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Rick & Rosie Montgomery, owners of Let It Be Fly Fish Inn (www.letitbeinn.com)  were our hosts for the week.  Rick made sure we always were comfortable, had a cold beverage and music on the stereo (he can also grill a mean steak!).  Rosie is a fabulous chef who began each day with a great breakfast, then a picnic lunch, hors d’oeuvres upon return to the Inn and then a great dinner.  It’s no wonder we had to diet when we got home!  These folks were not only great hosts but lots of fun too!  We also enjoyed their pets, Poncho (dog) and Lefty (cat).  Hey, anyone who enjoys Willie has got to appreciate the names alone!

The Inn itself has three thatched roof cabanas that can accommodate up to six anglers.  The cabanas are built right on a beautiful white sand beach perfect for swimming.  Meals are taken in a dining room off the kitchen in the main building.  An outdoor bar, “Crazy Charlie’s” (cute, right, esp. for anyone who knows the fly!) serves as a great place to socialize before and after dinner.  Also, at daybreak a large thermos of steaming coffee magically arrives at Crazy Charlie’s to get the mornings started. 

Now, the fishing – WOW!  Greg DeJulio is the Inn’s fishing manager. He’s a Colorado guide/angler who heads south for the winter.  Greg coordinated with the guides to ensure a great fishing experience for everyone.  Each morning two anglers board a small boat captained by a local Mayan guide and his assistant.  Then, it’s off across the bay to fish among islands or in the mangroves.  The primary “flats” fishing areas are in shallow water (6”-3’) which are gin clear.  You can either fish from the boat or wade the flats in search of Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit.  Unlike other types of fishing, you must actually find a fish (or a small pod of fishes) and cast to them.  No blind casting here!

This was our first saltwater fly fishing experience (and Lindy’s 4^th time for fly fishing of any kind) and it was quite a challenge.  Ed had tied over a 100 flies for the trip and we were ready for anything.  We were thrilled to have not only a great local guide, Ruben, but also Greg with us for the week.  In a nutshell, the fishing was exhilarating (humbling), thrilling (humbling), exciting (humbling) and great fun!!  Can you put a fly into a garbage can from 60’-70’ away in a howling wind?  Then, you’re ready for flats fishing!

We learned how to “hunt” for the fish although we’ll never be able to spot them like Ruben and Greg were able to do.  It’s simply amazing what these guys can see!  Lindy also got lots of needed guidance on how to “haul” fly line to get casts long enough to reach the fish.  Lessons certainly paid off because Lindy caught and released 20 Bones (lingo for Bonefish) Monday (day 3) and after catching another 21 bones on Wednesday, we called it an early day at 2:15P and headed for Crazy Charlie’s.  It was outstanding guiding and casting lessons (certainly not expertise or experience) that made these great days (and The Inn record catches for a woman!).  Lindy also caught amongst those Bones three that were ~4lbs. each which is no world record but considered very large for Ascension Bay.  Bones are great fighters; probably the best fighting fish in the world pound for pound.  A 3lb. fish will run off all your fly line and take you into your backing.  They can swim at nearly 30MPH and are all muscle!

Ed didn’t have any record days, especially with only one angler casting from the boat (and it was Lindy on two of six days).  However, he too had some great Bone fishing with 13 catches (and releases) on the day Lindy hit her 20. 

Ed also was able to get a few casts to early-season Tarpon.  On Tuesday (day 4), Ed got a small/medium size Tarpon to strike his fly three times but no hook-up.  On our last day (Thursday), we found at least eight huge (25lb.+) Tarpon in a mangrove creek.  However, no takers despite use of several flies that Ruben and Greg thought were sure bets.  On the last hour of the last day of our trip, Ed got one good cast at the elusive Permit.  It was tailing (i.e., eating nose down) in a channel we used to exit the mangroves.  Greg and Ruben poled madly to try to catch the boat up to the Permit and get within casting range.  However, as Ed made his cast, the Permit turned and proceeded to go back the way we came.  Oh well, at least we finally saw one!

We also had a couple of exciting and maybe comical experiences on the trip.  On the first day, Ed hooked his first Bonefish ever and played it into the water near the boat.  From out of nowhere, a three foot Barracuda swallowed the fish and with those razor sharp teeth, cut Ed’s leader.  Then on the last day while we were hunting Tarpon and Ed couldn’t get one to take the fly, a 5-10lb. Tarpon just jumped into the boat and nearly into Lindy’s lap.  After she overcame the shock, we all had a great laugh.

Again, all in all a truly wonderful experience which we highly recommend! 

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THE INN

DAY 1 (SATURDAY)

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DAY 2 (SUNDAY)

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DAY 4 (TUESDAY)

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DAY 5 (WEDNESDAY)

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DAY 6 (THURSDAY)

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