
Great opportunity to come cast some of the latest models of rods, see presentations on fisheries around WA, PNW and the world. Dave McCoy will be presenting on Fly Fishing Around Washington.  Visit our booth for some swag on the days of the show.

June 2nd, 2018 – EWA Fly Fest @ Me Kwa Mooks Park in West Seattle – FREE
What has become quite an event continues to grow.  Cast every rod available from Winston, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Epic, Echo, Fenwick and Thomas and Thomas.  See the latest in reels from Nautilus, Bauer, Lamson, Sage, Tibor, 3 Tand and more as well as put new lines on your favorite rod.  Instruction, classes, seminars and our 11th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off.

Classes and Schools:

Intro to Spey – $95 — Limited to 3 anglers

Dec. 16th

Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers — 9am @ Lincoln Park

Dec. 16th
Jan. 20th
Mar. 3rd
Mar. 31st

Tying One On Tuesdays — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm

Dec 12th

Women’s Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers

Jan. 6th
Feb. 3rd

Women’s Bug’s n Brew’s Fly Tying — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm

Dec. 14th
Jan. 11th
Feb. 1st
Feb. 15th

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: casting classes, casting instruction, Christmas, Emerald Water Anglers, F3T, fly fishing film tour, fly shop, Santa fly fishing, spey casting

Travel Journal: Bahamas, Abaco Lodge

October 31, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment


I was prompted about 16 months ago by a few of my favorite travelers to set up a trip closer to home, something without a 3+ country layover that didn’t take a calendar to chart how long it would take to get to.  I hadn’t been to the Bahamas in over a decade so figured this was as low hanging of fruit as I would hope to find.  Seattle to Atlanta to Marsh Harbor to lodge in about 18 hours…done!

For those who follow me regularly, the posh, exclusive and overly comfortable trips are not the ones I usually choose to travel to for a number of reasons.  For one, they are rarely doing anything new or cutting edge where exploration is a part of the experience.  Secondly, some of these trips tend to have a fishing routine that feels a bit too controlled or forced to fit how they want/need to operate the lodge and lastly they can and usually are pretty expensive.  There you have yet another installation of my optic on fly fishing travel, but sometimes I am surprised to find some eagerness and visionary angling when I least expect it and Abaco was just such a trip!


If you have never been to a Nervous Waters property, you need to go.  There are few details left unattended with regards to your stay at any of the lodges they own or manage around the world and one of which is generally the caliber of manager they have on hand at each lodge.  Our hosts for this trip were Christiaan Pretorious and Lindi Blaauw.  

Both are from South Africa and both have spent considerable time chasing fish if not guiding for them all over the world.  This experience comes in handy for not only managing the guide team but also during story telling around the dinner table or WELL stocked, self serve bar.  

My new growing appreciation is for the incredible level of professionalism “Southies” as I am going to refer to them bring to the guide world.  Have been spending some time with some over the past few years and I mean they are legit.  Christiaan’s demeanor and ability to judge character among people topped by the South African slant on the “English” is just awesome.  Lively conversation about Russia, vodka, naked guides, bears, guns all neatly enveloped into fly fishing make for great stories.  And in case you didn’t know, this sport is all about stories and a few are even about fish.


So to some degree Abaco Lodge falls into more than one of the aforementioned categories however where the surprise landed squarely in my lap was when we killed the engine and coasted up onto a flat and a giant stingray had 3 sizeable permit shadowing it as it cruised the sandy bottom.

I understand when guides freak out about permit, they are notoriously elusive and to say there are finicky is being generous on their behalf.  So I have traveled to this part of the Caribbean with mostly bonefish equipment because while permit are mentioned, few rave about them as a resident fish. They tend to be treated more like a celebrity, so was a bit awe struck when the first ray we encounter is hosting an entourage of permit well over 20 pounds each.  Ok then, game on, here is my VIP pass, I’ll be your huckleberry, let’s do this or whatever you want to say, let’s play ball.  I have thick skin, been denied a few times before so these won’t hurt my feelings too bad.


Our guide Travis Sands, as the boat is gliding to within 15 feet of this ray quietly sneaks Bob’s permit rod out of the rod holder, strips some line off and hands to him.  Boat has stalled in 18 inches of water, fish have moved off about 30-40 feet and Bob makes a very conservative first cast about 15 feet or so to their starboard side, allows for the crab to sink, strips once to clean any slack and then makes one single long strip…please skip next paragraph if you have aversion to 4 letter words, just quoting what was said!

One permit leaves the ray and streaks at Bob’s fly so fast it leaves a V-wake in 2-3 feet of water.  So fast it scares Bob and he is stepping backward on the deck, almost stepping off into bottom of the boat and so fast all I can say is “HOLY CRAP, it ate your fly!”  which sounded more like Holshaterfly because I didn’t have the time to spit it out, I nearly jumped from the boat.  Bob in a knee jerk reaction half strip sets and half lifts his rod, “FK!”  Travis is hyperventilating on the back deck but manages to sputter out, “Quick, get ready to cast again!”


To my utter astonishment, the permit had simply scratched its head wondering where Bob’s crab had disappeared to so quickly and went back to the ray.  Travis makes a couple pushes, the ray turns in our favor and Bob once again presents the same fly with the nearly same result but with more composure and strip sets and we are off to the races! 

Travis is pacing as much as you can on a poling deck, professionally suggesting tactics for playing the fish and about 8-9 minutes later, we are two thirds of our way to a Grand Slam.


Now the thing about a Grand Slam is as far as those at the lodge and many of the locals are aware, there has not been one caught on Abaco proper in a very long time, in fact the term “never” had crept out of some old timer locals mouths.  So it is 11am on the Wednesday of a week long trip and Travis has the Maverick full throttle to the tarpon grounds.  We have 5 hours to make this happen within which we have 1 1/2 hours of boat time included to be back at the lodge by 4pm. 

Now let’s chat about this a bit.  Tarpon are DEFINITELY not spoken of often in these parts.  I didn’t really even bring anything specificly for tarpon, the guides don’t usually even have tarpon flies with them.  As we sprint across the Marls towards the Abaco equivalent of Tarponville I am digging through the myriad of flies in search of something and voila, an zip lock with a few Silver King flies.  Tie on some hefty leader material and about the time I finish, we are slowing into the zone. 


I have been present for several Grand Slams and even a couple Super Slams and know how hard those were to “accomplish”, in fact the better term might be “manufacture” because they generally require and overhaul of the days fishing plans.  As Travis hops up on the poling deck I hear “And there they are!” come drifting through the humid airwaves.  Sure the hell enough, a small pod of them are rolling about 50 yards upwind of us. 

Travis polls hard to get us up there, Bob gets on deck and Travis gently turns the boat.  The fish are moving away from us and are still up wind so Bob pushes a cast to the left and a tad behind them.  Myself I have just popped my 10th Pink Raddler of the early day because I know there is no way in hell this is going to happen so I am relaxing the best I can, glass half empty state of mind in an attempt to reverse will this Grand Slam. 


Tarpon have steered left a bit, Bob’s second cast is about the same as the first but fish are in a more favorable position, 2nd strip one peels off the group to follow and follow fast.  Not 2 seconds later and Bob is tight to what might be a first for Abaco.  Travis anchor the boat with the push pole, hops off the platform and again paces albeit with a little more real estate than last time.  As the fish tires, Travis hops in and waits for Bob to surf this tarpon to him.  It comes in fast, turns, rolls and wraps its tail around the leader and sprints out another 20 yards and I crap my pants.  None of us have taken a breath in something about five minutes either…

Bob leans in, Travis dives and comes up with a tarpon tail in his hands…Grand Slam complete at 12:33 in the afternoon, in exactly 7 casts!  I try to explain to Bob how incredibly difficult this is to accomplish but in the moment, it seemed about as easy as popping the top on our next beer…pretty damn easy!


Moments later one of the other guides comes around the corner asking what is up, “We could hear you way over there man!”  We simply explained Bob had landed his first tarpon, no mention of the GS or the permit.  In the process of playing the tarpon we had cooked up a little skit to take place back at the lodge.  Christian was going to wonder why in the hell we were back to the lodge so early.  Bob and Travis were going to get in a fight at the lodge bar just to see how Christiaan would handle it.  Buffs up over all our faces to conceal our ear adjoining grins, Bob yells at Travis and throws a handful of chips at him, Travis displays the bird and with a brief pause they then hug and spill the beans.   A fairly festive dinner atmosphere that evening.

Fast forward two days, Bob and I are on the boat together again, still talking about his GS, we are giving each other crap about our casting, blowing bonefish and letting them run us into the mangroves when yet another ray and permit team show up.  First cast, permit on and we are hitting the replay button.   Going through my mind is the idea of not just another GS in the same week but I landed my bonefish and permit on the same fly so I am thinking, “What if I got the tarpon on the same fly, a same fly GS??!!” 


Bob says, “Get the slam first and then go back and see if you can get a second tarpon on the same fly.”  Makes sense but the reality in my head is, yet again, how few of these happen for anglers, but it was so easy 2 days ago.  As I let that thought go the very next one is how easy this is appearing because look,  there are 3 tarpon swimming along the mangroves! 

Well as it turns out, 5 eats later my GS wasn’t meant to be and I am completely fine with it.  I generally don’t fish much on my hosted trips anyway and the fact that I had been blessed with a permit in the Bahamas and that Bob had let me hold the deck for the rest of the day was awesome enough.   Back to the lodge for some McCoy enhanced Bahama Mama’s.

Ok, now with the excitement out of the way there are some other fantastic attributes to Abaco Lodge and fly fishing the Bahamas I have not necessarily felt when angling in other parts of the Caribbean.  While some are due in part to location, others are controls and this place has made the decision to capitalize on them.  Not all are as important to some anglers while incredibly so to other so I want to touch on each.


First was the food.  Nothing short of spectacular cuisine was served on this trip down to the lunches made for the boat each day. 

Awaking to a pot of freshly brewed coffee, Lindy would come around and ask each of us for our breakfast order.  Tim and Eric would go with oatmeal, fresh fruit and juice, the route I should have gone but I couldn’t turn down a custom breakfast burrito of EXTRA bacon, eggs, “poe”, “toe” and “avo” with sauteed shrooms.  How on earth was I to choose oatmeal over this?  I simply don’t possess the will power to do so. 

Lunch was a full menu of items to choose from basically allowing us to select our given protein, carb and beverage in presentation and in quantity.  Should I have wanted 5 grilled chicken sandwiches on ciabbata with 24 different beverages and fruit salad, it would have been there I am sure of it.  Each day a “special” was offered for lunch which one day was a fresh conch salad wrap.  Yeah, I’ll take two of those please!


Arriving back at the lodge about 4pm each day, the ever so lovely Velma greets us with a cold wash cloth for our faces and her enchanting smile and contagious laugh.   Appetite present or not, after dropping off rods and heading to the room to change we were regaled with everything from Conch Seviche to deep fried conch, BBQ Pork nibbles to I can’t remember what else.  All I remember is every time something left the kitchen, I wanted to eat all of it but had to restrain as I knew dinner was going to be off the chart.  Sid, you are an incredible chef and we were fortunate to have your meals each day.  Thank you!

Off the chart it was.  Dinners are where all focus is as far as food goes.  Fishing is done for the day, local libations have softened the edges of a tough day or embellish a great one.  Sun is going down to a gorgeous sunset, some wonderful red wine warbles it way into our glasses and then it lands; a delectable sight of fresh caught lobster tail spit atop homemade potatoes and adorned with small greens.  Had this been a family style dinner, I would have devoured 5 or 6 of these as they were prepared to perfection and had I asked, there would likely have been more but everything was perfect.  Chatter had all but stopped as everyone savored the meal in front of us.  Another glass of wine to top it off and then dessert. 


Ranging from homemade ice cream to flan and my personal favorite the Key Lime pie served in just the right proportions to close the curtains on everyone.  Bed time, a brief pause to digest food and thought of fishing past and future as well as my burrito coming in a mere 7 hours, I can hardly wait.

Speaking of bedtime, in all of my travels, it is quite rare to have a queen sized poster bed, with pillow more comfortable than my own at home, sheeted with fine cotton, A/C all within a private room with own bathroom and shower.  Nothing shared here and no up charge for single occupancy rooms.  In all honesty, I didn’t want to get up in the morning.  Even alone, I would have gladly taken a nice cup of coffee, read a book and just watched the pink sky evolve but alas, fishing awaits.  Photos to be taken, burritos to eat and Grand Slams to attain, because they are so easy here!!


Abaco Lodge was also fully set with a small fly shop and rental fleet of rods and reels for each species we would target.  This is music to my ears even as a shop owner.  This is a potential long winded topic so I will keep it short and sweet.  New Sage X and Salt rods with Sage reels were strung up and ready for anything we would target, no extra charge!  As a shop owner, I see this is as an asset to my business where most wouldn’t. 

I always bring extra rods/reels/lines for my clients in case the inevitable occurs in form of lost luggage, ceiling fans, dumbell eyed flies or even a fish.  This allows clients to come on this trip even if new to the sport and not being pressed into purchasing 2-3 rods and reels just to join this adventure.   I can’t always bring enough so basically the lodge has my back as host and I really appreciate this as a partner in business.  After a trip like this, those who were new will eventually buy their complimentary rods and reels.  Doesn’t have to happen all at once.


As far as the fishing grounds go, I don’t believe I fished the same flat twice the entire week with only one exception and that was when trying to get our second tarpon and even then, it was very brief.  Go beyond this and as we meandered our way to the flats we did fish, there were tons we never stopped at and my question is always the same of local guides, “Why don’t we fish there?”  Answer in this area was, “We certainly could, want to?”  I love this because it means there isn’t constant pressure on flats and the result are fish eager to chow on flies so all you have to do is deliver them.

The one things I always love doing is walking in pursuit of my fish, especially on the flats.  There is the opportunity to do this here but I personally didn’t do any, we were on the skiff the entire time.  So if you do head here, as for wade if that is what you desire doing.

Finally, I have fished with hundreds of guides all over the world and as I have found elsewhere in the Bahamas and exemplified here are very happy, good natured, experienced guides eager to find you fish.  Freddy, Travis, Paul, Trevor and Mike all had personalities of their own, some quiet and some boisterous but all a pleasure to spend a day on the water with. 


In closing this journal entry, knowing what I have coming in the next 18 months as far as travel goes, this was such a fabulous trip in so many ways.  Obviously what I covered explains the nuts and bolts of the experience but the nuance and flow to the trip was as good as it could have been.  Everyone was compatible in the group, some were new which is always a little nerve wracking but each had common threads to chat about during the days on the boat and evenings at happy hour.  New saltwater fly anglers caught fish every day which meant confidence was boosted which is a hope of mine for every angler and you could see it as the week progressed.

So many of the “little things” I tend to look back on on trips that if they had been there would have really made for a wonderful experience and nearly all those “little things” were taken care of here without having to say a word.

Rarely do I immediately yearn to around and return someplace but this is an exception for me, I just can’t get out of my head those grabby permit.  Feel like I need to make sure I wasn’t dreaming this whole thing and always an indication of a location that truly cares is when you know you will stay in touch with staff as friends afterwards and are sad to leave them. 

Thank you for reading, please be in touch if I can answer any questions and thanks again to Abaco Lodge and their staff. 

Would we return to Abaco Lodge — ABSOLUTELY!

A few more images to round out the report…

A nice bonefish from one of the many sandy flats.

Brilliant coloration of a tarpon face.

The fleet under a clear night sky, always fun to shoot.

Serious weather to contend with for a day or so on this trip.

Freddie, not much more need be said!

Tan, the only color I believe you really need!

Why they call it tailing…a lone cruiser near the beach.

Boom!  2 all last season and we landed two this week.

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Abaco Lodge, Bahamas, bonefish, Dave McCoy Photography, destination travel, Emerald Water Anglers, fishing report, flats fishing, fly fishing travel, Grand Slam, Nervous Waters, permit, tarpon, Travel Journal, tropical fly fishing, underwater photography

Upcoming Events – November

October 30, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment

black and white photography, spey casting, swinging flies, steelhead fishing, fly fishing
Upcoming events in November and beyond…

November 9, 2017 — Our Two Hands Movie Premier — Admiral Theater — 7pm – $10 or $15 at door
Our Two Hands is an examination of the underlying cause of this decline, as well as the innovative voices in the angling community and general public fighting for a wild fish future in the Pacific Northwest.  Purchase tickets here:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3117927

November 16, 2017 — Writer’s on the Fly – Cascadia Tour — EWA Store — 7PM– $10
What has become one of our most popular events, come see some of the industry’s most heralded authors and poets infuse their words with personality before your eyes.  Greg Fitz, Jon Toby, Amanda Monthei and Ann Bodle-Nash will be reading that evening here at the store, please join us and purchase tickets here:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3129972

Februry 10, 2018 – EWA Spey Day — Ben Howard boat launch from 9am-2pm – FREE
Come cast as many different spey rods, lines and heads as you possibly can in a day under the watchful eye of industry reps, EWA Staff and regional casting pros.  

January 13, 2018 — Wild and Scenic Film Festival — Vashon Theater from 12 – 2pm —

January 18th, 2018 – 3rd Annual EWA Fly Film Fest – 7pm – $10
Come see 5 minute or shorter videos from industry professionals and amateurs alike.  Winner by audience vote will play at the West Seattle F3T event in early February.

February 7th & 8th, 2018 – Fly Fishing Film Tour – 7pm – $15
The annual industry infusion of hype to get you through the winter.  Great films, huge raffle with trips, rods, coolers, sunglasses and other swag for those willing to show up, enjoy a beer and hang out! Final dates for Seattle still being determined.

February 17th-18th, 2018 – The Fly Fishing Show in Lynwood – $15
Great opportunity to come cast some of the latest models of rods, see presentations on fisheries around WA, PNW and the world. Dave McCoy will be presenting on Fly Fishing Around Washington.  Visit our booth for some swag on the days of the show.

June 2nd, 2018 – EWA Fly Fest @ Me Kwa Mooks Park in West Seattle – FREE
What has become quite an event continues to grow.  Cast every rod available from Winston, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Epic, Echo, Fenwick and Thomas and Thomas.  See the latest in reels from Nautilus, Bauer, Lamson, Sage, Tibor, 3 Tand and more as well as put new lines on your favorite rod.  Instruction, classes, seminars and our 11th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off.

Classes and Schools:

Intro to Spey – $95 — Limited to 3 anglers
Nov. 4th

Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers — 9am @ Lincoln Park
Nov. 18th
Dec. 9th – Full
Dec. 16th

Tying One On Tuesdays — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm
Nov 14th – Puget Sound Baitfish Pattern
Nov 28th
Dec 12th

Women’s Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers
Nov. 5th

Women’s Bug’s n Brew’s Fly Tying — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm
Nov. 16th
Nov. 30th

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers, Events Tagged With: Emerald Water Anglers, fly fishing events, fly fishing movies, fly shop, Seattle Fly Fishing, spey casting, steelhead, Writer's on the Fly

Upcoming Events – October

October 5, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment


Upcoming events in November and beyond…

November 16, 2017 — Writer’s on the Fly – Cascadia Tour – $10 @ EWA Store
What has become one of our most popular events, come see some of the industry’s most heralded authors and poets infuse their words with personality before your eyes.  Greg Fitz, Jon Toby, Amanda Monthei and Ann Bodle-Nash will be reading that evening here at the store, please join us.

January TBD, 2018 – EWA Spey Day – FREE
Come cast as many different spey rods, lines and heads as you possibly can in a day under the watchful eye of industry reps, EWA Staff and regional casting pros.  Date to be finalized soon.

January 18th, 2018 – 3rd Annual EWA Fly Film Fest – 7pm – $10
Come see 5 minute or shorter videos from industry professionals and amateurs alike.  Winner by audience vote will play at the West Seattle F3T event in early February.

February 7th & 8th, 2018 – Fly Fishing Film Tour – 7pm – $15
The annual industry infusion of hype to get you through the winter.  Great films, huge raffle with trips, rods, coolers, sunglasses and other swag for those willing to show up, enjoy a beer and hang out! Final dates for Seattle still being determined.

February 17th-18th, 2018 – The Fly Fishing Show in Lynwood – $15
Great opportunity to come cast some of the latest models of rods, see presentations on fisheries around WA, PNW and the world. Dave McCoy will be presenting on Fly Fishing Around Washington.  Visit our booth for some swag on the days of the show.

June 2nd, 2018 – EWA Fly Fest @ Me Kwa Mooks Park in West Seattle – FREE
What has become quite an event continues to grow.  Cast every rod available from Winston, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Epic, Echo, Fenwick and Thomas and Thomas.  See the latest in reels from Nautilus, Bauer, Lamson, Sage, Tibor, 3 Tand and more as well as put new lines on your favorite rod.  Instruction, classes, seminars and our 11th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off.

Classes and Schools:

Intro to Spey – $95 — Limited to 3 anglers
Oct. 7th
Oct. 21st
Nov. 4th

Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers — 9am @ Lincoln Park
Oct. 7th
Oct. 28th

Tying Tuesdays — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm
Oct. 10th
Oct. 24th
Nov 14th 
Nov 28th
Dec 12th

Women’s Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: casting classes, classes, Emerald Water Anglers, Film Festival, fly fishing classes, fly fishing schools, fly tying classes, Seattle, Washington, Writer's on the Fly

Upcoming Events – September

September 2, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment


Upcoming Events for September and beyond…

September 11th, 2017 – Fall in the Sound!  7pm @ EWA – FREE
Alex will discuss fly fishing opportunities on Puget Sound for the fall season, don’t miss this because it’s good out there!

January TBD, 2018 – EWA Spey Day – FREE
Come cast as many different spey rods, lines and heads as you possibly can in a day under the watchful eye of industry reps, EWA Staff and regional casting pros.  Date to be finalized soon.

January 18th, 2018 – 3rd Annual EWA Fly Film Fest – 7pm – $10
Come see 5 minute or shorter videos from industry professionals and amateurs alike.  Winner by audience vote will play at the West Seattle F3T event in early February.

February 7th & 8th, 2018 – Fly Fishing Film Tour – 7pm – $15
The annual industry infusion of hype to get you through the winter.  Great films, huge raffle with trips, rods, coolers, sunglasses and other swag for those willing to show up, enjoy a beer and hang out! Final dates for Seattle still being determined.

February 17th-18th, 2018 – The Fly Fishing Show in Lynwood – $15
Great opportunity to come cast some of the latest models of rods, see presentations on fisheries around WA, PNW and the world. Dave McCoy will be presenting on Fly Fishing Around Washington.  Visit our booth for some swag on the days of the show.

June 2nd, 2018 – EWA Fly Fest @ Me Kwa Mooks Park in West Seattle – FREE
What has become quite an event continues to grow.  Cast every rod available from Winston, Sage, Scott, Loomis, Epic, Echo, Fenwick and Thomas and Thomas.  See the latest in reels from Nautilus, Bauer, Lamson, Sage, Tibor, 3 Tand and more as well as put new lines on your favorite rod.  Instruction, classes, seminars and our 11th Annual Guide Staff Cook Off.

Classes and Schools:

Intro to Fly Fishing Schools 1 Day – $195 – 8 hours of instruction – Limited to 3 anglers
Sept. 17th
Sept. 24th

Intro to Spey – $95 — Limited to 3 anglers
Sept. 24th
Oct. 7th
Oct. 21st
Nov. 4th

Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers — 9am @ Lincoln Park
Sept. 16th
Sept. 23rd
Oct. 7th
Oct. 28th

Tying Tuesdays — $20 — @ EWA Store — 7-9pm
Oct. 10th
Oct. 24th
Nov 14th 
Nov 28th
Dec 12th

Women’s Intro to Fly Casting — $20 — Limited to 6 anglers

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: classes, Emerald Water Anglers, Emerald Water Anglerse, Film Festival, film tour, fly casting classes, fly fishing events, fly tying classes, intro to fly fishing, presentations, special events, spey casting classes

Travel Journal: Greenland Fly Fishing

August 18, 2017 by adminewa 2 Comments


Fly fishing whether I really want to admit it or not is embedded in my DNA.  My doctor actually found it on my DNA ladder when doing a blood test on me a couple years ago, so I may as well embrace it, it isn’t going anywhere.  Just so happens while I know the previous statement isn’t necessarily scientifically true, I can feel it within me and I know adventure adjoins fly fishing to make up a significant part of my soul.   Watching Marlin Perkins growing up created a yearning to see far off locales and somewhere, somehow in the past 20 years I have been fortunate enough to construct a life style allowing me to combine both.


This last escapade put a check mark on a place I have wanted to see for decades if for no other reason than to see the look on peoples face when you say “Greenland.”  Yes, we went to Greenland fly fishing on the southern tip for native Arctic Char and I would GLADLY share the name of the rivers with you if they only had names, they don’t.  In fact when you are fishing them, it feels a bit like this is only a stream this year, next year maybe it isn’t here due to lake levels, shifting ice and general change in topography.  More than likely they will be there again but when it takes what it takes to get to this place, the utter lack of human presence or evidence of such make you wonder.  I believe wondering is healthy for the mind…


About 2 hours into the flight from Reykjavik the first glimpse of the big island comes into view…icebergs litter the coastal water and surrounding smaller islands.  Around the entire perimeter Greenland, which I didn’t realize until taking a closer loo, are hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny islands carved by glaciers.  They create a wonderful introduction to the “ice cap” we are about to fly over.  Until you see this in person, nothing on television, in a movie or described in words will do it justice.  Multi thousand foot tall peaks emerge from the sea of ice to show just their tip tops and this view goes on as far as you can see from 25,000 feet.  How about that, at least I can say I tried…


Landing in Narsarsuaq the intimidation and wonder factor sets in.  First is I can’t believe I am standing on Greenland within sight of some of the worlds largest and oldest glaciers.  An unreal sensation, almost giddy for me set my mood for the rest of the week and beyond.  Second is now how do we get to the lodge from here as the road ends on a dock in one direction and at the airport runway in the other, almost being able to see both ends standing in one place.  Every single person at the airport is either a photographer/videographer, explorer or Inuit.  Not coming here to watch television and gain weight…though more on this in a bit!

Sharing a ride to the dock with a few other anglers going to another location in the region we hop on a boat for our 3 hour plus boat ride through the fjords, dodging icebergs and leaving all signs of civilization behind.  That itch I have found only one remedy for is being satiated, may the adventure begin! 


I look at my watch, the sun feels as though its intensity is not quite what it was and sure enough, it is almost 11pm, sun is still up, hungry, tired, nearly two 32 gig cards filled with icebergs and one small village we turn a corner and voila, there is the lodge.  Hunger helps me off the boat hoping like nothing they have something for us and OMG do they!  Locally sourced carrots, potatoes and mushrooms foraged from the area, some Char sashimi and reindeer flank steak.  Throw in for good measure a closely guarded recipe of sweet mustard sauce, home made full grain breads and jam with a Tuborg (Greenland beer) and it is all I can do not to pass out before my head hits the pillow, punch my card, I am out!


Cabins at the lodge are unreal considering where we are and just “wondering” what it might have taken to bring the materials necessary to this location.  Water view from the porch, comfortable down comforters on each bed with down pillows, table with just enough light to make a quick journal entry and most importantly, just upwind of where the AM coffee is freshly brewed.  I have to believe the 4 of us, the only 4 in camp beside the staff were put right here in these two cabins for what has to be a coincidental reason… 


The sun dipped for about 3 hours or so at best, not quite ever dark but dim.  Enough for the local residents to figure out new blood was in camp, on goes the mosquito repellent and off for a visit to the lieu, morning snapshot of the view and in for coffee.  In my twisted mind I fall to that old joke about how the Native American kid got his name…first thing his parents saw when they stepped out of the tent after he was born…born here there would be a considerable number of people named OMG, WOW or maybe even HOLY S–T!  It is just amazing and this comes from having seen a fair share of views around the world!


Freshly rested my mind slants ever so slightly towards fishing, it is what actually brought me to this incredible location.  That long slender and what strong also fragile piece of graphite has once again put me in a place I am humbled to be.  As hard as I try, staring at the fjord in front of the lodge, I am hoping what I see is being seen by my wife and daughter simultaneously.  Nothing resembling WiFi here so it would have to be through a deeper connection, a stronger one founded on relationships as solid and soulful as possible.  Before I begin to get homesick I grab rod and reel, pull out the waders and boots and assemble slowly, with deliberation what will be my secondary tool for the next week while here in Greenland fly fishing.


Bobo, our camp host and a person with more colorful stories from the region and the world says over coffee, “Let’s take it easy today, get your feet wet but not push it too hard today.”  This guy is speaking my language, I just want to take it all in, not rush past anything if possible.  We enjoy a very hearty breakfast of eggs, reindeer sausage and more scrumptious home made bread, look over a map of this part of Greenland and retrace our path to get here, we are really out here!  As I look over a map of the region and greater Greenland, I wonder how in the world Arni made the decision to put the lodge HERE…


When I began talking about this trip, my good friend Johann who worked for Angling Club Lax-a at the time told me the fishing here would be ridiculous, almost boring if that is possible.  With these comments still resting in the back of my mind, we pack our gear, get on the boat and head out to the first location to present our first flies to fish in Greenland. 


After being dropped off, we hiked a scenic route to the stream and as it turns out, the sales pitch was pure, as truthful as any I have ever paid attention to.  This small unnamed stream connecting a lake to the sea was so full of native Arctic Char, the bottom was black in places.   This was literally like shooting fish in a barrel and we all took our shots!  Quickly realizing catching wasn’t going to be an issue, I relocated to higher ground and began trying to spot larger fish to help the others target them among the masses. 


The following few days we spend chasing cod in the fjords around the lodge, driving the small boat right up to the base of where the main glacier touches the sea and visiting the a small village about 45 minutes by boat from the lodge.  On our way to the village, we are enjoying our ride when Bobo slows the boat a bit and THUD, we hit an iceberg! 


We all freak out for a moment, wondering if the boat is going to make like the Titanic when Bobo grabs an ice pick, a glove and begins striking away at the smaller pieces of the berg surrounding the boat.  We realize he is grabbing ice for the cooler and to enhance our evening libations back at the lodge after our day of fishing.  OK then, iceberg “cubes” in the Gin and Tonic…it is about all I and the rest of our team can think about all day. 


As Marilyn is landing a fish, she yells over to John, “Looking forward to those chunks of ice in my glass here soon!”  John hooks up mid sentence with a smile and nod.  We are having a fine last day in Greenland!


Back at the lodge, as we enjoy maybe the finest tenderloin of freshly grilled reindeer I have ever tasted period, Andreas and Bear start a big bonfire in the pit over looking the small bay.  It is a placid evening, mosquitoes seems to be allowing us a small respite from their frequent facial visits.  Sipping a little Icelandic brown water with Greenland ice, watching the sun slowing crest the horizon I still can’t believe I am sitting in Greenland…literally can’t wait to return!


Small stream joining one of the lakes to the sea allowing the Char access to their spawning grounds.


Chrome bright and native, this Arctic Char was quite willing to take a fly.


Wild flower in full bloom for a short period of time colorfully speckled around the hillsides surrounding the small streams.


From a high vantage point, spotting the larger Char in the gin clear water.


Greenland fly fishing and coming tight in the cold saltwater near the face of the main ice cap glacier.

Would we return to Greenland — Possibly

Lodging – fantastic
Remoteness – fantastic
Food – OFF THE CHART
Fishing – too easy and this is the issue, know this sounds impossible but it was so easy (50+ fish a day per person) it would be boring for a full week…otherwise, LOVE this place!


Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Angling Club Lax-a, arctic char, Dave McCoy Photography, Emerald Water Anglers, fly fishing outfitter, fly fishing travel, fly fishing travel experts, glacier, Greenland fly fishing, hosted fly fishing, icebergs, Iceland, Seattle, travel blog, Washington

1st Annual Washington Carp Jamboree

June 19, 2017 by adminewa Leave a Comment


Yep, you read it correct, we are excited to announce the newest Carp on the Fly tournament to come to Washington.  Carp are a phenomenal species to target on with the fly rod and Washington has a ton of great habitat in which to pursue them.  There are 2 primary species of carp in Washington, the Common Carp and the Mirror Carp.  Neither of which require a WA fishing license to pursue for traveling anglers this is low hanging fruit! 

Here are some specs on the tournament:

August 12th, 2017 at Banks Lake in eastern WA

Maximum number of anglers will be 40

Fly fish only, single barbless hooks

Tournament fishing begins at day break

All catch records need to be into Bill Marts by 4pm Saturday to qualify for tournament

Awards ceremony will be at 5pm followed by dinner

$60 registration fee per angler which includes:

     Map of lake to help new anglers with locations around the lake to fish
     Free clinic with Bill Marts and others on Friday evening @ 7:30PM
     Dinner and beverages on Saturday evening after fishing
     Awards for top 5 anglers

Tournament winner is by sheer number of fish on the honor system.  Tie will be broken by largest carp landed, photo proof with tape measure in photo

Register here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carp-jamboree-tickets-35767811487

Questions please contact:

Dave McCoy – 206-601-0132 – dave@emeraldwateranglers.com
Store – 206-708-7250 – shop@emeraldwateranglers.com

Filed Under: Emerald Water Anglers Tagged With: Banks Lake, carp, common carp, Emerald Water Anglers, grass carp, mirror carp, PNW, Seattle, tournament, Washington, Washington Carp Jamboree

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