Casa Vieja - Jan 2010 report

[Marlinhunter2]

Casa Vieja Lodge - Jan 2010 report:

* First parties of the year: Dennis Rahlves, Doug Pruessing and Bart Chandler took advantage of the cheap airfares and easy flights to make their annual trip to Casa Vieja. Fishing this time with Capt. Ron Hamlin on the Captain Hook (Finest Kind), they scored 50 sails raised and 12 released all on flies.
* The Father & Son team of Rudy and Alex Pena fished with Capt. Chico Alvarenga and Capt. Mike Sheeder on several boats, as their original ride was down for repairs. 55 raised and 19 released, it was their first time in Guatemala. I guarantee they will be back.

The cold-front that has made most of the US miserable these past few days has found it's way down to Central America. Normally our seas are calm to two feet - as of this morning the seas were running 3-5's and the winds out of the SW at 7-15kts, on 15 sec swells. That does not make for an enjoyable day of rocking and rolling! Fortunately our first of the year anglers had left for La Reunion Golf Resort to knock the lil white ball around a most beautiful course. Everyone raves about Costa Rican course, but they haven't seen anything until they come to Guatemala. Imagine a course surrounded by three semi-active volcanoes on a former coffee bean plantation at an elevation of 4650ft!

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* The Wayne & Matthew Kelley party fished last week (16 thru 18 on the A-Fin-Ity (38 ft Billy Knowles Express) with Capt. Gilfredo Lopez. Not first timers these guys were good! The A-Fin-Ity was the high boat each day.

16th - 12-8-5
17th - 16-12-8
18th - 19-16-11 for a total of 47-36-24 for the three days.

The Kelley's were happy as New Englanders can possibly be with a new found place to fish.

* * * * *

The Stu Apte Fly Tournament is in the books and we have the winners:

1st Place Team - Drs. Dee & Steve Updegraff, aboard the Release with Capt. Nico Melendrez - with 14 releases

2nd Place Team - Dr. Scott Smith & Mick Kolassa, aboard the Rum Line with Capt. Jason Brice - with 13 releases

3rd Place Team - Stu Apte & Dale DePriest, aboard the Intensity with Capt. Mike Sheeder - 11 releases

Top Captain - Nico Melendrez

Top Lady Angler - Nancy Swisstack

Top Individual Angler - Dr. Scott Smith with 8 releases
2nd Place Individual Angler - Dr. Steve Updegraff with 7 releases
3rd Place Individual Angler - Dr. Jon Dee with 6 releases

[Marlinhunter2]

The Bill Gooch annual outing returned to Casa Vieja Lodge, 24 to 28 Jan, fishing old favorites Finest Kind (Ron Hamlin), Rum Line (Jason Brice) and Circle Hook (Eddie Bairez).

They had a great time with doubles, triples and quads each day.

Results:

Finest Kind: 91 raised, 75 bites, 57 released
Rum Line: 102 raised, 87 bites, 38 released
Circle Hook: 88 raised, 69 bites, 51 released

Totals: 281 raised, 231 bites and 146 released in three days!

[Marlinhunter2]

John Heaton (www.quintamaconda.com), Jim Turner and Bill Gooch