Home Blog Page 35

Fly Tier, Author AK Best Passes Away

By
Spencer Durrant
-

AK Best, the legendary fly tier and author, passed away on August 20, 2025. He was born in 1933 in Iowa, and lived in Michigan before settling down in Colorado. Best was 91.

He was the author of seven fly tying and fishing books, and one of the industry’s most prolific tiers. His patterns were licensed and sold by Orvis, Umpqua, and the Urban Angler in Manhattan, New York.

Before his fly tying career, Best was a musician and music teacher in the Alpena County music department in Michigan. Best eventually moved to Colorado, where he became friends with the late John Gierach. The two fished together frequently, and Best appeared in Gierach’s stories. Gierach returned the favor by writing introductions to a few of Best’s books.

Best was well-known for his ability to tie at a frenetic pace. A well-known example of that is from Gierach’s essay The Big Empty River. The two were fishing the Henry’s Fork and stopped by Mike Lawson’s shop to get the scoop on the river. A certain parachute pattern was the hot ticket that year, so Gierach bought a few, as did Best, albeit grudgingly.

“To A.K., fly fishing involves catching fish witha split bamboo fly rod using flies you’ve tied yourself,” Gierach wrote. “It’s something between a matter or pride and an esthetic judgement. Don’t get me wrong. He doesn’t care what you do. In fact, he’s a professional fly tier and would starve if the majority of fishermen didn’t buy at least some of the flies they fish.

“Still, as he peeled some bills from a modest roll and handed them over, he announced, ‘I’ve tied twenty-five-hundred-dozen flies this year and it burns my ass to have to buy these!’ … In case you don’t have your calculator handy, that’s 30,000 individual flies.”

As such a prolific tier, Best developed his own vise, and his own take on traditional fly tying tools. His designs of both tools and flies have influenced the fly fishing community since their debut. His patterns even gained international acclaim, as Japanese and Swedish magazines both regularly interviewed him.

Best’s instructional manuals are widely considered among the best ever written, and his ability to walk anglers through tough fly patterns made his writing a must-read. His teaching and tying techniques are still routinely referenced by many throughout the industry.

Coast to Coast: Episode 5

By
Max Inchausti
-

Welcome to Coast to Coast, where we explore Costa Rica with two anglers, across three fisheries, over the course of five days. Costa Rica is positioned within three distinct fisheries: the Pacific Coast, the sprawling jungles, and the Atlantic Coast. Together, Heather Harkavy and Curtis Ciszek explore all three of these fisheries in the ultimate fishing expedition. With just five days to work with, the team set out to catch as many species as possible, all of which are new to them.

In episode 5, Curtis and Heather make it to their final destination in this fishing journey. Along the Gulf Coast, there exists a hidden gem—the rivers and estuaries where world-class tarpon lurk. Here, the two give it their all to tie into the Silver King in a last-ditch effort to check off the last species of the trip. Follow along as we wrap Coast to Coast.

Jungle Tarpon Fishing

By
Max Inchausti
-

For many, tarpon fishing is the epitome of fly fishing. Giant fish in shallow water, and abundant sight fishing opportunities. But in Costa Rica, a unique tarpon fishery exists hundreds of miles inland, in the chocolate-stained waters of the jungle. This fishery is different from any other tarpon fishery in the world. Close-quarters fishing and giant tarpon are enough to get any angler’s blood pumping, but how did they get there? Follow along as we explore Costa Rica’s jungle tarpon fishing and why a saltwater species is found 300 miles upriver.

Tarpon Biology

Tarpon fall into a category of fish known as euryhaline. While this is not a specific family of fish, it is a term for species with specialized features to navigate between saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater. Tarpon achieve this with specialized gills and kidneys, allowing them to maintain the proper internal salt balance. As a result, they can freely come and go between different water salinities at any point in their life.

Tarpon are able to gulp air and regulate salt levels, allowing them to survive in full freshwater.

The Silver King, known for its distinctive rolling, is actually a method of breathing. Due to a specialized swim bladder, tarpon can “gulp” air and survive in water with otherwise poor oxygen. In the jungles of Costa Rica, this allows them to swim upriver and into lagoons and other areas with low oxygen content. Combine this with their ability to survive in freshwater, and practically nothing is off-limits for tarpon.

The Rainy Season Buffett

Like all predatory fish, tarpon are focused on one thing, and that is food. Every year, from July through November, the Atlantic side of Costa Rica experiences its rainy season. During this time, immense rains cause the river to swell and shallow water lagoons to form. With these rains comes an influx of bait. The turbulent and stained waters provide an excellent feeding ground for tarpon waiting for an easy meal.

Tarpon Migration

As if on cue, when the rainy season begins, the tarpon arrive. They will make their way from the ocean up Costa Rica’s various rivers and creeks until they reach their hunting grounds. Depending on the river system, this can be up to 300 miles inland. Once they arrive, the swollen rivers become a conveyor belt, sweeping disoriented bait right into a waiting tarpon’s mouth.

Jungle Tarpon Fishing

For anglers wanting to see this migration for themselves, they are in for a unique experience. Unlike Stateside tarpon fishing, where fish practically have a PhD in spotting and refusing flies, these fish are much more aggressive. The lack of angling pressure and dark, stained water work in tandem to produce consistent action. The fishing is often as close quarters as it can get—throwing flies along banks, creek mouths, and under trees. Here, the tarpon lie often in small schools, waiting for an unsuspecting baitfish to get swept down.

Jungle tarpon can reach impressive sizes. Photo courtesy of 4 Corners.

To find the tarpon, look for rolling fish. This is a dead giveaway that fish are around and signals you where to cast. If you don’t see rolling fish, however, there’s still a chance they are around. Target drop-offs and current seams like you would in a trout stream. These areas act as ambush points where tarpon can expend little energy while waiting for food to come to them. Another hotspot is small creek mouths, where bait is consolidated and washed down towards eager fish. Since these fish are here to eat, anglers don’t have to be too selective with their flies. An assortment of large baitfish flies will do the trick.

Jungle Tarpon Madness

When everything comes together and you hook into the Silver King, hold on. Tarpon pull hard regardless, but add in river current and tight areas, and it’s an all-out battle. Like any tarpon fishing, you’ll lose a few fish trying to keep them out of structure. The good thing is there are plenty of eager fish around, so expect multiple hookups a day. For those wanting to experience a unique and untouched tarpon fishery, the rivers deep in the jungles of Costa Rica are the place for you.

Fishing the Atlantic: Costa Rica Species Guide

By
Max Inchausti
-

The final destination of Coast to Coast was the eastern side of Costa Rica. Here, the various jungle rivers drain into estuaries along the Atlantic coast. This unique mixing of fresh and saltwater creates a brackish zone that attracts several sought-after gamefish. Follow along as Heather and Curtis wrap up their journey through Costa Rica on the Atlantic leg of their journey. These are the species commonly found on the Atlantic coast.

Atlantic Species

Tarpon

Photo courtesy of 4 Corners Costa Rica.

Costa Rica offers anglers the chance at some of the most unique tarpon fishing in the world. These fish travel deep into jungle rivers where they feed on bait. Here, anglers target them in dark water with large flies. With little pressure, these fish are much more willing to take a fly than their Florida counterparts. Expect truly close-quarters combat fishing. You’ll have to throw your fly along edges and banks, dodge limbs and snags, all while battling a 100+ pound fish.

Snook

Photo courtesy of 4 Corners Costa Rica.

While the Pacific side of Costa Rica holds Pacific or black snook, the Gulf side holds Atlantic snook. These predatory fish will grow to impressive sizes, up to 40 inches, albeit not quite as big as black snook. They can frequently be found in rivermouths and estuaries where brackish water is common. Typically, they’ll lie and wait near a structure for unsuspecting fish to swim by. If you do hook one, hold on and do your best to pull them away from any snags.

Jack Crevalle

The jack crevalle, or jack for short, is an incredibly powerful saltwater fish commonly found in Costa Rica. They can grow in excess of 40 pounds and typically travel in schools. Jacks are known to be aggressive, and when conditions are right, they will attack a topwater fly. They can be found along the Atlantic coast and in brackish areas like estuaries. Be prepared to see a pack of these voracious predators chasing down your fly.

Tripletail

Photo courtesy of 4 Corners Costa Rica.

Tripletail are one of the best-eating fish around, and if you’re lucky enough, you may come across some in Costa Rica. These fish have a distinct stout body, brown coloration, and defined rays along their dorsal fin. To find tripletail target floating structures. Tripletail will often float on their side alongside pieces of driftwood, buoys, and other floating objects. It will take accurate casts to fool a tripletail on the fly.

Gear Review: Columbia Wild Cast Sun Hoodie

By
Flylords
-

Fly fishing can be a constant battle against the elements. Even when the weather is good, you’ll find yourself battling the sun and its UV rays. To keep from getting burned, anglers turn to two options: sunscreen and technical sun apparel. The benefits of sun apparel include protection from the sun around the clock, eliminating the need to reapply sunscreen. Recently, on Coast to Coast, we tested the Columbia Wild Cast Sun Hoodie in an effort to see how it stood up across three fisheries, constant action, and ever-changing conditions. Here’s how the hoodie performed.

Columbia

Wild Cast Sun Hoodie

Columbia Wild Cast Sun Hoodie
See Here

How We Tested

To test this hoodie, Heather Harkavy put it through the ringer. Over the course of a week’s stay in Costa Rica, she fished three different fisheries in every condition imaginable. Throughout the Coast to Coast expedition, she fished the Pacific Coast, the jungle, and the Atlantic Coast. With time as the limiting factor, this meant fishing every day and in every condition. Sweltering sun followed by torrential downpours was the norm, and the Wild Cast Sun Hoodie had to do it all.

What We Love

Sun hoodies need to be able to withstand a variety of conditions and perform without fail. Here’s what we loved about the Wild Cast Sun Hoodie.

Sun Protection

The first thing every sun hoodie needs to do is stop the sun. Columbia achieves this with specialized fabric that blocks out the full spectrum of the sun. This means it blocks UVA and UVB rays. It does this with a UPF 50 rating, a touch higher than the industry standard.

While all this is great, it does little for a garment if it does not actually cover your skin. Columbia solved this with a unique hood design. The hood features an elongated throat section. When the hood is up, it covers the front of your neck so you don’t get burned. The hood also features a built-in pull string, enabling anglers to snug it down and prevent it from falling off. This is especially important if you find yourself in a boat on plane.

The next common area to get burned is the back of your hand. While you can wear sun gloves, these can get in the way when fly casting. As a result, Columbia added thumb loops to pull the sleeve down and over the back of your hand. Many sun hoodies have a similar feature, but the Wild Cast has extra length on the sleeves. When you use the thumb loops, you don’t get the feeling of the sleeves being too tight.

Breathability

Wearing long sleeves keeps you protected from the sun, but it is of no use when you find yourself overheating. To solve this issue, the Wild Cast Sun Hoodie features Omni-Freeze and Omni-Wick technology. Omni-Freeze is a proprietary cooling technology that Columbia fans have grown to expect. It works by providing a cooling feel to the fabric and adding wicking properties. Basically, wearing it in the sun leaves you feeling cooler.

In addition to the cooling feel, the hoodie’s Omni-Wick tech quickly pulls moisture away from your body to the surface for evaporation. This is great when you are sweating in the heat or get wet from releasing a fish. Rather than staying soggy all day, the fabric, in tandem with the sun, will have you dry and comfortable in short order. All tech combined, the Wild Cast passes the breathability test with ease.

Lightweight Feel and Fit

The last and arguably most important test for any gear in the tropics is the lightweight feel and fit. While heavier hoodies and materials can be great for western trout fishing, they just don’t cut it in the tropics. Instead, they bog you down and leave you feeling fatigued after a day in the elements. The Wild Cast solves this with a nylon blend construction, resulting in a very lightweight feel. This hoodie is also tapered with a somewhat athletic fit. It’s not skin tight by any means, but it is certainly tailored with active fishing and movement in mind.

Final Thoughts

There are countless sun hoodie options on the market, and finding the right one can be tricky. After fishing for a week in the tropics of Costa Rica, the Columbia Wild Cast Sun Hoodie earned its place as a staple piece in our closet. The combination of fit, feel, and impressive technologies exceeded our expectations. Next time you head south in search of tropical species, consider bringing the Wild Cast Sun Hoodie with you.

Coast to Coast: Episode 4

By
Max Inchausti
-

Welcome to Coast to Coast, where we explore Costa Rica with two anglers, across three fisheries, over the course of five days. Costa Rica is positioned within three distinct fisheries: the Pacific Coast, the sprawling jungles, and the Atlantic Coast. Together, Heather Harkavy and Curtis Ciszek explore all three of these fisheries in the ultimate fishing expedition. With just five days to work with, the team set out to catch as many species as possible, all of which are new to them.

In episode 4, Heather gets one last chance at machaca before heading to the Gulf. Battling sickness that same day, Heather’s time to catch one of these sought-after fish is dwindling. It’s now or never in this episode of Coast to Coast. Can she make it happen before the team heads to the Gulf in search of jungle tarpon?

Best Flies to Fish the Jungle of Costa Rica

By
Max Inchausti
-

Destination trips can be intimidating to tie flies for. You’re never really sure what works, and chances are there’s not a fly shop where you’re headed. This is especially true in Costa Rica. The dense jungle and unique river species have specialized diets. To imitate this means tying specialized flies. These five specialized patterns are go-tos throughout the jungle rivers of Costa Rica. So start tying, as many of these are not commercial fly patterns.

1. Berry Flies

If you want to catch machaca and other jungle species, berry flies are an essential pattern. As their name implies, these patterns imitate falling fruit from jungle trees overhead. As fruits and berries fall, machaca and other fish will rise to the surface to eat them.

The berry fly is a go-to for anglers fishing for machaca.

Most berry fly patterns are tied with cork or foam, but colored deer hair will also work. It’s important to tie these patterns in various sizes and colors. Every river will have different fruits and berries that the machaca are keying in on. Make sure there is enough hook gap on this pattern to get a proper hook set.

2. Terrestrials

Large terrestrials like Project Cicada, from Fly Fish Food, work well in the jungle.

One of the few commercial patterns that are readily available, terrestrials are a must in any jungle fishery. Common patterns like hoppers and cicada patterns are staples in Costa Rica. Much like berry flies, terrestrials will rise fish off the bottom, looking for an easy meal. Fish these flies close to the bank with occasional pops and twitches. This movement imitates an insect in distress and can often trigger a reaction strike. Again, have terrestrials in various sizes to help match the hatch. Also, look for flies in vibrant colors. Insects in the jungle are typically much brighter than the muted tones of hoppers Stateside.

3. Lizard Flies

The Costa Rican jungle is positioned in Central America, where reptiles are abundant. When it comes to matching the hatch, throwing these flies can draw some explosive takes and some larger fish. Smaller lizard-like flies will work skated across the surface. This fishing can be very similar to mousing. Cast your fly near the bank and strip it or skate it as if a lizard fell into the water and is trying to swim across the river. If you’re truly targeting giant flies like the iguana fly, it can be the ticket. The large profile may result in fewer strikes, but the ones that do commit to it will be bigger fish.

4. Baitfish Flies

Small baitfish patterns imitate the natural baits that predatory fish feed on in Costa Rica.

While nothing is better than topwater fishing, covering all levels of the water column is crucial. Batfish flies cover the other half of fishing in Costa Rica. The key here is having a variety of patterns and sizes, depending on the conditions and the type of bait around. Some good patterns are small EP flies, clouser minnows, and decievers. While these flies are nothing fancy, they cover all the bases and are proven fly patterns anywhere in the world.

5. Flower Flies

The last fly is one of the more exotic flies you’ll ever throw. Flower flies are designed to imitate, you guessed it, flowers. Just as machaca and other fish will eat falling berries, they will also key in on falling flowers. A quick Google search won’t reveal much in terms of flower fly patterns, so be sure you have everything you need to whip up some flies once you get there. Talk with your guides and see what the local flowers look like, and do your best to imitate them. Common materials like hackles, synthetic fibers, and yarn should cover most of your tying needs.

Final Thoughts

The jungle of Costa Rica is a wild and exotic place. The sight of monkeys jumping from trees, the mysterious sounds echoing through the forest, and the alien-like fish can be a bit intimidating. These fly patterns are staples along the jungle rivers and will cover all your bases, across species and locations. So stock your boxes and hit the ground running in the jungle of Costa Rica.

Fishing the Jungle: Costa Rica Species Guide

By
Max Inchausti
-

The dense rainforests of Costa Rica are home to a number of unknown species. While you may have heard of the rainbow trout living high up in cold mountain streams, that was not the focus of this trip. Curtis Ciszek and Heather Harkavy were in search of native jungle species in the lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. Amongst the twisting rivers, rocks, and submerged structures are several species that have evolved to this specific ecosystem. Their life history and feeding habits make floating the rainforest rivers a challenging and unique experience. Follow along in this jungle species guide to Costa Rica, as we explore the different species commonly caught.

Jungle Species of Costa Rica

Machaca 

The machaca is a species of fish native to Central America. These aline-like fish are actually a cousin of the piranha and have the teeth to match. However, machaca are not using their teeth for flesh, opting for a diet of fruit and seeds. They use their impressive set of chompers to crack nuts and fruits for food. The most common way to target these fish is with large foam, berry-like flies. Anglers fish these flies on the surface, similar to the way you would dry fly fish a trout river.

Mojarra

Mojarra is used to describe a group of cichlid species found in the jungles of Costa Rica. Rather than a single species, this term describes a group of these panfish-sized fish. They are typically found in and around cover and will take small topwater flies like poppers. For the bigger fish, we recommend using 6 or 7-wt rods to pull them out of cover; with a 5-wt, good luck trying to stop them.

Guapote

The smaller jaguar guapote found in Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of 4 Corners Costa Rica.

Guapote lagunero, or rainbow bass, is a sought-after fish for anglers traveling to Costa Rica. These fish are part of the cichlid family and can reach sizes well over 10 pounds. Their close cousins, the jaguar guapote, are also found in parts of Costa Rica and have made their way to South Florida as an invasive species. For anglers targeting rainbow bass, it is a lot like traditional bass fishing. Throwing baitfish patterns and small poppers will often fool these fish into biting. They use their bucket-like mouths to suck down food, and can be found in lakes, rivers, and canals throughout Costa Rica.

A large guapote lagunero caught in Costa Rica. Image courtesy of 4 Corners.

Moga

Photo courtesy of CRAFF.

Moga is one of the lesser-known fish in Costa Rica. They are also part of the cichlid family and are distinguishable by their brownish/green coloration and smaller mouths. Moga can be found in the lakes, rivers, and canals around Costa Rica and will eat small streamers and dry flies when conditions are right. While many anglers come to Costa Rica for machaca, these powerful fish are a welcome bycatch.

Roncador

Roncador is a grunt species found in the lower jungle rivers of Costa Rica.

Roncador is a species of grunt found in rivers and estuaries in Costa Rica. These fish resemble grunt species most Stateside anglers are familiar with, but with some slight differences. Their downwards-facing mouth, slender body, and yellow fins easily distinguish them from other jungle species. The record Roncador is 7 pounds, so they can definitely grow to impressive sizes, but most are in the 1-2 pound range.

Coast to Coast: Episode 3

By
Max Inchausti
-

Welcome to Coast to Coast, where we explore Costa Rica with two anglers, across three fisheries, over the course of five days. Costa Rica is positioned within three distinct fisheries: the Pacific Coast, the sprawling jungles, and the Atlantic Coast. Together, Heather Harkavy and Curtis Ciszek explore all three of these fisheries in the ultimate fishing expedition. With just five days to work with, the team set out to catch as many species as possible, all of which are new to them. Their next stop is the vast jungles and rivers of Costa Rica.

In the dense rainforests of Costa Rica, Heather and Curtis search for the mysterious machaca. The machaca, known for its human-like teeth, has a specialized diet consisting of fruits and seeds. With that, matching the hatch means getting creative. In this episode, the team searches the various creeks and rivers for the machaca, battles illness, and the jungle before heading to the Gulf. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

The Mystery of the Machaca

By
Max Inchausti
-

Deep in the jungles of Costa Rica is one of the most unique dry fly fishing opportunities. Amidst the rivers, boulders, and vibrant jungle canopy are eager fish waiting for an easy meal. These fish are known as machaca, a fish native to Central America. The machaca is an alien-like fish possessing weird human-like teeth and an even stranger diet. Follow along as we explore the mystery of the machaca and how to catch these jungle fish.

Habitat and Biology

Machaca are a relative of the piranha and share many similar characteristics. For starters, machaca have a similar body and fin shape, but with a thinner body profile. They also have some impressive teeth, similar to a piranha. However, that is where the similarities end. Machaca are actually herbivores. They use their impressive teeth to crush fruit and berries that fall from the overhanging jungle canopy.

Machaca teeth are designed to crush berries and fruits that fall from overhanging trees.

To find machaca, anglers must travel to the lowlands of Costa Rica. The rivers here hold machaca along with several other sought-after jungle species. Similar to trout, these fish will use the current to their advantage, lying and waiting for fruit floating overhead.

Berry Flies

Fishing for machaca presents a unique opportunity for dry fly-obsessed anglers. Since machaca have a specific diet of floating fruit, the best flies are berry flies. These are typically made from shaved cork or foam balls and float high on the surface. For the foam fanatic used to throwing summer hoppers, this is a welcome sight.

While the flies may look simple, typically a piece of cork and a hook, machaca can still be selective. If your fly does not match the color and size of the fruit they are keying in on, expect refusals. This also varies river to river, depending on the local fauna, fruits, and seeds around. To be prepared, it pays to have a well-stocked box of berry flies in different colors and sizes. On the water, match the hatch and get the color and size of your fly as close to the fruits and berries you see.

Catching a Machaca

To fool a machaca requires an intimate knowledge of the jungle. Fishing with seasoned guides, like the ones at 4 Corners Costa Rica, will help cut down this learning curve. Local knowledge goes a long way when identifying what machaca are eating and which trees are dropping fruit. Once you find the right fruits, cast your fly underneath the tree; this imitates a falling fruit and can get a machaca’s attention. Unlike a traditional, delicate dry fly cast, you’ll want to slap berry flies on the surface. The slapping sound imitates fruit falling overhead and is a dinner bell for waiting fish.

Battling the elements with Columbia PFG rain gear paid off hunting machaca.

If a fish does come up for your fly, be ready. These jungle fish are incredibly fast and can often hit your fly and spit it out before you even set the hook. It’s also worth noting that if a smaller fish misses your fly, wait before recasting. Small machaca are often the first to try to eat your fly, but bigger ones aren’t far behind. Let your fly sit for a few seconds if a fish misses it to be sure a trophy-sized machaca is not on the way.

When everything comes together and you hook the machaca, hold on. These fish will frequently jump after being hooked, and can try to run you back into structure. While most machaca are in the one to three-pound range, there are bigger ones around. Fish have been caught weighing over 10 pounds, and there are rumors of 20-pound fish around.

For most machaca fishing, anglers should expect to fish 5- or 6-wt fly rods with floating lines and matching reels. These rods have a nice blend of finesse to land berry flies accurately and enough backbone to handle most fish. However, for those specifically targeting large fish, upsize your gear to 7- and 8-wt rods. Fish nearing 10 pounds will pull hard and know how to use the current to their advantage to break you off.

Final Thoughts

While Costa Rica is known for its excellent offshore and nearshore fishing, don’t overlook the hidden jungle fishing. Watching a machaca rise for a berry fly is one of the most intimate and unique experiences in jungle fishing. Add to that incredible scenery and wildlife, and a trip to the lowlands of Costa Rica should be at the top of every angler’s list.

1...343536...448Page 35 of 448