Guides and anglers at the 33rd Women's Fly Series in Islamorada in June.

33rd WOMEN’S FLY SERIES ~ TARPON

A Classic Endures

By David Conway, Managing Editor

As more and more American women get into fly fishing, both in the salt and freshwater, more tournaments are springing up to attract their interest. Though The Women’s Fly Series, held at the height of tarpon season in the Keys in mid June, is no newcomer to the scene. This year’s event, June 10 through 12, marked the annual tournament’s 33rd incarnation.

The Series started way back in ’76, when saltwater fly fishing really got off the ground in The Keys. Many consider The Keys to be one of the original laboratories of saltwater fly fishing, so there’s a long and storied tradition of the sport in those small islands, which is still alive to this day.

At the Women’s Fly Series, which is an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Inshore World Championship qualifying event, entrants fished for three days out of the Lorelei and Islamorada Fishing Club. This year the anglers and guides blasted from the dock at 6:00 a.m. in pursuit of tarpon over four feet in length. Each fish counted for 500 points. The angler and guide team with the most tarpon releases would win Grand Champion.

Remember that catching a tarpon on fly of any size, much less a tarpon over four feet, takes serious skills. Successfully catching and releasing a big tarpon on fly is ranked among the loftiest ambitions of fly anglers the world over. Keys tarpon are plentiful, especially in June, but that doesn’t mean that they’re going to take a fly, even if conditions are good. Experienced tarpon anglers will tell you that their quarry may not be quite so skittish as permit, but they’re just as finicky and much more temperamental.

Grand Champion Kathy Hoar of Hanover, Pennsylvania fishing with Captain Tad Burke won with 5 tarpon released on fly over four feet in length. Kathy was Grand Champion in 2007 and 1st Runner-up in 2008. Kathy and Tad were sponsored by Julian Robertson. Kathy received a beautiful original Kay Ford tarpon water color. Tad received a one of a kind wood carving. Both also won engraved Tibor Reels and champagne from Southern Wine and Spirits to celebrate the win! Not a bad way at all to spend a few days in the Keys.

1st Runner Up Adelaide Skoglund of Key Largo, fishing with Captain Andy Thompson, released 2 tarpon. Adelaide and Andy received Al Barnes art. This team was tied with Jayne Kilpatrick who also released 2 tarpon, but Adelaide’s last fish was caught first to break the tie.

2nd Runner up Jayne Kilpatrick from Summerland Key fishing with Captain Joe Rodriguez released 2 tarpon. Jayne received a giclee by James Harris and Joe Rodriguez received a Pasta giclee.

All anglers and guides received shirts polo from Vineyard Vines and pink hats from G. Loomis.

The Women’s Fly Series isn’t a big, flashy, loud event, but it’s serious about its angling and it’s the kind of community tradition that gives The Keys their heart and soul.

Check out the website below for more details about the Women’s Fly Series and information on the upcoming Women’s Fall Fly Tournament, to be held in October, for tarpon, bonefish, permit, snook and redfish.

http://www.womensflyseries.com/index.html

The dates for the Women’s Fall Fly Tournament, in Islamorada, are October 7 – 9, 2009.

The dates for the Women’s Fly Series for next year are June 16 – 18, 2010.

Please contact Charlotte Ambrogio at csasun@aol.com for more information.