The Adventure Awaits
by Terry Jepsen
While working in fly fishing for more than 30 years at The Fly Shop®, I’ve had the opportunity to travel for fly fishing to foreign, exotic countries. By no means am I a travel expert, nor would I be considered a globetrotter. I’ll leave that to someone like Mike Michalak or Pat Pendergast, people who have visited far more continents than I have. But I love to travel—hence the title of this blog post, as there are still many adventures I would like to take.
Two years ago, we had significant turnover in our Travel Bookkeeper position, so I stepped in to help. I found this quite interesting, as in all my years here, I had never done any of the bookkeeping, and honestly, I wasn’t very familiar with the software our travel department uses. But that is beside the point. What’s relevant is that during that time, I became more familiar with the amazing places we send anglers to chase fish. During those months, I constantly updated my bucket list of trips—almost daily. Of course, some destinations will always be in my top five, but with new locations seemingly popping up almost weekly, one must be flexible with their fly fishing travel desires.
My first international fly fishing trip was in my early 20s. I’m still not sure if it was a dive trip or a fly fishing trip, or maybe both. My family took my brother and me to Turneffe Island Lodge in Belize. At the time, I didn’t care much about fly fishing—it was more about family time and getting to explore a new place. The fishing was challenging, as I wasn’t a good caster, and chasing fast-moving fish in a constant breeze wasn’t ideal. I preferred diving much more and thus spent the majority of that week snorkeling and diving with the dive group. My main memory of that particular trip was spending too much time and money at the lodge bar with my brother and Justin Corwin. I’m not even sure Justin and I were old enough to drink.
My second big trip came many years later—I think I was 29. The Fly Shop® had started booking trips to the faraway world of Kamchatka, Russia. It felt surreal to think I was flying all the way to Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka. All I knew about Russia was that we had been in conflict with them for a long time during the Cold War. I was honestly scared to death when we got off the plane and saw armed military escorts in the terminal. Then we were greeted by stern-faced officials who requested our passports and documentation. I had never seen or dealt with other countries’ militaries, and I still had those Cold War views of Russia in my thoughts. In the end, it was much easier than my own brain made it out to be. This is an entire story on its own, so I won’t go into every little detail. Let’s just say it was an unforgettable experience.
Many years later, I got another opportunity to travel somewhere new—South America. We had begun working with an outfitter in Colombia who was organizing trips to the Mataveni River to chase their famous peacock bass. This was right up my alley, as I love bass fishing with a fly rod. Mike Michalak had already gone on this trip earlier that year and was hosting a second group. This trip ignited my passion for fly fishing in the jungle. It was an amazing experience! The fishing was fantastic, but my favorite memories were spending time with the native tribe that oversees the Mataveni River. They graciously took us to their small village and shared a bit of their lives with us. The guides were also natives, so spending time with them and learning about their culture and lives, so far removed from civilization, was intriguing.
Two years later, I returned to South America—this time to Bolivia, where we chased the aggressive golden dorado with our partners from Untamed Angling. Although we didn’t get to spend much time in our arrival city of Santa Cruz, the people we encountered were wonderful and friendly. Seeing the village of the Tsimane people and meeting several of them on the way to and from the lodge was eye-opening. They protect their land fiercely and live in remote isolation. Of course, the fishing was fantastic, and golden dorado will forever be in my top five bucket list species. I can’t imagine a better place to fish for these incredible predators, and I’d go back year after year if it were possible. This is the meanest fish I’ve ever encountered, a predator that never stops trying to bite you—even while you’re attempting to land and release it. Their razor-sharp teeth are something you don’t want to be on the wrong end of. Anglers have been bitten on the arm, leg, and hand just trying to get a picture with their prized catch. I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone who loves catching big, aggressive fish.
My most recent trip came in 2021 and was yet another adventure to a faraway land—Tanzania. Africa was a place I had never even dreamed of traveling to. I’ve written several articles and blog posts on this adventure, so I won’t go into much detail here. If you are interested in reading more, you can visit our website at https://www.theflyshop.com/travel/tanzania-tigerfish-trip-report. Needless to say, it was an amazing adventure and one I would suggest any adventure-seeking angler do sooner rather than later.
Now that we’ve covered my angling travel history, we can proceed with the reason for this blog post. It certainly wasn’t to boast about my limited travels, as I know many reading this have far more passport stamps than I do. The purpose is to explore that internal drive that compels us to embark on these journeys. For me, it is all about adventure and the cultural experiences that go along with it. I have many friends who wouldn’t even consider leaving the state, much less the country. They can’t begin to comprehend why I would travel halfway around the globe to chase a fish they’ve never heard of.
What stirs this yearning in some people? What makes them curious about other cultures? Why don’t others have the same desire? These are questions I often ask myself. So what keeps you from taking the leap to adventure, or what pushes you to seek out these journeys?
Many of us at The Fly Shop have embraced jungle fly fishing—the remote waters of the Amazon in Brazil, the high mountain jungles of Bolivia, the grasslands of Tanzania, and many other amazing places. The native tribes of these regions protect their lands with both political methods and, when necessary, force. These cultural destinations are often just as fascinating as the fly fishing itself.
Maybe the jungle isn’t your idea of fun. That’s not uncommon, as there are so many incredible places outside the jungle to explore and fly fish. Iceland, for example, has gained popularity in recent years, not just for its Atlantic salmon fishing but also for its giant brown trout and stunning scenery. The volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and protected glaciers define this small Nordic country.
If you’re looking for something even more unique, Mongolia should be on your list. It ranks high on my personal bucket list due to its breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and the opportunity to chase the largest member of the salmonid family—the taimen. These prehistoric fish provide one of the world’s most incredible fly fishing experiences.
Perhaps freshwater species aren’t your preference, and you’ve been waiting for something unique in saltwater fly fishing. If you’re looking for the ultimate challenge, consider targeting Africanus permit in Oman or battling giant trevally in the Seychelles—fish that will burn up your reels, snap your fly rod, and bust your knuckles.
These are just some of the destinations high on my list. Something new will undoubtedly catch my interest in the coming years. I hope this article inspires you to embark on your own adventure—whether it’s a trip to the Rocky Mountains or a journey to the farthest corners of the globe. Every trip can create an amazing experience and memory.
The adventure awaits!
