Pole Dancer

This is a good looking fly with interesting action. In this brown and white pattern it will likely be productive for fish feeding are sardinas. I look forward to giving one a try. You can see the action in this video:

Cool Dorado Video

Dorado on the Prowl from Jay Murakoshi on Vimeo.

This is a good video - the first 3 minutes shows good fighting technique. Notice how the rod tip stays relatively low - high sticking isn't just a hokey foul, it's a good way to break a fly rod.

At about 3 minutes the video switches to an underwater shot of good sized Dorado working chum. If you come to Baja California Sur in June, July, or August this is where you will be casting the fly. In the last few seconds you can really see the sardinas as they try to escape. Watch what happens and you can get a feel for what the strike feels like.

I think I'll go check flights - I'm getting the itch real bad!

Below the Birds

Here's a fantastic video that shows what is happening under those birds that we spend all day chasing. There is much to be learned from the appearance and behavior of bait fish under attack. The slow motion near the end is especially informative for the fly tier. Watch the marlin slice a sardina in half and incorporate some red into those patterns!

Sardina

Sardina, or flat iron herring, are the most common bait fish throughout much of the Sea of Cortez. The pliers in the picture are standard sized to give you a little scale. This picture was taken at the end of the day so the colors aren't quite so strong on the sardina and the distinctive black dot behind the eye is not very clear. Numerous patterns imitate this species, be sure to have some when heading south. In Loreto, netters are available at the marina to fill your panga's live bait tank. The guide uses these fish to lure predatory fish into fly range. Putting just a couple in the water and watching what happens provides the guide with a lot of information about the type and behavior of any fish that might be in the area.