Done the Club name Proud!!

[Stephen Winsor]

Hey Guys,

Just got back from my first proper fly fishing adventure in exmouth!(Was actually my honeymoon) saying that I did have abit of a dabble on my last trip which was in May.. but this time I knew it was time to put the spin gear down & Knuckle down.. Firstly I would like to thank the guys at Bluewater Melville (Belly & Rohan) for getting me set up with the right gear! These guys went to the next level in customer service. So its my Honeymoon and my missus is an absolute GREAT sport about the whole thing.. so we travelled up for 10days.. returning yesterday..

We didnt get the best wheather it was basically blowing SSW the whole time at about 15-25knots.. not alot of fun with a fly rod specially on the west side of the cape! So we arrived about 4pm on the tuesday night.. first stop after check in was the pott shot! im 1200km north of Perth and I bump into a guy I use to kinda play in a band with years ago.. so we ended up getting a skin full of piss into us and as you can imagine Wednesday morning was a bit of a ride off.. which is cool because the missus was more than happy to chill out first day up there! so after a good sleep in and a shit load of water & energy drinks I rigged up my 8wt and ventured around to the west side.. Stopping at lake side for a bit.. seen some NICE GOLDIES but they didnt appear to be interested in my fly or what ever I was doing.. so after a hour or so we ventured onto Pilgramunna & it was VERY VERY windy! couldnt see through the water the waves were going off & I decided to call it a day! and just let the missus take photos! so I thought Sandy Bay was a nice bay were she could chill out and take some decent pics! we got out the car & I had to take my fly rod just incase! (as you do) rigged with a yellow DNA clouser! I walked up north of the carpark and fished along the rock wall! only to get a smallish GT when I say smallish I mean like BREAM sized! it didnt even take line.. but at least I had caught something to give me some kind of hope!
We ventured home to where we were staying in town.. again back to the potshot & to have another skin full! (it was bloody warm alright) so basically in 2 days Id done 45minutes fishing & 4.5 hours drinking.. not a bad ratio! plus I was trying to keep the missus happy as I had 2 days booked with Brett Wolf on the Saturday & Sunday.. I didnt want to bore shit out of her on her honeymoon! so basically I didnt fish until the Saturday morning! I was a bit restless on the friday night! knowing it was going to be my first guided experience fly fishing & I was expecting to be throwing 1/0 gotchas at bones but that wasnt to be the case.. Brett rang me about 4pm on the friday "Hey Steve, Its Brett.. Mate we are going to have to fish the gulf tomorow" At this time I was a bit nervous because I knew you got Permit in the Gulf & Heard so MANY horror stories about catching them but I went with the flow & had faith in Brett..
After Bugger all sleep on the friday night Brett picked me up around 8am from my Accommodation and we head off towards the gulf! anyway we got set up and headed out... Before 9am the sun was shining and the water was clear Brett was seeing permit all over the shop! My Heart Started to Race, My knees stated shaking & my eyes were as wide as a porn stars legs! about 10 past 9 maybe a bit before Brett drops down points out a permit.. half a cast in that direction lead it by a meter. ABSOLUTLY DESTROYED THE CAST! spoked the fish & I was GUTTED as I wasnt sure how many shots id get! 5 Minutes later! BACK hand cast.. full cast.. I spotted the fish, Cast out.. & This cast wasnt my best work but it landed in sight of a Permit! Strip Strip Strip Brett was saying.. Strike.. Strike! and then BANG! next second! im doing something id never done before & that's separating the line back onto the reel as the fish is screaming off across the flats! My Heart is in my mouth! I was very luck all things went to plan.. I was very nervous about tackling this fish! but 40minutes later I had a 15lb (Approx) permit in the net.. this was one of my proudest moments! I must admit Im not a great fly angler & at times I could of very easily lost the fish! it was my longest fight & I learnt an absolute shit load out of it! so after a few snaps we returned her back into the drink! let me say I was absolutly BUGGERED! Cracked a celebration beer and had a 5minute breather! 20minutes later I said brett lets do that again!
Within maybe 15minutes of chasing permit again! I was on AGAIN! for the 2nd time.. 2 Permit before lunch on my first day! I had to pinch myself to make sure I was dreaming! it was happening! this one was bigger.. badder & Shit loads nastier! this thing tried every trick in the book! tried to wrap me around the minn kota.. went under the boat a number of times! they are stubborn bastards! so this time with a little more confidence in what I was doing I was applying alot more pressure to the fish! using the rod to my advantage and we got her in.. this time it was a 20lber (approx) and I was beat! it was time for some food! and another Beer! by this time the tide had came in and I decided I wanted to chase Big Queenies (your probably all wondering why??) along the flats instead of permit!
Day 2.. first 20minutes again! Brett points out a big Manta Ray.. it was Overcast as Hell! so I lobbed out a 40foot cast at this manta ray.. stripped and BANG! was on again! this time to another Permit! couldn't believe my luck! another permit before 10am.. it wasnt as big as the other 2 but none the less it was still another permit! so with in 2 days of fishing I had 3 permit.. 2 Small GTS and a VERY BIG SMILE! I decided to call it quits about 2pm on the sunday!
it was overcast and the wind had picked up something INSANE! and I had a beautiful wife to dine with! I managed 1 more cast on the whole trip after that! I went down the west side again with the missus! for a few more snaps! a 20foot cast with a yellow DNA Clouser had me onto a nice 55cm Spangled Emperor! another first for me & we got straight back in the car and had her for dinner! an absolute cracking trip... Brett was an absolute great guide.. Eyes like a panther & very understanding guy! highly recommend him to anyone who doesnt own a boat or who wants to be guided around exmouth! thanks for reading!

[Stephen Winsor]

Pics Attached Below!

Cheers

[Sam de Beer]

Well done Stephen!! Great fish and a great report.

Sam

[Tony Ong]

Good stuff Stephen. Great way to introduce yourself to saltwater fly fishing. Problem now is trying to keep up to the high standards. I know where you may get a blowie or two.

[Stephen Winsor]

Cheers guys.. Thanks tony for some casting tips they came in real handy.. Might go to the states chasing a grand slam next :-p jk.. After a ningaloo bone now

[Hirdy]

Great stuff mate. Excellent fish and an amazing trip! Thanks for the report.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Rudi]

Great report and great fish

[BrianHarwood]

Well Done bloke.
As Mr ong said "where do you go from here!!!"
Congrates on the wedding, I would also add that your new wife is diffently a keeper!!
Image after 10 years and she wants you out of the house, if that is how you have started.
cheers

[Stephen Winsor]

shes a keeper alright! she believes everything I say! she still believes I only pay $300 bucks for my sage rods!

only problem is she does come into bluewater with me from time to time! I just make sure she stays clear of the fly rods & the price tags! but she was very happy for me! problem is now ive taken her to exmouth once! she is already planning next year! and I always go with the boys so looks like thats come to an end!

[Aaron Compton]

Ripper report and top fish. Going to be hard to top that.