| |
 |
|
Friday September 13, 2024 - 11:48am |
|
|
|
|
Colton Fly's Pro Staff
Mike Pawlawski
Mike is a genuine Flats Freak, fishing the saltwater flats an average of 50 days a year.
- Host of Familiar Waters and Gridiron Outdoors on the Outdoor Channel.
- Mike has been a fly fisherman for over 33 years.
- Owner of Flats Freak professional Fly Wear.
- Former guide in Northern California
- Former Professional Quarterback in the NFL. CFL, AFL, and XFL
- Mike has also served as a color analyst for football with NBC Sports, Fox Sports Net, Comcast Sports Net, and ABC Radio.
- Mike’s favorite species, Tarpon!
Captain Don Gable
Don has been guiding anglers for over 17 years, from his early days with Westbank Anglers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he spent his time on the Snake and Green rivers and on the south fork of the Snake in Idaho, to guiding flats fishermen in the Keys since 2007. Whether you crave the rush of jumping Tarpon, dig the challenge of going after psycho Permit, or prefer the pursuit of the elusive Bonefish, Don will put you where the action is. Join him on the water in Key West, Florida for some of the best saltwater flats fishing in the world!
- Guide to Grand Champion 2011 March Merkin
- Guide to Second Runner Up 2012 March Merkin
- Guide to Runner Up 2012 Del Brown Invitational
Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 849-1786
Email: captdon@keywesttarponguides.com
Web: www.keywesttarponguides.com
Capt. Jeff Smith
Jeff was raised out west and learned to fly fish when he was 10 years old. His classroom was the wild blue ribbon streams of the Rockies. When not fishing for cool water species, he turned to largemouth bass on the fly and traveled to Mexico to fish the Sea of Cortez.
In 1996, Jeff moved to Cape Cod and became one of the most sought-after fly fishing guides on the Northeast coast. He started by guiding out of a beach buggy and hosting one-day fly fishing schools. In his spare time, Jeff would mate on tuna boats out of Provincetown so that he could learn everything he could about the bluefin tuna fishery.
Today he is known for his ability to put anglers on big fish consistently. He is also known as one of the premier light tackle/fly bluefin tuna guides and helped develop this new fishery off Cape Cod.
Over the last 10 years, Jeff has traveled extensively to Florida coast and the Keys to fly fish for the silver king and many other species. His travels have taken him to the Bahamas in search of bonefish and he was chosen to explore and develop the virgin bluewater fishery off the coast of Ragged Island for a newly built fishing lodge.
Jeff has written for many publications and has been featured in On the Water, Flyfishing in Saltwaters, Saltwater Flyfisherman, Fish and Fly, and Global Angler.
In the offseason, he teaches fly tying classes, hosts seminars and will most likely be doing something fishing-related.
Jeff has an easygoing nature and although he is sought by experienced anglers he enjoys introducing new anglers and kids to the Cape's fishery.
Wellfleet, MA. (02667)
Voice: 508 360 2037
Email: info@finaddiction.com
Website: www.finaddiction.com
Ian Fawthrop
Capt. Ian Fawthrop specializes in fishing the waters of Cape Cod to the Chesapeake Bay for saltwater species on the fly. Ian has been fishing for over 30 years in both salt and freshwater. His home waters are the ocean, coast and back bays of New Jersey where he spends most of his time during peak seasons targeting striped bass, false albacore, yellowfin tuna and bluefin tuna. Ian also has many years following the migration of striped bass & false albacore from the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island NY, Connecticut, Rhode Island, to Cape Cod.
His love of fly fishing started with trout in North West NJ and North Eastern PA streams before he was handed a 9wt and access to a NJ beach over 20 years ago. Ian still enjoys the dry fly fishing for trout on the West & East branch of the DE river. Over the winter months his focus goes towards chrome in the great Lake tributaries. Ian’s fly tying passion is utilized on all the fresh and saltwater species he fishes for.
Voice: 609-217-9075
Email: Fawthrop@gmail.com
Web: www.jrzfly.com
Steve Bakker
Steve started fishing at the age of 7 catching bass and bluegill in the lakes of his native South Africa. He picked up fly fishing at 12 and this has been his preferred method of fishing since then – “it just feels better, more connected to the fish and ultimately the system than using conventional gear” are his sentiments. He has maintained his connection with conventional light tackle blue water game fishing which has provided endless experience and knowledge of fish behavior at the larger end of the spectrum targeting marlin, tuna and mako sharks.
Now based in Sydney, Australia, fishing out of a Bertram 28, Steve continually applies this bluewater game fishing experience back to his preferred pastime and passion, big fish on the fly! He is the current holder of the Mako Shark 10kg tippet world record with an impressive fish of 223 lb. if anyone can put our gear to the test under trying conditions this guy can.
David Tovar
Born and raised in Portland, TX, Captain David Tovar is a new and upcoming guide to the Coastal Bend. With his passion for sight casting to tailing reds, laid up specks and pods of drum, he has focused his time and knowledge on the flats of Redfish Bay. Redfish Bay is a southwestern extension of Aransas Bay in Texas, north of Corpus
Christi Bay. It separates the cities of Aransas Pass and Ingleside from Port Aransas on Mustang Island. The bay contains 32,000 acres of fish habitat and is a popular fishing destination along the Texas coast. Come experience and see the pristine waters that the coast of Texas has to offer to the skinny water angler.
Voice: 361-944-8766
Email: captdavid@flatzfreak.com
Web: www.flatzfreak.com
Capt. Gil Berke
Capt. Gil has been fishing in on form or another since age 12, and has been pursuing both fresh and saltwater species with a fly rod for the past 25 years. It became evident that fly fishing isn’t a pastime that you get hooked on, but for some, it is a lifestyle that hooks you. After moving to the Boston area in 1970 to attend Berklee College of Music, Gil quickly became aware of the amazing fishing opportunities available both in the salt and freshwater fisheries of Massachusetts.
Although Gil was still doing his share of fishing with a surf stick or spinning rod, the fly rod rapidly became his “weapon” of choice and remains so to this day. The next logical part of this progression was learning to tie his own flies and soon became as passionate about this phase of the sport as the fishing itself. It became clear that Gil possessed a talent for designing fly patterns and was soon commercially tying for a number of shops in the area. Nearly 15 years ago, Gil submitted a number of patterns to Umpqua Feather Merchants, had a number of saltwater patterns accepted and remains a contract tyer with them.
Gil has been afforded the opportunity to travel to some of the world’s most exciting fishing destinations as either a trip host or just as an enthusiastic angler in search of the next exciting adventure. To date Gil has caught nearly 100 species of both fresh and saltwater fish on fly. Over the last 20 years Gil has fished numerous locations in the Bahamas, and northern and southern locales in the Yucatan. The Seychelles, Belize, Alaska, Panama, Florida Keys, as well as long range live-aboards in the Pacific {specifically targeting blue water species} are also on the list. By integrating these experiences into his guiding style, you will be able to draw on a wealth of tips and tricks, that you will be able to add to your personal arsenal. You can check out some cool pics of the captain's global fishing adventures on his blog.
Captain Berke has written articles for Fish and Fly magazine, contributed to first article done on fly fishing the Seychelles for Flyfishing in Saltwaters magazine, and appeared in Andy Mill’s ESPN show on fishing the fall albie blitz in North Carolina. With nearly 15 years guiding experience under his belt, Gil is equally as comfortable with beginners as he is with seasoned veterans.
Voice: 508-435-7147
Email: gilberke@verizon.net
www.capecodflyfishingguides.com
Capt. Lee Parsons
Capt. Lee cast his first fly into the salt in 1964 and has been hooked ever since. Over the years, he has chased every thing from Grouper to Amberjacks in the ocean and anything that swims in the shallows. He now spends most of his time on the flats and creeks of North Carolina in search of Redfish, Speckle Trout and Flounder.
Lee started guiding in 1996 and has been at it full time since. He is also an outdoor photographer and guides trips for that as well. He has been with the Colton family since 2005.
Voice: 910-540-2464
Email: gottaflylee@ec.rr.com
Website: www.gottaflyguideservice.com
Capt. Alan Hastbacka
Alan has summered in Chatham Massachusetts since birth, currently residing year round in Chatham to actively pursue fishing. Fishing since he was old enough to walk, then turned into guiding in 2005. Guiding full time Alan has come along way in a short time. Now founder of Got Stryper Baits, all of his life is devoted to fishing. Alan still fishes to fish, and have fun. Alan is most proud of having happy clients and most of all kids with smiles.
Voice: 508-680-6317
Email: CaptainAlan@gotstryper.com
Website: www.gotstryper.com
Capt. Mike Bartlett
From the banks of the murky Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the crystal clear flats and backcountry waters of the Florida Keys, Captain Mike Bartlett is a year round resident and full-time guide in Key West, Florida. A smallmouth bass fisherman from Pennsylvania, Captain Mike spent countless days fishing the Susquehanna River in northeast PA. In 1999 Captain Mike and his wife left their jobs in Pittsburgh and moved to Key West to pursue the island lifestyle. After purchasing a used skiff and learning the Keys waters with mentor Captain Gregg McKee for a couple of years, Captain Mike soon began taking clients sight fishing on the flats of Key West. Nearly fifteen years later and going, Captain Mike runs a fly fishing guide service out of Garrison Bight Marina in the heart of Key West. Running the latest Beavertail BT3 skiff and full line of Colton saltwater fly rods and reels, Captain Mike offers shallow water fly and light tackle sight fishing charters for tarpon, bonefish and permit.
Voice: 305-797-2452
Email: captainmike@keywestflats.net
Website: www.keywestflats.net
Blog: www.keywestfishingblog.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
