The fact that we get to work with such an interesting, accomplished, and passionate group of traveling anglers is not lost on us. While our travels and catches are a welcome by-product of our profession, our relationships with folks like you bring true meaning and enrichment to our work. Thank you all so much for making this possible.
2023 was a refreshing and dynamic year for Fly Water Travel. For us, it was the first genuinely post-pandemic year. What that meant for our team was an unprecedented amount of travel, expanding offerings, familiarizing new staff members with territories, and reconnecting with lodge owners and outfitters worldwide. The following are some of the highlights of what our Destination Managers saw in 2023.
Ken Morrish: Director of Travel Sales
In January, Ken began his travels with a significant and spectacular trip to Argentina. He began with a great scouting mission to Bella Sophia. Then he met up with a hosted group of dedicated Spey anglers for a full week at Las Buitreras on Argentina's Rio Gallegos. After that, he made a quick stop at Rio Pelke, and then on to Glacier King. Two months later he returned to Argentina again with a private group to the incomparable Jurassic Lake. He was once again amazed by the massive fish and all the improvements that had been made since he did the first scouting mission there for Fly Water in 2009 when it was tent camp! His next big trip was a semi-successful scouting trip to the Ungava Bay region of northernmost Quebec where he fished for sea-run Arctic char, saw polar bears and beat up brookies on mice. His last big trip of the year was leading a hosted group to Tsimane's Heli Fishing program. Ken described that experience as one of the top five angling adventures in his career.
Landon Mace: Mexico, Colombia, Brazil Destination Manager
Landon first headed to Colombia in February to visit Akuani River Lodge to target peacock bass and payara on the same trip. He then hopped on a plane with fellow Destination Manager Anil Srivastava, to be some of the first anglers to visit Christmas Island since it shut down in March of 2020. In July, he headed to Mexico’s Chetumal Bay and set up a new relationship with The Xflats. After that, he proceeded up to Ascension Bay to revisit Grand Slam Lodge, Ascension Bay Lodge, and Pesca Maya Lodge. Ascension Bay Lodge is a new addition to Fly Water’s offerings, and he enjoyed seeing Pesca Maya’s new location at the Casa Celeste.In September, Landon traveled to Brazil, combining Kendjam and Xingu Lodges. Both were great, and he especially loved the richness of the Kendjam experience. In December, he returned to Brazil to visit a new tarpon operation targeting tarpon with Silver King Brazil. He and a film crew captured a fun week there that will be featured at the upcoming nationwide Fly Fishing Film Tours (F3T).
Dylan Rose: Bahamas, Belize, Africa Destination Manager
In May, our longtime saltwater specialist, Dylan, made a return tour of the Bahamas. His first stop was visiting the newly rebuilt Abaco Lodge, which was previously leveled by Hurricane Dorian. Then he returned to Andros South, one of our longtime partners and saltwater favorites. His next stop was setting up Caerula Mar, a great luxury vacation resort with fine fishing on Andros. His last stop was on Abaco, where he visited the storied and elegant Delphi Club. In November, he took a deep dive into the redfish world, first with a visit to open upBay Flats Lodgein Texas, which will be a great easy to easy-to-reach staple moving forward, and next to Eleven Experience's elegant Louisiana Outpost Mothership, where his group had tremendous fishing.
Jake Crawford: Patagonia Destination Manager
Jake began his travels in southern Chile with a multi-sport adventure with his wife in the Puerto Natales area, where they hiked and toured the iconic Torres del Paine mountain range and fished spring creeks for resident trout with Grey Fox Outdoors out of Remota Lodge. From there, he crossed the Strait of Magellan to visit Magallanes Fly Fishing Lodge and fished for resident trout in the vast Chilean-side of Tierra del Fuego. Next, he was on to the Rio Grande at Despedida Lodge, and continued south to fish for sea-run brown trout on the intimate and scenic Irigoyen River with World’s End Lodge. In March, Jake went to northern Patagonia in Argentina to experience heli-fishing at Chochoy Mallin and wade the scenic spring creeks at Casa de Campo near the town of Alumine. From there, he joined Fly Water's Anil Srivastava for a combo trip targeting golden dorado at Jetu’u Lodge in the middle Parana River and Isoro Wetlands and Itati Lodge in the upper Parana River. In August, he went to northern Labrador, Canada to fish dry flies for Atlantic Salmon at Flower River Lodge. To cap off the year, in December he visited some new programs in central Patagonia, met with Tres Amigos Outfitters at their new king program, Guanacos (soon to be announced), and visited the new lodge at Estancia Rio Pelke.