Species

There’s a certain point where fly fishing stops being a local hobby and turns into a reason to travel.

It often starts with trout, perhaps on a quiet chalkstream in the UK, where everything feels controlled and familiar. Once you get comfortable, it’s hard not to wonder what else you can catch on a fly. Salmon are usually next. In Scotland, Norway, Iceland or Russia – they are powerful fish that demand patience more than anything else. Sea trout in Wales can quickly morf into European fishing and further afield to Argentina.

Then things might shift to saltwater. Or perhaps that is where you started. You might start off targeting bonefish on shallow flats. It’s faster, more visual fishing than perhaps you have been used to and it opens the doors to a whole new batch of species to target from permit to tarpon, triggerfish to sailfish and a whole lot in between.

If you keep going, the trips get more remote. In Mongolia, taimen are the main target—large, aggressive fish in rivers that feel completely untouched. Or you might go to Argentina or Chile for big trout in Patagonia, where the conditions can be just as challenging as the fish.

At some point, you realise the pattern: each species gives you a different reason to travel. Some are technical, some are physical, and some are just an excuse to see a place you wouldn’t otherwise visit. Of course the fishing matters, but it’s really about where it takes you.

Bonefish: A Thrilling Adventure

Fly fishing for bonefish is one of the most exhilarating experiences a fly fisherman can enjoy. Often referred to as the “ghosts of the flats,” bonefish are known for their

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Atlantic Salmon: The Silver Tourist

Fly fishing for Atlantic salmon – the “Silver Tourist” – is perhaps the most honest and soulful form of angling. These fish return from the ocean without the intention of

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Sea Trout: Ghosts of The Night

Much like salmon fly fishing, the pursuit of sea trout is etched into the history of British anglers. This species has earned an almost mythical reputation for being, sensitive to

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Permit: The Great Challenge

Often referred to as fork tailed devils, permit have developed a healthy reputation as being especially awkward and unforgiving. With so many other great species to target on the flats

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Nicholas Dean Lodge, Canada, Steelehad. Aardvark McLeod

Steelhead: Fish of a thousand casts

Fly fishing for steelhead in British Columbia is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and rewarding pursuits in freshwater angling. Often described as the “fish of a thousand

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Mexico, Tapron

Tarpon: The Silver King

As dawn breaks, and that first caffeine hit of the morning begins to take effect, this is the time of the silver king… Although the light is flat at this

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ATA Lodge Alaska Trophy Adventure Lodge pacific salmon fishing Aardvark McLeod

Pacific Salmon: The Wild Migrant

Fly fishing for Pacific salmon is a raw, immersive experience — one shaped by scale, wilderness, and the sheer abundance of life. Unlike their Atlantic cousins, Pacific salmon arrive in

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Yellow Tail Kingfish, New Zealand, Aardvark McLeod

Yellowtail Kingfish: The Coastal Bruiser

Fly fishing for yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) is one of the most exhilarating pursuits in the saltwater angling world. Known for their speed, strength, and relentless fighting spirit, yellowtail kingfish

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Payara: The Jungle Vampire Fish

Fly fishing for payara is challenge that should be on every angler’s bucket list. These tooth-armed predators, often called “vampire fish” for their long, curved fangs, are explosive, aggressive, and

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