Road to Redemption

June 12, 2018 By Ross Purnell, Editor

Rankin Jackson could have been killed or consumed by the "push" of the drug trade in Honduras but instead he became a fly-fishing guide and discovered a spit of sand known as Cayes Cajones.

Ten years ago, Fly Fish Guanaja owner Steve Brown hired Rankin as a security guard, but he soon became one of the country's top permit guides.

The place Rankin calls "the keys to the east" is 160 miles from Gaunaja, and has historically been a haven for drug runners, pirates and other illicit activities. It also just so happens to be home to one of the most untouched and unfished bonefish and permit habitats in the entire Caribbean.

Beyond the Horizon from Cold Collaborative on Vimeo.

Beyond the Horizon was featured in the world-wide distribution of the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T), won the 'Creative Excellence' award as an official selection in the 5points Film Festival in Carbondale, CO, and finally finished up its festival circuit as an official selection in the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival.

Recent Videos

Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado Trailer

Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado Trailer

Preview our film about a journey deep into the Argentine Yungas forests to explore the country's most challenging fishery.

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Harrop Ant

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Harrop Ant

This original version of the Harrop Ant uses a duck quill wing instead of the modern version which uses CDC. It's a fun little tie that is effective at passing the tests of selective trout.

Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado

Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado

Follow along on a journey deep into the Argentine Yungas forests to explore the country's most challenging fishery. Watch as gorgeous golden dorado rise to huge dead-drifted dry flies, as a crew of hard-core Argentine anglers share their affection for this incredible place.

How-To/Techniques

Building the Perfect Fly Rod with Mud Hole Components From Blank to Casting

How-To/Techniques

Building the Perfect Fly Rod with Mud Hole Components From Blank to Casting

Fly Fisherman magazine's Keith Marlor gets an in-person, step-by-step tutorial from Mud Hole pros Matt Stefan and Chris Adams on the intricacies of building the perfect fly rod to spec. The process of building a rod exactly how you want it is not only rewarding but will make you a more effective angler. Ever dreamed of building the perfect fly rod? Check this out.

Destinations/Species

South Platte River Flooding, July 31, 2023

Destinations/Species

South Platte River Flooding, July 31, 2023

Veteran fishing guide and fishing legend Pat Dorsey was present for deluge that caused flash floods in Cheesman Canyon on Colorado's South Platte River. These are his videos.

Gear

Simms Wader Makers

Gear

Simms Wader Makers

Simms' latest Wader Maker film is its first in about six years and features the philosophies, craftsmanship, attention-to-detail, and fishiness of wader makers Ben Christensen (COO and Head of Product), Katie Taylor (Senior Director of Development), Craig Hanson (Quality Testing Supervisor), Judy Cleary (Production Team Champion/Body Sewer), Kyle Dresser (Production Team Champion/Attachments), Griffin Litchfield (Production Specialist), and Tommy Danahy (Production Team Specialist/Taping). “From a blank roll of GORE-TEX fabric, the same hands that double-haul sink tips and stroke drift boat oars cut, sew, and tape every wader that bears their mark.”

News

FF Mag Promo Aug-Sep 2023

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Ol' Mr. Wiggly

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Ol' Mr. Wiggly

There are murmurs among Upper Midwest anglers that pressured smallmouth don't crush the conventional poppers of yore like they used to. So savvy anglers have shifted to using more subtle, low-floating patterns like Charlie Piette's Ol' Mr. Wiggly. This purpose-built fly is based on the oversized sponge panfish spiders that work well in Florida, combined with Western terrestrial patterns like the Chernobyl Ant and Fat Albert. Ol' Mr. Wiggly is becoming a staple pattern in the Upper Midwest for good reason.

News

Mending the Line Panel Discussion

News

Mending the Line Panel Discussion

Join us for this panel discussion following a special advance screening of Mending the Line on June 3, 2023 at the Allenberry Playhouse in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. The panel features Director Joshua Caldwell and four veterans who found healing in fly fishing: Sean McNamara, Chris Holden, Frank Kancir, and David Bowerman.

How-To/Techniques

George Daniel's Hauling Tuck Cast

How-To/Techniques

George Daniel's Hauling Tuck Cast

Learn from “The Professor” George Daniel how to stop the rod high, and haul the line to make your Perdigon Nymphs hit the water at a steep angle and sink quickly into the strike zone. You'll also see how George “fishes the drop” and stays in contact with his flies from the moment they hit the water.

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Useful Speed Blood Knot

How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Useful Speed Blood Knot

The "Speed" Blood Knot is faster and easier to tie in cold weather because you don't have to hold onto loose tippet ends or feed them one at a time through a tiny loop.

News

A Celebration of Life for the Incomparable Dave Whitlock

News

A Celebration of Life for the Incomparable Dave Whitlock

Close friends and family gathered at Dave and Emily Bruce Whitlock's home on May 20 to Celebrate Dave's amazing life. Tributes abound for this generous and expert fly angler who helped bring so many and made so many contributions to our sport.

See All Videos

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Road to Redemption

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Buy Digital Single Issues

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Other Magazines

Guns & Ammo

Guns & Ammo

Handguns

Handguns

Rifleshooter

Rifleshooter

Shooting Times

Shooting Times

Special Interest Magazines

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

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