Childhood Cayman Islands Africa
USA Cuba
Costa Rica Argentina
Bahamas H2Obonefishing
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(Click to enlarge)
Mahi Mahi On the fly
1987 Something for the
table
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Greg’s first position in his new trade was as the year
round fly fishing guide at The Southern Cross fishing club on The Island of
Little Cayman in The British West Indies. A remote On arrival he was taken under the
wings of two experienced seasonal American fly fishing guides. Felix ‘ Buck ‘
Buckenroth and Bill Hapersett. Although Greg had been fly fishing with his
uncle Clive on their home waters of Greg was now in his element. The
constant calling during his senior educational years in The UK had now been
answered. He could now wake in the morning, grab his fly rod, a spool of
tippet and a fly box and 20 seconds later could be casting his fly at tailing
permit and bonefish literally yards from his front door. With a lake full of
baby tarpon Greg was constantly honing his new acquired skills. When not
actually guiding or instructing anglers you would find Greg fly fishing the flats
and inshore waters for a wide variety of quality game fish. Many hundreds of days each year
were spent poling and wading the flats. With instruction from an experienced
Canadian fly fishing guide Dennis ‘ Dr squiddly ‘ Evenson, Greg was taught
the basics of fly tying. A discipline
of the sport he immediately dedicated himself to. You can find several of
Greg’s patterns in select fly shops throught the world. With many years of deep sea
fishing already behind him Greg was also found working the deep Cayman waters
for blue Marlin, mahi mahi and tuna. Using the fly rod Greg caught and guided
clients to some of these species on fly. Something few people were doing at
the time. Although no records were available it is highly likely that Greg
was the very first to catch certain species on the Fly in these waters. This
also included hooking Atlantic Blue Marlin on fly as early as 1987. Although
never managing to officially claim a release at this time ( That was to come
later ) Greg worked hard on developing teasing techniques and rigging
hookless teasers for blue marlin at a time when most people thought it to be
either impossible or just plain stupid !! After 2 years in Little Cayman, Greg moved back to the ‘ Big Island ‘ of Grand Cayman and started his own flats program called Sportfish Cayman. This was a successful venture for 18 months after which he felt he had got the most out of this area and its fishery. He sold the business and headed back to the great continent Of Africa.
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(Click to enlarge)
Working at the fly
tying bench 1988
My First tuna on the Fly 1988 – 6 weight
rod and 8lb tippet !!
Winter Wahoo |
