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 August
12, 1990, changed my life. Dressed in neoprene waders and a fishing vest
loaded with flies, I accompanied two anglers on the frigid waters of the
Frying Pan River in Colorado and provided them the opportunity to catch
trout on a fly rod, and I got paid! So began this magnificent odyssey of
fulfilling my dream as a fly fishing guide. Over twenty six years later the
passion still flows through my veins with a vigor that is relentless and
innovative. My heart thumps when a client hooks into a fish, and “set, set, set, set”
will always be part of my vocabulary. Fly fishing is my life and guiding
is my career. Each day I look forward to going to work, seeing old
friends, and creating new memories. I look forward to seeing you out on the water!
Fish Hard, Captain Mike
Costello
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Happy 2016! As I enter my 27th year of being a fly fishing guide I am
extremely grateful for the wonderful support from my wife Eme, and son,
Connor, and to all the magnificent clients that I have had the pleasure of
spending time on the water with. Over 6000 days of guiding, and the
passion still pulses each and every day, bent fly rods, big smiles, and
amazing angling memories are what keep me Fishing Hard!
2015 was another dry year in California and my clients and I experienced
some of the hottest striper fishing in the California Delta in the last
several years. Water conditions were favorable, and the result was our
best year for double digit linesiders since 2009. This past year we wound
up landing 130 feisty stripers over 10 lbs. with our largest fish topping
off at 32 lbs. Numbers of “legal fish” (fish over 18 inches) was also very
good with over 3000 brought to the boat in 2015.
Our low water conditions made trout fishing on our local rivers
challenging but great days could still be found on the Mokelumne River in
June and the Lower Sacramento River in July, August, and September.
Average days of 25 to 30 rainbows with fish up to 22 inches were common!
Late January, 2015, myself and 11 other clients traveled down to Brazil to
fish the legendary Aqua Boa Lodge for giant peacock bass. The lodge and
the fishery was everything I imagined and more. Our group for the week
tallied over 1000 peacock bass with an amazing 60 fish over ten pounds.
Our biggest peacock bass of the week was 19 1/2 lbs. and we had another
seven fish in the 17 to 18 1/2 lb. range. This is a sight fishing paradise
where the angler gets to hunt fish with intermediate and floating lines. I
can’t wait to return!
2014 Fishing and Product News
"Where A Trout Calls
Home” is available at selected fly shops throughout California as well
as on Amazon. The children’s book is also available in e-book form on both
I-Books and Kindle.
This past year I added a new boat to my
guiding fleet, trading in my Hyde drift boat for a bigger, more
comfortable 17ft. Pavati Legacy drift boat. With padded knee braces,
comfortable high back chairs with arm rest, and side doors to get in and
out, I am planning ahead for the golden years for me and my clients.
Guiding 260 days a year would not be
possible with out the support from equipment sponsors, Simms Fishing
Products, Loomis Fly Rods, Abel Fly Reels, Air Flo Lines, Seaguar Leader
Material, and Oakley Glasses help my clients and I catch more fish and
look good doing it.
Recent Fishing Photos
Fish Hard, Captain Mike Costello
New Products
I am proud to announce that Hatch Outdoors, with amazing fly reels and
super angling products, are now part of my arsenal everyday I step on one
of my boats. The dependability and unique precision make them a true
leader in the industry and my clients love them!
Costa sunglasses are now my optics of choice when ever I head out on the
water. With numerous styles and lens to choose from, they are protecting
my eyes from the Florida Keys to the California Delta and beyond!
I have had the
pleasure of fishing the Loomis NRX 9 ft. 9 wt. prototype for the past year
and my clients and I agree, it is one of the best fly rods ever designed.
20 % lighter and
stronger than the GLX Cross Current, this rod has handled some huge
linesiders over the last 12 months and its performance has been nothing
short of perfect.
I am pleased to announce
that the NRX is now available to the angling community from 3 wt. to 12 wt
and should be on everyone's wish list.
The winter has been miserable
this year but what allowed me to guide day in and day out in such adverse
conditions was the new Simms Extreme Rain Suit. The bibs and jacket left
me dry and comfortable and even though the fish were not always eating, my
equipment help me fish longer and harder. |
Mike is the Author of
"Fly Fishing the California Delta"
and the new children's book
"Where a Trout Calls Home"
Buy them now at your local fly fishing pro shop, Amazon or download them
on I-Books or Kindle.
Here is a list of stores that
are carrying my books:
The Fly Shop
530-222-3555
www.theflyshop.com
American Fly Fishing
Company
916-483-1222
www.americanflyfishing.com
Bob Marriott's Fly Fishing Store
714-525-1827
www.bobmarriottsflyfishingstore.com
Caddis Fly Angling Shop
541-342-7005
www.caddisflyshop.com
California Fly Shop
650-508-0727
www.californiaflyshop.com
Fishermen's Spot
818-785-7306
www.fsflyfishing.com
Fly Fishing Specialties
916-722-1055
www.flyfishingspecialties.com
Kiene's Fly Shop
916-486-9958
www.kiene.com
Check Out These Short Videos:
Delta Top Water Catch
Landing the Big One
I love to read, especially
books related to the outdoors and fly fishing, so I wanted to share some
my favorite books with my friends.
MY TOP FIVE FLY FISHING BOOKS OF ALL TIME:
1) A River Never Sleeps (Roderick Haig-Brown)
2) Trout Bum (John Gierach)
3) Trout Madness (Robert Traver)
4) The River Why (David James Duncan)
5) The Earth Is Enough (Harry Middleton)
And, the book every trout fishermen should own: In the Ring of the Rise by
Vincent Marinaro.
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