Guide Development, Pt. II: Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are synonymous with flats fly fishing. With all three Grand Slam species - tarpon, permit, and bonefish - available to target, plus snook, redfish, and barracuda also cruising its shallow waters, the Keys draws destination anglers from around the globe and also beckons aspiring fly fishing guides. It is a proving ground of sorts for saltwater fly anglers and oftentimes, when discussed over drinks, a particular caught fish is modified with ‘Keys’ in front of its title, as in, “a Keys permit” or “a Keys tarpon”.
It would be difficult to name all the advancements in flats fly fishing equipment and technique that have been born in the Keys - everything from boats to hooks to casts and presentations have been influenced, in some way and to some degree, by guides and anglers in the Florida Keys. So, in Soul Fly Lodge’s continuing efforts to constantly improve our angling experience by investing in our guide staff’s knowledge and expertise, it was an easy decision when determining where to take our team on a field trip for the next chapter in their professional development.
In early October, Soul Fly Lodge partners Kyle Schaefer and Alec Griswold joined the entire guide staff - Percy Darville, Freddie James Dames, Travis Sands, Brent Darville & Chester Darville - on Sugarloaf Key to experience first-hand the Florida Keys flats fishery, and get to meet fish with, and learn from some of the talented guides who work there. And while our trip was cut short by severe, incoming weather, and we didn’t get to fish as many days as initially planned, the learning curve was steep and the benefits to Soul Fly Lodge’s guide team were many.
From a professional development standpoint, the missions of the trip were simple, and the rewards were easy to see. Foremost, in connecting our guide team to the Keys guides mentioned above, we created an incredible forum of fly fishing expertise exchange and learning, both on and off the water. Steel sharpens steel, as they say, and the Soul Fly guides were able to learn and glean from the Keys guides in numerous ways from detailed tactics like leader combinations, knots, and nuances in fly patterns to specific presentation techniques when confronted with shots at permit and bonefish. From a larger picture, our guides also picked up on the unique teaching, coaching, and communication methods, phrases, and approaches of the Keys guides that will be invaluable when fishing at home.
Additionally, in exposing Soul Fly Lodge’s guides to the similar-but-distinct fishery of the Keys, we added to their already-vast understanding of bonefish and permit fly fishing by allowing them to observe differences and nuances in fish behavior and habitat, ultimately increasing their understanding of these species. Witnessing the unique fishing situations and scenarios presented in the Keys - and learning how to approach them and fish in them - provides our guide team with invaluable experience to be able to pull from when fishing back in the Berry Islands.
Lastly, our guide team got to become the anglers and clients for a little while, and experience all that goes into planning for and enjoying a destination fly fishing trip. This is especially true from the mental standpoint, as our guides got to feel all the emotions that come with destination angling and the individual days on the water while on the trip. To be able to taste the excitement, nervousness, wonder, expectations, challenges, humbling moments, triumphs, and more gives our guides additional perspective with which to approach their instruction and encouragement. Having been in the shoes of Soul Fly Lodge clients by standing on the bow of a flats skiff polled by a professional fly fishing guide, our guides have a better understanding of the guest-angler’s experience. This experience will ultimately lead to better communication on the boat which eventually leads to better shots at fish and, finally, more fish landed.
As Soul Fly Lodge guide Chester Darville put it: "It was my first time fishing for tarpon, and listen to me — that fishery is so beautiful, I woke well before the crack of dawn, and was so excited to get to the first spot!"
While in the Keys, the Soul Fly crew intersected with local guides Justin Rea, Shane Smith, Rob Kramarz, Shawn McKay, and Jared Cyr. In addition to their decades of experience fly fishing and guiding in the Keys, this collection of guides brought their open minds and a willingness to listen and explain detailed fly fishing instruction and philosophies. We’re grateful for their time and participation in our trip!
“When lodge owners fly their entire team over to the Keys to mingle with Keys guides, there is something to be said,” said Rob Kramarz, a longtime lower Keys guide. “Most would think that collaborating would lessen a learning curve, but it also helps in increasing a greater depth of thought process. Having the honor to be part of Soul Fly’s professional development for their guide team is a great way to bring like-minded people together. Telling stories, having laughs, and good conversation was all included but what I enjoyed the most was sharing the thought process. Entering and leaving a location, choices of locations, timing, backup plans, and forage selection were all discussed in just one single day. I believe that sharing thoughts like these, and many others, leads to an increase of knowledge that can untap a Pandora’s Box on the flats or anywhere you fish. Plans are in the works for another ‘meeting of the minds,’ this time on their grounds, and I’m extremely looking forward to continuing these beneficial meetings to make our lifestyle choice to enhance opportunities for all to enjoy!”
We didn’t get to fish as long as we wanted - isn’t that always the case? - but we took advantage of the time we did have. Numerous bonefish and baby tarpon were caught and while no permit were spotted, we looked hard for them which was perhaps equally as educational. In total, the trip was a great success and yet another chapter in the evolution and improvement of the Soul Fly Lodge angling experience.
Click here to read the Soul Fly Lodge Guide Development, Part I: Bait & Switch, featuring Long Island striped bass guide and Van Staal Sales Manager Craig Cantelmo at work with our team in the Berry Islands.