Greetings from Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala:
January 11, 2011: After a fun anglers meeting and a great dinner at the awesome Casa Vieja Lodge, all ten anglers, their five captains, and ten mates went to sleep thinking about tomorrow and the first day of the tournament. This is the second year for this 20 pound tippet, fly fishing, catch and release, tournament. Due to weather back in the states and the economy we only have five teams this year.
The “Decisive”, with last years winning anglers Joe O’brien and Scott Lund are back to protect their title, with Capt. Brad Philipps.
The “Rum Line” with Capt. Chris Sheeder has return anglers Danny Cline and Don Butler aboard.
The “Makaira” with Capt. Jason Brice has new tournament anglers Sharon and George Maybee competing this year.
The “Old Reliable” returned with anglers Nick and Mike smith fishing the tournament with Capt. Chip Shafer.
The “Intensity” with Capt. Mike Sheeder is fishing the tournament with return tournament angler Tony Weaver and his new fishing partner Lucien LaFond who came all of the way from Normandy, France to participate in this event.
The first day January 11, 2010 started out with calm seas and quite a few sailfish were spotted, after the first hour of fishing the five teams combined had reported releasing 11 sailfish on fly. After that the fly fishing for sailfish just got better. After seven hours of tournament fly fishing with all five teams using IGFA rules, the final score was 54 Sailfish and one 300+ pound Blue Marlin caught and released by the five teams. A new one day tournament record, where every team in the tournament averaged 11 billfish released in a single seven hour fly fishing day.
Intensity:
Lucien LaFond, 1050 points,
Tony Weaver, 700 points,
Daily total points = 1750
Rum Line:
Danny Cline, 950 points (Including a big Blue Marlin)
Don Butler, 800 points
Daily total points = 1750
Decisive:
Joe O’brien 900 points
Scott Lund 900 points
Daily total points = 1800
Makaira:
George Maybee, 900 points
Sharon Maybee, 500 points
Daily total points = 1400
Old Reliable:
Nick Smith, 600 points
Mike Smith, 300 points
Daily total points = 900
Points are accrued at 100 points for winding the leader through the tip top of the fly rod, then if you fight that fish until the mate gets the fly back without breaking the class tippet, that fish gets 50 bonus points, Any Marlin caught and released = 500 points. 37 of the 54 sailfish released got the fly back without breaking the leader, 7 more got the fly back but broke the leader trying (no bonus points) and 10 lost the fly after they got the release (also no bonus points). The second day of this tournament starts in 15 minutes, more reports to follow.
I would like to thank our sponsors for helping make this event possible, you are all great. Casa Vieja Lodge, Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO Rods), Mako Fly Reels (Jack Charlton), Cam Sigler Company (Flies), RIO Products (Fly Lines), Habervision (Sun Glasses), The Fly Fishing Show, Coastal Carolina Fishing Report. Thank you all for your continuing support for my tournament and for the great products which you supply for our industry. More reports to follow.
I love my job, wish you were here.
Regards,
Capt. Jake Jordan
Photo Credit: Pat Ford 2011