Author Archives: ondafly

photos by Al Q & John Dietch.

John landed a nice, fair-caught corbina this past saturday after beginning his morning session of meditation in bean-land. You must close you eyes and envision it before it can become a reality. LOL I will add more pics to the is thread, I have a couple of good close-ups front his past weekend coming soon…

left: Bernard Yin holds a healthy fish but unfortunately it was fouled under the chin. photo by Al Q. John playing what turned out to be another fouled bean that unbuttoned. Photo by Al Q.

Jon Nakano working a home-made sand crab lure with a light spinning outfit get picked up but unfortunately fouls another nice fish. He early got a good eat but the fish took off and came undone. Photo by Al Q

We saw a  lot of fouled fish this past weekend, the fish we very picky, that’s what makes these fish tough. One day your a hero, the next your tail is wagging between your legs. That’s why corbina are like surf permit, they can drive ya crazy but keep you coming back for more…

photo by Don Bell

Hi all
Nine years later, to the month, I finally got my corbina!!  :-)))   at 8:15 after low tide this morning on local beach with self tied pink Surfin Merkin with my two handed 5wt switch rod and self tied T-8 27’ head.
Little did I know that following my retirement and decision to try surf fishing, I was starting a Quest.  That first June 2005 morning as I stood in the surf with a trout outfit, I was seeing big fish around my feet.  But with a floating line, no stripping basket, and a wooly worm fly I was quickly tangled in kelp and the fish just kept swimming around me.   Those will be easy to catch as I deluded myself!  (Note – it was in almost exactly the same place – within feet –  I got my fish today – amazing)  I should have realized then that bad things were to come as I got back to the car and discovered I had flipped the parking receipt upside down and I did catch a $58 parking ticket.

The Quest short story has some positives and negatives:
Plus
I want to thank many for their help including the gang at South Bay Flyfishers, Al Q, Bob Middo, Rajeff Sports, and my family for putting up with my craziness over a fish.
Minus
Two trigger finger hand surgeries, three wrist cortisone shots, months of therapy, more wrong gear than I can calculate $$, bad casting mechanics, a long learning curve and bouts of frustration.

What a thrill my tight line was this morning!!
Don

This short documentary from Paul Pryor features Capt. Vaughn Podmore, a guide based in South Africa.

I just saw this on short video on MidCurrent and was very impressed by the production value and direction, not to mention it features my friend and local guide, Vaughn Podomore of SaltyFly charters.  Vaughn has been a supporter of our One Surf Fly over the years and is a really good fly tier too…

Director of Photography / Producer Paul Pryor – pryorfilm.com  Additional Camera / Producer Ryan O’connor – ontheflyvisual.com

Shot on: Red Scarlet and Various Canon Lenses.  Location: Pacific Ocean off Coast of Southern California.

Click here for film!

The top two fish are courtesy of Jacob “BeanKiller” Ginter from Torrance, who in three outings has upped his corbina total to 5 and before this had never caught one. The man is on fire! The bottom two fish are by seasoned veteran Glenn Ueda, who got the bottom left one on my watch last thursday when he spotted a couple in the waves and got one to take the offering, great fish Glenn! Three fish were on surfing merkins, grey and pink. The bottom right fish was taken on a Solly Clouser tied by Jim Solomon on Father’s Day! Nice fish boys… The next good morning minus low tide cycle will start on June 27th!