When you meet Charlie Leslie, the owner and Head Guide at Tarpon Caye Lodge, you immediately feel contention, he gives you peace of mind. From that moment on, he starts sharing -in a simple way- the enormous knowledge he has about Fly Fishing for Permit in southern Belize. After 35 years in this profession, he continues working with tremendous energy and passion. Everybody should go fishing with him for a few days, it is an unforgettable experience that makes us grow as fishermen, in many aspects.
Fd: How long have you been a fly-fishing guide?
CL: I started fly-fishing 35 years ago.
Fd: Before you became a guide, what was your relationship with the sea?
CL: I come from a fishing family. My father was a fisherman. I grew up in Placencia. Part of my life in Placencia and part among the cayes.
Fd: Have you had a mentor or someone who has helped you in this profession?
CL: In my early days of fly-fishing, Leon Chandler (deceased), who was the President of Cortland Line Company was admired by me for his skill on casting a fly rod. Also, David Leopold out of Stewart, Florida, Mel Krieger out of San Francisco, California. These are the three guys who got me fully into fly-fishing.
Fd: Do you still go fishing by yourself? What gives you more satisfaction, fishing or guiding?
CL: I still go out by myself, but I prefer guiding.
Fd: In what places have you guided? For which species?
CL: I guided at the, now, Belize River Lodge for Snook, Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish. Turneffe Island Lodge for Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit. Pescador South for Permit.
Fd: You are a very recognized guide for permit fishing, what differentiates this species from the others?
CL: Permit fishing requires a high level of patience, ability to cast well under wind condition, being able to see the fish and -most of all- being able to control your adrenaline rush when it's time to cast.
Fd: How has fly-fishing for permit evolved in recent years?
CL: Permit fishing has become a fly-fishers dream. Years ago many top fly fishers thought it was impossible to catch a Permit on a fly, today I have to thank all the people who dedicated their time and effort in the past to make fishing the flats for Permit a reality, they are still the most difficult fish to catch on a fly.
Fd: What are the success factors for fly-fishing for permit?
CL: Good fishing gear, being able to cast well, being able to see the fish, narrow down your fly patterns, get as much info on Permit fishing prior to your fishing trip, good sunglasses and -most importantly- a good Permit guide.
Fd: What are the best conditions when looking for permit?
CL: The best condition is an incoming tide. Winds: northeast to east, 5 to 15 knots. Best moon phase: first quarter moon. Second: last quarter, third: new moon, and fourth: full moon.
Fd: How important is the fly pattern in fishing for permit?
CL: I would give fly pattern 60% of the success rate.
Fd: What is your most memorable permit? Why?
CL: I was fishing north of Cancun some years ago in the Contoy Bay on some mud flats, the guide was just about man, he had a paddle and a pole about 10ft long, he motored across the flat and ran every fish off, so I told him to drift and pole the next flat, but the mud was a bit too soft for him to pole the boat properly, just then a nice Permit tailed up wind from us. I tried a few casts but out of range, so I took off my wading boots, hop over the side and walked on the mud bottom as fast as I could to avoid sinking deep; as I slow down I ank deeper but I was in casting range, the first cast I spook the fish (and the boat was 100yds away waiting to get picked up). The Permit returned and I laid that merkin right on his plate, let it sunk and moved the fly a few ins and he ate it and i stick him and let him ran, I got picked up and landed it a 20 pounder.
Fd: What are the most important skills to be a good fly fisherman for permit?
CL: These are the top three skills: 1. Ability to cast well; 2. Accuracy; 3. Ability to see the fish.
Fd: What would you recommend to a fisherman who wants to start fly fishing for permit?
CL: Purchase a good 10wt fly rod with a good salt-water taper, WFF line. Begin to learn how to cast that rod well. Also, put in some practice time in casting under wind condition. You need to start putting in some fishing in salt-water to develop the feel and to learn the habitat of salt-water fish species. After this is done, I recommend to start off with some bone-fishing and then excel on to permit fishing.
Fd: Do you remember some fly fishermen in a special way? Why?
CL: Yes, I do remember a lot of fly fishermen. The reason I remember them is because we became friends in fly fishing. Guiding them was not difficult because we developed a full understanding of the difficulty that you have to go thru to catch a permit, and these guys were willing to take the risk with me.
Fd: Can you tell some stories or memories about fishing for permits?
CL: One time I was poling along the flats on the hunt for permit and a permit appears about 50 feet off the bow; pushing the boat backwards I hit a coral and fall over. An angler was wading the flat chasing a school of permit, I told him he had to get closer; just then he bumped his foot on a coral and fell face down, he then got up and the only thing he had to say was: Did I spook them?
Another time we hooked a permit from the boat, it ran off the flat, went down and wrapped himself around a coral; Carlito dove all the way down, grabbed him by the tail, brought it to the surface and gave it to the angler.
Fd: What is fly fishing for you?
CL: It is my life. It is my passion. It was a big challenge in my life to get where I got, I could have mastered it to the highest level.
Fd: How do you see yourself in the next few years?
CL: I see myself guiding one more year. Pulling back the throttle to find more time to fish myself, and to establish at Tarpon Caye Belize Fishing Lodge a school.
Fd: Any other message to finish the interview?
CL: I will be guiding one more season, then I will be semi-retired and will teach fly-fishing and how to catch a Permit on a fly.
