Our quest to find new fly fishing experiences to introduce to our clients is an ongoing (and very enjoyable) part of our life here at Aardvark McLeod. We’ve recently made some great additions to our portfolio, spanning both the salt and freshwater arenas. Here’s a quick round up, and as ever the team is on hand to chat through the details if you’d like more information.
WHAT’S NEW SALTWATER
MEXICO
If tarpon are on your agenda then we’ve plenty to tempt you. Casa Clorinda and Tarpon Town Lodge, both in the Campeche region of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, are prime spots from which to target the prolific fishing around the Bay of Campeche. Juvenile and baby tarpon are in the area year-round and produce plenty of exciting sport. Both lodges are charming family homes converted into boutique accommodation. Non-anglers will find plenty to explore, with Mayan ruins, museums and bustling markets on hand.
COSTA RICA
Staying with the ‘Silver King’, we’ve two exciting options in Costa Rica to offer. Although primarily known as an ocean dwelling, the tarpon inhabiting the inland rivers of northern Costa Rica grow to epic proportions. Travelling miles from the sea, they arrive in the food rich Jungle Tarpon Reserve, a vast system of rivers, creeks and flooded lagoons surrounded by verdant rainforest. It’s an extraordinary environment in which to test your skills against these powerful fish.
Also in Costa Rica, Jungle Quest is a proper action-packed angling adventure combining time targeting ocean tarpon along with machacha, an exotic and aggressive species distantly related to the piranha. After a few days on the giant tarpon – there’s a real chance of hooking up with a 200lb monster – you head deep into the rainforest, rafting down the river to test your skills against fish just as agile as mini tarpon.
OMAN
Although southern Oman is home to large giant trevally, it’s the permit fishing here that tends to get the pulse racing. There are Indo Pacific permit patrolling the beaches – difficult to tempt, and hold on tight if you do hook up. But it’s the Trachinotus Africanus, the ultimate fighter of the permit family, that is the real draw here. Between October and April, Salalah is the only destination on the planet where anglers can consistently target the Africanus and can expect daily shots at these fish. Hard to target and even harder to land, their power in the shallows and around the rocks easily matches that of a GT. It’s challenging and exhilarating fishing – with every chance you’ll be broken off on the reef!
KENYA
Not a full-on fishing lodge, but a charming boutique hotel on Kenya’s south coast, Kinondo Kwetu is a great shout for a relaxing beach stay with fishing as an option. The Swedish owners have created oodles of character, there’s lots to do if you want to and plenty of places to simply chill. The food is sublime and the service excellent. The Pemba Channel, one of Kenya’s best deep sea fishing spots, is within striking distance. Sailfish and marlin fishing is good between December and March and it’s possible to arrange a professional guide and boat for the day to target these exciting fish.
WHAT’S NEW FRESHWATER
ICELAND
These additions to our Iceland portfolio represent two good value, mixed species, small rivers. The Brunná fishes sea run and brown trout in the early season before Arctic char arrive in June. It’s a lovely gin clear river holding many beautiful fishing spots. The Lónsá offers great fishing for sea trout, sea run Arctic char and resident brown trout. For a small river, it’s fish are often bigger than expected.
CHILE
This week-long fishing adventure explores a variety of rivers that flow into the remote fjords of Chilean Patagonia. Fishing in gin clear waters amid exquisite scenery, anglers can expect encounters with robust fish typically weighing five to eight pounds. Based on a comfortable mothership which moves according to the best conditions, it’s possible to reach rivers inaccessible by foot to target resident and sea run wild rainbow and brown trout as well as silver salmon.
BHUTAN
The rivers and streams of this tiny Buddhist kingdom are home to over 100 indigenous fish, among which are golden mahseer, chocolate mahseer, snow trout and brown trout. This ten-day itinerary offers both an unforgettable fishing experience and a unique cultural encounter. The fishing portion, a six day/five-night float trip down one of the world’s most beautiful mahseer rivers, allows anglers to test their skills against these powerful fish known for their ability to take line deep into the backing. The trip is topped and tailed with exploration of some of Bhutan’s most important cultural sites.
GREENLAND
The short season and limited number of rods ensures fishing on the Napiarissat River remains unpressured compared to some of Greenland’s other prolific rivers. If Arctic char are on your bucket list, then this is as good a place as any to come looking. This fishing is spectacular, the hiking easy, wading is rarely more than knee deep, and most of the time it’s only a short walk from the lodge to reach the most productive areas.
If you would like further information on any of the destinations featured in our What’s New blog please contact Peter McLeod or Charlotte Chilcott or call the office on +44(0)1980 847389.