Years Fishing?

42

Years Guiding?

32

Who introduced you to fly fishing?

My Mum! I’ll never be able to thank her enough for walking me to the fords and bridges near our house looking for Trout.

A big shout to The Rod Box and the Hay family for the early employment in the store and on the river.

Can you tell us a little about your home waters and the fish you pursue there?

I’ve made the southern Yucatán peninsula home for over 20 years. The fishery, habitat and variety of fly friendly fish species have made it hard to leave. I guide the beaches for Bones, Permit, Triggers, Jacks and more but primarily guide Tarpon in lagoons.

What's the height of the season for you? What time of year is your personal favorite?

Busy season is January thru May but my favorite time is mid September thru Christmas.

What do you like most about Thomas and Thomas rods? Which rods do you fish?

T&T rod actions through the ranges has always been better matched to the intended fishing applications than other leading brands. I use the Paradigm 9’ #5 for my Trout fishing and the Sextant 9’ #9 in the salt.

What are your favorite travel destinations? What’s on the bucket list?

I still love to get my Trout fix and have fished the Rocky Mountains for a decade now. I’m always looking for new species on the fly so the Amazon basin has to be top of my bucket list.

What's your current go-to fly?

A 1/0 black Woolley Bugger with bead chain eyes and a bit of flash for Tarpon. We call it the Dzonot (Cenote in Mayan)

Other than fly tackle, what piece of gear do you find indispensable?

Toilet paper

My favorite thing about guiding is:

Helping somebody achieve a personal goal albeit a first of a new species, a personal best, adding a few yards to their cast or just helping them become more of a thinking angler.

From the angler’s point of view, what do you see as the main value of going on a guided trip?

Time on the water is everything to get better at finding fish and understanding their feeding habits. A guide has more time on the water than anyone else. I rest my case.

What can new fisherman expect to get out of a guided trip? My favorite thing to teach a client is ...

A new fisherman can expect an exponential learning curve of information. It’s hard to take it all in for sure. My favorite thing to teach is why I’m looking for fish where I am, it’s nice to hear back that they are catching well without me after a trip.

What's your ideal lunch when on the water? What do you actually pack?

Half an Avocado covered in Tuna Salad. I pack the Tuna-Avo or a sandwich, hard boiled eggs, chips, peanuts and cookies. Water and a mix of soft drinks in the cooler.

When I'm not fishing you'll find me

Spending time with my daughter if not then fixing stuff, cooking or socializing.