Pat & Jim’s Most Excellent Baja Adventure: Part 1

(ED: The Underground’s Most Excellent Saltwater Correspondent (Jim Troyer to the outside world) spent some time fly fishing his way around Baja, and wrote the whole story down for us. Click here to see Jim’s Picassa photo album.)

TU’s Saltwater & Cold Cerveza Correspondent Jim Troyer

The trip to the East Cape was good and another learning experience along the way. We stayed at Punta Colorada resort which is one of three owned by the Van Wormer family.

It’s located a few miles south of the sleepy, but growing, little town of La Ribera. Pat and I liked it, just like Rancho Leonero, because of its isolation from the other resorts that are located north in Buena Vista or Los Barriles.

Day 1 :

We arrived to beautiful skies but lots of wind. The shuttle ride in was good with the trusty driver we nicknamed “Fidel Castro” at the wheel. The set up at Punta Colorada is very laid back and away from the crowds in Buena Vista or Los Barriles and that’s what we like.

To bring a spouse to a resort where the ratio is 10-1, men over women (and most of them old guys) and who are rabid fisherman is a bit much but Pat took it in stride and had a great time! The place was virtually empty during the day which gave her time to read, stroll the beach, hang with the locals and just relax which is what a vacation is all about, right?

Craig and Kim arrived later after the usual stuff at the airport and were looking for a cerveza! We all got to know John Matson and Mike Rieser of Baja Fly fishing Co. who run their operation out of Punta Colorada. They were great guys and kept us up to date on what was happening inshore and offshore.

Day 2:

The three of us rented Yaks for the day to check out the inshore water. The rocky reef area out front isn’t as good as the reefs off of Rancho Leonero but then again, the bait situation hadn’t been that good as of late.

The wind, along with the cooler water might have had an effect on the bait situation and when there’s no bait, there’s no fish! Kim headed out to the current seam running off Punta Colorada and started dredging some big tube flies. Craig and I fished closer in looking for anything going on. We did see a huge blow up on shore with either Jacks or Roosters after some bait.

By the time we got there, it was gone only to turn around and see an even bigger blow up off the current seam drop off with Kim in hot pursuit only to miss that one also. The action on the Yak was similar to running and gunning on the beach except your arms and shoulders were sore instead of your legs and feet.

In the afternoon I was tying flies outside of Craig and Kim’s room with a cold Pacifico when a couple was checking in to their room next door. The gentleman mentioned something about tying flies and that he was “in the business.”

It didn’t dawn on me but he looked awfully familiar. He introduced himself as “Norm” and then the light bulb clicked on! It was Mr. Nor-Vise, Norm Norlander….what a great guy.

Norm was booked with the Baja guides for 4 days so we would get the reports at the end of the day at dinner. They were able to get into some fish but the bait situation made it tough and many days had them running as far south as Cabo Pulmo to get bait.

Stay tuned for Part II (lots of fishing)!

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