What is going to get packed is packed. The rest of the time before I take off is really just moving from one place to another. The trip is more or less set in motion.

The last reels arrived a couple days ago and yesterday was supposed to be the day that I got backing put on all those reels.  Then… call from my daughter’s school that she was sick. So, I scavenged. I managed to pull backing off a few of the reels staying home and am now fully set.  Here’s the reel list…

For the 8′s (Sage One, Mystery Prototype)

• Orvis Mirage
• Ross F1

For the 10 (Orvis Helios)

• Ross Momentum
• Ross CLA
• Orvis Mirage

For the 11 (Redington Predator)

• Redington Delta

The lines are a mix of Orvis, Rio and SA lines and for the tarpon rods (the 10 and 11) I have both floating and either clear int. sink tips or full clear int. sinks as well.

I’m feeling fairly well equipped. In fact, I may be over-equipped and I’ll have to consciously switch reels and rods from time to time to make sure I get some time with different rigs.

Four rods. Six reels. Seven spools/seven lines.

I’ll be carrying on the rods and the reels and I’ll be hoping the rest of my stuff makes it there.

Tomorrow morning I get on a flight for the first leg of the journey.  I’ll meet up with the others down in Mexico tomorrow night and from there, the adventure begins.

The days are in single digits and I’m starting to get really annoying on the whole “Guess where I’m going?!” thing.  The media tour with Yellow Dog and Avalon is fast approaching and my rods are finally all here.

There they are.

This is what’s on tap.

• 11 wt – Predator from Redington (I fished this in a 9 in December)
• 10 wt – Helios from Orvis (I’ve fished this before in a 10 and an 8 )
• 8 wt – One from Sage (brand new)
• 8 wt – mystery prototype rod

That’s a pretty sweet line up. The only thing I don’t really have in there is a dedicated permit rod, but that’s because I hope I find more time casting to baby tarpon and not-baby bonefish than searching for permit. I just can’t help it… that’s how I feel. Don’t hate me.

These are not my rods, of course. The sad day when I get back will be returning these rods to their corporate parents. I hope to get a sense of where the new Sage One stacks up to one of my favorite rods, the Helios.  The Predator is a good, workman rod that is the low-cost rod of the bunch. The prototype? I’ve never cast a prototype before.

Basically… I’ll keep you posted and I. CAN’T. WAIT.

I’ve spent a few hours talking to Steve on the phone.  He’s a guy I like and respect.  He’s doing some good things at Orvis, not least of which is the Helios Rod and Mirage Reel series. Here’s a video about the Mirage.

PS – saw this over at Flatswalker.

This gem is from Orvis News.

Over the last decade, the organization, now called Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, has grown into a many tentacled beast—providing funding for research, supporting conservation efforts, educating sport fishermen, working with regulatory authorities and legislators, and serving as “a repository of information and knowledge related to the life cycle, behavior, and well being of the species.” Such an effort requires a leader who understands the scientific concepts and the many different perspectives involved in any debate about the future of marine habitats. Since 2006, that man has been Dr. Aaron Adams, whose impeccable “street cred”—as a scientist, and author, and angler—have helped recreational anglers make the connection between BTU’s research and what’s happening on the water. (see the rest f the story here)

This piece profiles Aaron Adams and the work of the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

Good stuff.

BTT's Aaron Adams scouting out El Pescador

Here’s the story from Orvis.

I really can’t add much to this photo…

I almost went to work for Orvis.  It was on the table when the opportunity to work at a software startup came along.  I figured it was a choice between selling Hydros sticks and eventually buying a bunch of them.  I would have liked talking about fly fishing all day.  That wouldn’t have been the worst thing.

I like Orvis.  They have some good sticks and good reels these days.  They also put out some really good web content, like this “Five Secrets You Must Know About Bonefish.”

• Know What Makes Bonefish Tick

Bonefish are predators, but their life is still one of eat or be eaten. If you have ever seen a bonefish do battle with a crab you will be convinced of its determination to eat. Watch a bonefish become alarmed and it is astounding how quickly it will abandon that meal when it senses a threat. A bonefish has a radar array that is controlled primarily by its lateral line. It senses both good and bad vibrations. A shark entering the flat 100 yards away can put down an entire school of bonefish. A crab shuffling its fins into the marl produces a sound that rings like a dinner bell. An angler can see the excitement in the bone by the way its dorsal fin quivers. Often, in this state of tunnel vision, a bonefish can be excited to the point of distraction. A wise angler chooses this moment to make the shot.

photo credit - Andrew Bennett

[Editor's Note: Our friend Conway Bowman has a new book out, The Orvis Guide to Beginning Saltwater Fly Fishing, which is full of great information, tips, and tactics. Here's an excerpt, in which he discusses the essential gear for any saltwater fly-fishing trip. The man spends hundreds of days on the water every year, and a few of his suggestions may surprise you.]

via Essential-Saltwater-Items.

I thought this was an interesting list of stuff and since, really, I’m at the bottom part of the learning curve, it is always interesting to hear from the pro’s about what they choose to take with them on the water.

There might be a few tweaks for bonefish anglers, primarily, you shouldn’t take the Boga grip out on the water with you.  Bogas and Bones don’t mix.   Maybe they are for cuda’s and that I can certainly understand.

The list would certainly be different if you were wading all day.  Not enough room for all that stuff when you are on foot all day and there wasn’t mention of anything to put on your inner thighs when they start to chafe (what, am I the only one who has had that happen?).

Tom Rosenbauer invented fly fishing.  OK… I made that first part up.  It turns out Tom has been a bit all over this thing we call fly fishing for a while  now… mostly at the Orvis Company where he is currently Director of Marketing for Orvis Rod and Tackle. He’s been at the company for 30 years, which is a good amount of time to hold down a job.  He’s also an author of more than a couple fly fishing books.  Tom’s podcast has been around for about as long as podcasts have been around and Orvis in general has been way out in front in the use of new media.  Tom just landed Angler of the Year from Fly, Rod & Reel… the most amazing part of that is that it is for 2011… we are only three weeks into 2011… so… good going Tom!

Tom, 2011.

I read on the Trout Underground that you were Angler of the Year from Fly, Rod & Reel.  What were some of your highlights from 2010?

I was actually Angler of the Year for 2011, so I’m looking forward to my angling highlights.  I hadn’t even read the dates and someone told me, “Hey, you are angler of the for 2011.” So, I have to fish a lot.

Getting that in January, does that give you a pass at home?

Oh yeah, at home and at work, I can just fish any time I want. My wife is actually very understanding of my addiction and working at Orvis, we all get a pass more often than folks in other jobs… it is part of our job to stay up on things and to actually walk the walk.  We are lucky, blessed in that regard.

Well, looking back to last year where you weren’t angler of the year, what were some of your angling highlights for 2010 and would your wife be willing to talk to my wife (this was before my wife signed off on my trip to Andros South, so, I think my wife is doing just fine)?

It took me a couple tries to get this one (wife).  It’s a long road, a long and expensive road to find one that will let you go fishing.

I looked at the question and I had a hard time thinking of highlights.  I had a great day brook trout fishing around the corner from the office one day. My annual trip to the Catskills, which I always love.  I go to the Bahamas once or twice a year for what we call the Bonefish Classic where we go with some customers and Aaron Adams is there teaching about bonefish biology and I’m there doing a tackle and rigging seminar and then we go fishing, and that’s always fun. Striped fishing at Cape Cod.  Nothing that I don’t do just about every year.

What was a real highlight was I had really good fishing in my backyard.  I live on a little trout stream with wild brooks, browns and rainbows. The fishing was really good in my backyard and I was able to go down with my wife and dog and six year old and I was able to catch nice fish on dry flies while they were playing on the gravel bar every night. So, that was fun and a highlight.

Bonefishing is an addition for some and a dream for others.  What advice would you give to someone who was maybe a little bit intimidated by bonefishing, but wanted to give it a shot?

Don’t go to the Florida Keys because the fish are incredibly difficult and the guides are very impatient.  So, I’d not go to the Keys for my first time, or maybe my second or third. I’d go to Mexico or Belize or the Bahamas, Venezuela.  Unfortunately, it’s a more expensive tour.

Two things.  Don’t go to the Keys, not for your first time, and practice your casting.  Practice, practice, practice.  I can’t stress that enough.  I mean practice casting to get the fly out there at 40 feet, accurately.  I don’t know if I’ve ever made an 80 foot cast to bonefish and I don’t know that I’d try. People go down there and they spend all this money and they tie all these flies and then they get in the boat and they really, really can’t get the fly out there.  They get a little wind and the game is over.  All it would have taken was some practice.

Bonefishing is not hard. The fish are spooky, yeah, and the casting has to be accurate, but they aren’t that selective, at least in most places.  They eat almost anything and you don’t really need to worry about fly selection and most bonefishing guides are so good at pointing out the fish and telling you where to put your fly, but you have got to be able to put that fly at 40-45 feet and you have to do it in a hurry.  My advice would be to practice your casting.

Tom, Stick in hand

You do the Podcast and Orvis has really been out in front when it comes to Social Media. A lot of the other established players aren’t really even in the game.  The question you hear about Social Media is, “Does it work?”  So… does it?

We don’t know for sure.  We are going on trust.  We have some advantages, we have a big infrastructure behind us that allows us to do these things, but we have a guy names James Hathaway who is our Social Media Guru who has been her for 4-5 years and he’s really pushed us into Social Media.  The owners of the company are totally behind it, so, that has made it easy to get into social media.

Anecdotally, you hear it all the time.  “I bought this rod because of your podcast” or “you’ve really helped me enjoy fishing more” and you have to believe that is good business. The fact they bought a fly rod, that’s fantastic, but that you’ve helped them with their casting or their stream reading or whatever, it has got to put Orvis top of mind next time they go looking for a piece of tackle.

As far as monetizing it, we haven’t figured that out. I don’t think anyone has.  We are going on faith and that’s what you do when a new technology comes out or a new way of reaching out to your customers.  That’s kind of out of character for Orvis because we are a direct marketing company.  We’ve always been a direct marketing company and we measure everything.  If you aren’t measuring it, chances are you aren’t going to get the support of the management here to do it.  But with social media, we’ve taken that jump, we’ve taken that risk.  Anecdotally we see it every day, you see indications that it is working, but as far as monetizing it, figuring out what it is worth to get someone to listen to your podcast, figuring out what it’s worth for a download, looking at the fishing reports, the blog…  we don’t know.

There are places with big bonefish and places with a lot of bonefish.  If you had to choose between the two, which way would you go?

That’s a tough one.  Big bonefish can be kind of boring with long dry periods.  Places with a lot of bonefish get a little too easy and you get bored… not that I ever get really bored with bonefish. Can I split the difference?  My favorite place would be a place with a number of moderate sized bonefish with a few big ones thrown in. The Bahamas fits that bill better than any place.

I’ve seen 20 pound bonefish there.  I’ve seen bonefish that Aaron Adams of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust said was a 20 pound bonefish. The average fish is usually 3-4 pounds, but the big ones are there.  That’s kind of my ideal would be to split the difference.  I don’t care if I don’t catch a 12 pound bonefish.  A 6 to 8 pound bonefish I’d consider a really good day.  I’d have to split the difference.

I may have a good idea what your favorite rod and reel is, but why don’t you tell me anyway.

It is hard to beat those Helios rods.  They do everything you ask them to do. They are light and they are pretty.  The Mirage reel that Steve developed… the Helios and the Mirage is really hard to beat.  Luckily, we have an employee loaner program here so we can get these things, any model we want, at any time.  I can fish any Orvis outfit I want.

Do you have one bonefish that you remember more than others?

I remember a day of bonefishing I had that really stands out.  I was staying on a place on Abaco and there’s a place called Cherokee Sound with lots of white sand and ocean going bonefish, they are bigger bonefish, tougher fish, almost like Keys fish because they get fished kind of hard. One day I said to the guide, just leave me on a key for a day.  He said “what?” I said, yeah, take me out there and leave me there and then come back at 5.  You go have a smoke or drink a six pack, whatever you want and come and get me at 5.  He left me on this little key and I fished all around.  I caught some 8-9 pound bonefish and just had a wonderful day.

Another one recently, was a bonefish I was fishing with a customer during the Bonefish Classic and it was my turn on the bow and there was a bonefish way up in a mucky bay and we couldn’t poll to him. So, I asked the guide if I could get out and stalk it and he said “yeah.” I was able to sneak up and stalk that fish and I caught it. That’s always cool.  It wasn’t a huge bonefish, but it was challenging.  It was fun.

Do you have a “one that got away” story?

I don’t think so.  I don’t think I’ve ever hooked a really, really big bonefish.  Maybe 11 pounds is the biggest fish I’ve ever hooked, but it didn’t get away.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a really giant bonefish.  I don’t know if I’ve ever even had a shot at a really giant bonefish.  That 20 pounder Aaron was casting to it, not me.

I have a good tarpon that got away story from El Pescador.  This story involved a broken rod and a broken reel and diving in after the fish and being left treading water while the guide chased the fish with my rod dragging behind it.  The tarpon that got away story is the only good one I have.  They are still talking about it at El Pescador.

Thanks Tom.  Appreciate the time.

While I was down in Mexico casting for… well… whatever would eat a 1/0 Surf Candy/Clouser, I had two loaner rods with me… an 8 wt. Hydros and an 8 wt. Access.  Having cast the Helios down in Belize a few weeks back, I’ve now cast three different Orvis sticks in an 8.

I must say… I’m impressed.

If I were going to buy one of these rods, I’d probably go with the Hydros.  The Hydros gets you a rod as good as the Helios with a substantial discount on the price.  I cast the Hydros most of the time I was down in Mexico.  It was light, crisp and powerful.  I was throwing lead eyes and sinking lines and the thing just played very well.

The Access is on the lower end of the Orvis spectrum, but it is still a good stick.  When you put them side-by-side you notice that the blank is thicker and when you pick it up, you notice the extra weight, even if it does come down to a couple ounces.  The Access is a little slower, so I had to change my casting stroke some, but the rod can still pound the casts out there.  It may not be fair to look at the Access after having cast the Hydros for a few days since the Hydros is just a really slick piece of casting rocketry.

A Note on Rod Selection for Vallarta

Vallarta is a hard place to judge for rod selection.  I would have been fine on most of the fish I caught with a 6 weight.  Still, there are a few fish I hooked that would have put a serious beat-down on a 6.  You just never know what is going to be on the other end.  Could be a 5 ounce fish.  Could be a 25 pound fish.

When out with guide Katchu from El Pescador we had an abrupt stop on our way tarpon hunting where permit rods were demanded.  We were not rigged for permit.  I quickly got the Orvis Helios 8 wt. ready and was up on deck, casting to my first permit.

I was pumping the cast out and was carrying the line well in the air and then… then the cast fell apart.  The shot was gone. As one or two other anglers may be tempted to do, I thought, well… maybe I need to over-line this rod.  Over-lining had proved just the ticket for the Sage Xi3 7 wt., so I put on a 9 wt. line.  I missed the next shot, but have no recollection of how that cast went.

Later, in a moment of reflection, I began to wonder if, just maybe, I had jumped to conclusions about the Helios.  I mentioned out-loud to my fishing buddy Shane (who happens to be a casting instructor and a beautiful caster) that I was beginning to think that maybe I had just put out a bad cast and blamed the rod.

Shane said in watching the cast that my false cast before the final presentation had been perfect.  When he saw me go for the last cast, he knew it wasn’t going to go well.  I think I knew it down deep too.  I had botched the cast… this was operator error.

Our last morning in Belize I decided to trust Steve at Orvis and I put the 8 weight line back on the Helios and I took that rod out for the last fleeting hours of fishing.

Newsflash… the Helios casts really, really well and an 8 wt. casts an 8 wt. line very well.  It is light… that’s the first thing you notice.  It feels almost like casting a 5 wt., which may give you the impression it isn’t going to have the power to get you through the wind or the distance you might need (and I think that is why I flubbed the first cast and went through the up-line fiasco).  Of course, the ROD has the power to do it and the weight of the rod in ounces does not = the power of the rod.

I’m learning.

At $800, the Helios is in the upper, upper price range of fly fishing gear.  It really makes me want to get a Hydros out fishing… a rod that is the twin brother of the Helios… but that twin that was born 20 minutes later and who might not be totally the same.  At $500, it is much more in the price-range I’d probably be more interested in.  Basically, you get the same technology with a couple of bells and whistles removed.

If you drive a Mercedes that costs $40K, you are probably a Hydros guy.  If your Benz costs $143,000… just jump right to the Helios (even though you are probably too busy to actually fish).