How to make the most of a fishing trip abroad

Unless you really are the luckiest man or woman on earth, you can’t always guarantee that everything you expect of a holiday will turn out as you wish. Despite having all fingers and toes crossed for months, my last few fishing trips have taken an unexpected turn due to the weather. Thankfully, having prepared for all eventualities, our group still got more out of each trip than we could ever have hoped for. Outlined below are a few tips and considerations which helped us achieve this.

Optimal conditions

Although most trips are booked well in advance, it always helps to know what the optimal conditions are for the species you are targeting so you can make a plan. No, you can’t change the weather when you are at your destination – that’s part of the risk – but having a rough idea of when time is best spent relaxing and when you really should be fishing, is well worth it.

For example, on my trip to the Bahamas in December, the party of 12 I was joining wanted to check in to accommodation, un-pack, and amble around the beautiful surroundings. I mean, who wouldn’t after travelling for 32 hours? But little did we know that the perfect conditions we had arrived to were not going to stay for long, and the tide, cloud and wind over the next five days would render bonefishing almost impossible until the final two days of our trip.

Whilst there, a large full moon made the complex tide system even more tricky to get to grips with. As exotic tides only rise and fall from a few inches to a couple of feet – compared to ½–15m in the UK – a moderate wind can actually stall the tide, keeping it at its peak for most of the day. Consequently, the bonefish didn’t need to venture out of the thick network of mangroves where food and security are in great supply, and as a result we had to plan our days to target the myriad other species that call the Bahamian waters home. Although it turned out better than we could have imagined, there was a little pang of disappointment not to have hit the water when conditions were perfect!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Remember, your guides are working for you and it is in their interests that you have the best time possible. If they are trying to get you to do something you are not able to do, such as casting into strong winds with heavy flies and long leaders, rather than get frustrated, politely ask if there is somewhere else they can take you to change things up a bit.

It’s also a good idea to check you are on the same wavelength with every guide. For example, what one person calls 20yards, can be 30 or even 40 to another. This certainly helps when casting under instruction to easily spooked fish.

Have a plan with your partner

When fishing in groups, you will often be paired with another angler and you will take it in turns to fish. Therefore, to prevent any disputes, it helps if you have a schedule in place before you start fishing so everyone gets their fair share. It may be that you swap every 20 minutes or after each fish.

What about flies?

“Do I have enough?” – Honestly, you probably have far too many. The question you should really ask yourself is “do I have enough of the right flies?” The answer to that, as I have found out on pretty much every trip I have ever been on, is most likely ‘no’!

That said, don’t waste time trawling through catalogues and stocking up on two or three of every pattern that ‘might’ work in an effort to cover all bases. Instead, speak to a reputable angler who has fished in the area, and focus on 5–10 good patterns that have proven to work well, then buy a handful of each in a couple of sizes. I would also suggest taking a few universal patterns – think minnow, leech or deceiver patterns – that will appeal to more than the one species.

Neaten up your fly boxes – Channel your inner neat-freak before you go on any trip and arrange your fly boxes impeccably. Whether you choose to sort your flies in order of size and weight or colour and pattern, that is up to you, but I have found this really helps save time dramatically and increases productivity. It also helps one keep track of how many of each pattern they have left. Countless times I have witnessed people searching for a fly when drifting over a hotspot – the frustration on the guide’s face says it all.

Pack an empty fly box – Even if it is just big enough for a dozen flies, a spare box is handy for keeping your successful patterns safe, so you can copy them or share them with friends.

Should I take fly tying kit?

Yes, yes, yes! I have never fished anywhere in the world where I haven’t benefitted from taking my vice and a few essential materials. The challenge is packing your kit cleverly to keep it light and compact. Look at the recommended patterns and find some commonly used materials. Tan-coloured Zonker strips, for instance, are frequently used in saltwater shrimp, crab and minnow patterns, whilst CDC is commonly found in both French nymphs and dries.

Even if you don’t tie flies yourself, take some materials anyway so someone can whip you up a few, and take some extra cash to buy them a beer in return.

How many spare rods?

Whether your destination is miles from civilisation or a stone’s throw from a tackle shop, always take at least one spare rod, if not two. They needn’t be expensive, but can be a lifeline if your first choice breaks.

It pays to have a rod of a different weight, too, so you can target different species. This also allows you to try different techniques; you might want to fish streamer patterns in big European rivers when all other techniques fail, for example. You only need a couple of lines for said rod – one that sinks fast, an intermediate and a floater. The results are often devastating and so much fun.

Furthermore, if you are able to have the spare set up and stored in the boat, do so. You never know when you might have a chance meeting with larger species!

Leader and tippet materials

Buy a range of knotless tapered leaders before you go anywhere. Not only do they increase the chance of good presentation, they also save time. But make sure you do your research for the species you want to target, as some species may spook easily whilst others are incredibly powerful.

Bear in mind, too, that leader material has a shelf life and will need replacing from time to time, so test material before you go away. Also, practise your knots and try new ones – some are better suited to different scenarios than others.

Essential kit checklist

Whilst there are many great kit lists to be found online which are specific to species and locations, there are a few pieces of kit that are often overlooked:

Footwear – Always check what footwear is required before you travel. In America, for example, you may only wear rubber-soled wading boots in rivers and lakes, whilst felt-soled footwear is still very common in the UK. In the salt, they might look ugly and give you an awful tanline, but flats boots are so important to protect your feet from sharp coral, sharks, crabs, and even sunburn.

Disgorger and forceps – Although most guides will have their own, make sure you have a set of forceps and/or a disgorger with you at all times. It is vital that when returning a fish – whether Atlantic salmon or pike – you do so as quickly as possible and can remove deeply set hooks without injuring the fish.

In exotic waters, handling a fish can remove its slime which gives off a scent, making them easy prey. Sharks may be in the vicinity, undetected by you or even waiting under the boat, ready for the fish to be returned. Disgorgers and forceps allow your hand to stay four to six inches clear of the water, which may save your fingers from a nasty bite.

Gloves – Whether you are in the Arctic Circle or Seychelles, the right gloves can protect your hands from painful line burns, the sun, the cold, or even spiny fish.

Wading stick – Collapsible and easily stowed in a suitcase, I for one would never travel to a foreign country without one. It is amazing how strong the current in some rivers can be, and I have been thankful for my staff on many occasions – even if I only used it to get flies out of a tree.

The species checklist

When the weather is not optimal for the species you set out to target, or you fancy something different, ask your guide what other options are available. People – myself included – are often amazed by the variety of species in foreign waters that can be caught on fly. Whether they are a different species of salmonid, predator species, or coarse fish – you may never get the chance again.

Take the spinning rod

Even if you don’t get it out of the tube, taking a spinning rod is something I would always recommend. Fishery laws in the UK are strict and often don’t permit the use of spinning gear, but elsewhere in the world this is rarely the case. They are easy to set up and use for a few casts before dusk and can offer great fun on bleak days.

On my last trip, the spinning gear actually prevented a blank on two days when conditions for fly fishing were awful. Just remember to pack some wire trace and heavy tippet material, for some species have very sharp teeth and are incredibly powerful.

Enjoy it

You have paid a lot of money to go to the various locations, and guides can be guilty of making your time very full on as they see these places every day. Take some time off to enjoy the scenery, the wildlife and the culture. On my last trip I saw over 30 species in the wild that I never believed I’d see in my lifetime, from loggerhead turtles and flamingos to flying fish and manta rays... all within a rod’s length!

Alas, time certainly flies when you are fishing.