Fly School & Tournament For Feburary 2012

This year the Blue Bayou Sport Fishing team and lodge are hosting a big game fly school.  Following the three day fly fishing school, we will have a 3 day in house, private, fly fishing tournament with boats of our fleet.  Regarding the tournament, teams will consist of two fly anglers per boat.  All of the boats used will consist of our 30' classic fleet featured online.

Now is the time to finally get down to Guatemala and learn the methods used for sail fish, and marlin on the fly.  You will also potentially see shots at Dorado, Jacks, and Tuna.
We will have some of our premier, well travel fly guides to assist you with any questions or concerns.  Some of which will come as far as Europe to stand in as personal guides for the school portion of the trip.

The Blue Bayou Fly School starts on the 23rd, with our first day on the water on the 24th, 25th, and the 26th of February, 2012.
February 23rd- Introduction with guides, ideology of sailfish on the fly, rigging, flies used, how to tease and hook up.  Cocktails will be served throughout the class as well as fresh sea food dinner.
February 24th- First day on the water with your respected guide.  Assuming you will have many shots, there will be explanations as to how to set your hooks, what to look for while teasing fish up to the boat, and anything in-between.
February 25th- Another day of guide and angler fishing.  Followed by cocktails, dinner, and a summary of the days results, and ways to improve certain given issues.
February 26th- Last day on the water with guides.  Followed by the last day ceremonies, dinners, and drinks.

*For those fishing in the tournament, we will be expecting a new group to arrive that night, on Sunday.  For those leaving the class, you will head out that evening for either Antigua, or Guatemala City.  Depending on departure time.*

Tournament Schedule -

February 26th - Introduction to the tournament, follow by rules and regulations for the tournament.  Cocktails and dinner served.
February 27th- Opening day of tourney.  We are shooting for a 7:30am departure.  Following will be cocktails, dinner, etc.
February 28th- 2nd day of tourney.  Following will be cocktails, dinner, etc.
February 29th- 3rd day of tourney.  Following will be cocktails, dinner, and closing ceremonies with results of winner.

Cost per person for Fly School: $3720 pp (6 Spots Open)
Cost per person for Tournament: $4818 pp (10 to 12 Spots Open)
Discounted price per person for both Fly School and Tournament: $7500 pp

Included in packages:
All Meals- breakfast, lunch on boats, dinner.
All Flies- For just the school portion.
All Fishing- Capt, mate, bait, boat, NO TIPS INCLUDED.
All Transportation- To and from air port, all days fishing.  Private van.
All lodging- AC, comfy water front lodging, 5 minutes to marina, 24 hour gated security.

Preferred Big Game Fly Equipment

Sailfish and Blue Marlin on the fly is quickly becoming a popular demand here in Guatemala. Mainly because of the number of chances in a given day, all year round. However, you do not need to pay an arm and a leg to accomplish this adrenaline rush with a feeling of much fulfillment. Center counsel, compact yachts, and smaller walk around boats such as the fleet that the Blue Bayou Sport Fishing Team runs and owns are actually a better fit for most. The reason being aside from the incredible price difference, smaller and more narrow boats are easier to throw a fly from. With just a dump bucket for your line, and the preferred outrigger pulled up for your pitching side, you're in business! As far as recommended equipment goes I have some very simple guidelines. For starters I would plan on a 12 wt to 13 wt set up for both the rod and reel, nothing more. The reel is much more important than the rod. I suggest the following: Abel super 12, Abel big game 4, and select models by Tibor billy Pate. These are all class 12 and up, and will work just fine. Not to mention Abel has a first class customer service department. It is ideal to use an anti reverse disc drag fly reel.
The rod doesn't need to be anything special, just fast action and heavy. It will feel funny at first, but you will see why this stiffness is needed. Blue water fly tackle is what we use and it seems to do the job.

The Fly And A How To Tie It

The fly used here is the Cam Sigler popper heads with PINK chicken feathers. Do yourself a favor and buy the poppers and flies from us. We can either sell you the fly put together with a popper head for the cost of the just one retail popper head, or we can sell you the popper head at half the cost of the retail price. This way you can tie your own as many anglers like to do.

$12.00 One Fly with popper head via mail (only applies in the USA)

$5.00 for just one popper head you tie your own (retail is $10.00)

$15.00 (per fly with popper head) we provide the flies put together in Guatemala upon arrival, first fly is free.

We will also provide the circle hooks and fly hooks free of charge. The choice is yours. If you want to tie it yourself direct purchase of the popper head from Blue Bayou Sport Fishing will save you greatly.

How to tie a Cam Sigler Fly

Backing

I usually do not recommend dacron as backing, but with a bigger real it not as big of an issue. Usually the issue is that the diameter compared to new backings is much bigger, and if you are converting a 9 to 11 wt reel you use for salmon up north for this trip you could use it for sails. Note that the backing is one of the most important parts in fly fishing for billfish. I recommend gel spun by Orvis. It's not cheap but you don't need a very big reel, just a very good brake. We put anywhere from 400 yds to 600yards of 35 lb to 45lb gel spun on our reels. With lots of backing in the water and high speed runs with sails the pressure on the backing is immense. So that’s why backing is the greatest investment if you ask us.  Western Filaments tufline is also something worth looking into for braided backing.

**Please see the following article & picture about rigging your sailfish fly reel**

Here is a system to set up for Billfish.  We use Suffix Key Lime for the mono and cut back Rio Leviathan flylines.  Other brands will work we have used these brands over much time with great success and just happen to like them.  We also prefer sinking lines or heads for the reason that you can easily load big rods without having much more than the head or sinking portion out of the rod to make a quick and easy cast, and their diameter is smaller than floating lines and thus creates less drag in the water.  You will note that we use bright backing and use mono in between the backing and the flyline.  This length of mono allows some stretch in the system and avoids breaking your flyline off at the juncture to backing and also takes some stress off of the class tippet.  We use bright mono so that the Capt can always see the line, and also use this mono for the butt section off of the end of the flyline that you can loop a bimini leader or other leader into to easily and quickly change flies and by looping the mono to the backing.  This allows you to change the mono and flyline out quickly if it gets broken or abraided.  We also use this system when setting up for other big pelagic fish like tuna, however we would leave the flyline full length in case you need to cast some distance and would change the butt section of the leader to fluorocarbon as non billfish species can be leader shy .

4 Strand Double Overhand Loop Knot

We use this knot to attach backing to Mono or flylines with loops when using spectra type or small diameter backings.  The only trick is to make all of the loops the same exact length. With the 4 strands, this displaces the pressure across all strands and does not allow the backing to cut through mono or flyline cores.  This knot, with a little practice, even with all the strands, is easy to tie.

Start by creating one loop over your index finger and pinch the tag end with opposite hand over main line  (about 7” Loop).  Using your finger with the loop over it, go back in a hand over hand motion looping around your finger and pinching the main line again until you have 4 loops.  You will now have a tag end and 3 tag loops pinched onto the main line and 4 loops over your finger.  Now simply tie a double overhand Surgeons knot.  Be careful to pull evenly when tightening and keep the loops over one finger so they stay the same length.  Dab some type of pliable glue over the knot when done to keep it from slipping back out, but allowing it to tighten more if necessary.

For live help and past references join our sail fish on the fly facebook page.  You will find lots of helpful past clients, and future clients requiring the same information.  An easy way to get ready for your trip, and to know what to expect.

Sail Fish On The Fly Page

Orvis

Orvis Gel Spun

Wind on leader:

Bass Pro Wind on Leader

Rio Lines

Any Questions please contact

Capt Starrs

Contact Capt. Starrs click here