Conway Bowman's Fly Fishing the World

Fw: Wish you were going Thailand brotha'

2012-02-06T13:26:00.001-08:00

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: "Paul Sharman" <psoutdoors@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:10:42
To: <conwayxbowman@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: Wish you were going Thailand brotha'

Hey Conman,

You'll have a couple of missed calls from me on the cell but never mind.

Wanted to get back to you on the below questions ready for your trip to
Thailand.

The good news is that I'm sure Francois will show you the town and keep you
(mostly) out of trouble although he can also be pretty good at directing you
towards it too by all accounts if you should wish!

Not sure how much time you will get in Bangkok but be sure to get out and
sample the night-time street food scene - just choose anything that's
bubbling or flame-grilling well so you know it's safe from any nasties but
it will taste so good! Soup noodles are a favourite of mine. The night
markets and street vendors are just such a cool scene to take in and be a
part of too.

Things to watch out for are to only drink bottled water when out in the
boonies and make sure the seals are intact as they sometimes do refill
bottles from the tap. Watch out for eating fruit or vegetables if they have
been washed (unless they are peeled first of course to avoid any water-born
nasties) and avoid ice in drinks too unless you know it has been made from
pure water. Better to get a cold soda or beer from the icebox. Keep hydrated
like in any tropical country and get the salt intake up - Gatorade or sports
drinks are always good as you know if you can find them.

I think most of the cabs are metered now so you should be pretty safe there
but you have to take a ride in a Tuk-Tuk for sure, the motorised 3-wheelers.
Great fun but hang on for your life in traffic! With those guys you usually
barter a fare in advance. I'm out of touch on prices so ask at the hotel
desk for tips on how much you should expect to pay to get from A to B. Don't
be afraid to haggle hard particularly if shopping on the street but even in
some department stores too. The Thai's love it as long as you recognise when
to seal the deal you'll all go away happy.

The red-light parts of town like Patpong and Soi Cowboy are also
entertainment districts too with night markets and restaurants around them.
Don't be afraid to wander around and sneak a peek in the open doors as you
pass - you'll be beckoned inside at every establishment but it's your choice
if you keep on walking or stop for a beer. I will say no more! There are
pickpockets and scammers around so just take the usual precautions and take
everything with a pinch of salt if someone approaches you offering a tour or
needs help somehow. I fell for it once a long time ago when I was young and
more foolish (and walking around on my own) and it was not a clever
situation I got myself in - luckily I wised up before it went too far and
talked myself out of it.

Shopping if you have time - you'll be able to pick up tons of cool t-shirts
for you, Mish and Max for next to nothing in Bangkok at the markets. Ask
Francois about his guide Kik's fishing gear - he makes some awesome rods and
lures for snakehead fishing for example. Real works of art on the lures that
would be great for bass too - might be something worth a minute or two of
film even if the opportunity presents itself.

Thailand is such a huge tourist destination now that you'll have no problem
blending in. The only thing to worry about manners wise with the Thai's is
not to touch someone on the head or use your feet to point to something or
someone if you can help it. A lot of English is spoken there in the city but
probably not out in the countryside so much but Francois is fluent in Thai
so you are covered there. Worth learning the Thai for hello which is "Sawadi
Krab" and thank you which is "Kob Khoon Krab" which will get you a lot of
smiles.

You'll love it. Thailand is a beautiful country and even Bangkok for all its
traffic jams, noise and pollution also has the most amazing temples next to
slums, tiny restaurants and street food vendors where the food is out of
this world for a couple of dollars, friendly people and so much to take in.
And again you will love Francois, my baldy French brother. He can be loud
sometimes but he has built the incoming fishing tourism business in Thailand
from nothing and knows it inside out - he is just such a character and will
great on film. Just make sure you catch a fish or two for me and maybe one
of these days we'll get the chance to hook up again.

Let's talk about Iceland when you get back if that is still on the wish list
as another opportunity there may have just fallen in my lap for you.

Safe travels my friend and I'll look forward to the reports from you and
Francois who emails me updates regularly of his exploits.

All the best,

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: conwayxbowman@gmail.com [mailto:conwayxbowman@gmail.com]
Sent: 05 February 2012 8:40 PM
To: Paul Sharman
Subject: Wish you were going Thailand brotha'

P dog

I'm packing for Thailand getting ready to leave on wednesday and wishing you
we joining me. Bummer

Anyway, do you have any advice for me before I get there? Things to watch
out for? Money issues? Bad cab drivers? Bad parts of town? How to act as an
american in Thailand?

Any advice would be great!

Best

Conway

Sent on the SprintR Now Network from my BlackBerryR

2012-02-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

Redfish New Orleans jan 2012 blog

I love the month of January! The reason? Big Redfish in New Orleans! This is the time of year when I get down to the Big Easy and target big Reds on the fly. I first fished the area in 2003 with my good friend Capt. Gregg Arnold. I had fished with Gregg on and episode of my first TV series “In Search of Fly water back in April of that year.

The following January , Gregg called me one cold night in san Diego and said “ you need to come down to New Orleans as soon as possible , I’ve found an area with giant redfish and I think we can break the world record on the fly IF you can get here in the next couple days”.

After I got off the phone with Gregg I immediately booked a plane ticket for the next morning. By the next afternoon Gregg and I were driving through downtown New Orleans planning our fly fishing attack.

Gregg and I fished hard for 3 days which resulted in 3 of the best days fishing I think I’ve ever experienced. We caught big number of redfish and ion our final day on the water we hooked and released 20 all over 25 pounds with the largest fish of the day being a world record redfish that tipped the scales at 41.65 pounds!!

There is no better place to fish during the winter months then New Orleans La for redfish.

If you go

SEASONS: OCTOBER –FEBRUARY

Rod: 9 ft 9 wt

Reel: any good saltwater fly reels w/ 200 yards of 20 to 30 lb Dacron/Gel spun backing

Flyline: Floating WF Redfish taper flyline. (Make sure these lines are made for cooler waters)

Flies: Hailey’s Comet, Lex’s hip hop crab

CONTACT: Capt. Gregg Arnold ph: 504.237.6742 email: garnold3@cox.net

Viva...Baja!

2011-11-20T13:24:00.001-08:00

The Baja's East Cape popularity has really boomed in recent years with the fly fishing crowd. No need to go into that but, with this new found popularity comes lots more pressure on the fish, the beaches and the overall Baja experience. Now, I’m not suggesting that this is a bad thing. I think it’s great for any and all fly angers to get out and give this fishery a serious effort. It will open the minds for the trout die hards and refine and improve the skills of the true saltwater fly fishing freaks. Roosterfish are not easy to catch on the fly or on live bait for that matter. I can only compare trying to feed a fly to a big Rooster is like enticing a tiger to eat a watermelon. It can be done however the stars have to line up just right. Now, smaller roosters are a bit more cooperative when casting a fly to them. They seem to have a more eagerness about them when eating the fly and are far less discriminate. So, for that reason these little rosters are the perfect Baja fly rod fish. Targeting roosters is a pretty simple game. Find a beach where deep water pinches close to a beach, the presence of lots of bait and a knowledge of the tides and last but not least: a lot of patience. If the bait is present the roosters will show up….eventually. Now lets talk tackle.A solid 9 or 10 wt rod with an intermediate line and a 9 foot 20 lb florocabon leader will do the trick . Oh and don’t forget the stripping basket. You’ll thank me the fist time you run and gun your first rooster from the beach. No need to explain you'll understand when it happens.How about flies? Mullet patterns, sardines patterns; small, medium and large. Just make sure they are NOT dressed to heavily and the hooks are ultra sharp. Remember less is more when tying or buying flies for Roosterfish.Baja's East cape is worth the trip. Make sure you go May- July to ensure prime time Roosterfish fly rod action!BestConway Where to stayhttp://www.rancholeonero.com/Who to fish withwww.baja-anglers.comwww.thereelbaja.com

I'm back in action....

2011-05-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

OK folks sorry about being AWOL for a LOOOONG time. Its been a crazy year! The birth of my son Maximillan last May and the call of duty required of being a father took the front seat in my life for the past 12 months. Needless to say "Maxaroo",now a year old, is doing great and so is his awesome mom,my wife Michelle.

I've set a goal to keep this blog updates in 2011/12 with stories,tales and tips on fly fishing and adventure.

Conway Bowman

Flats boat Carpin' in San Diego

2010-05-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's on! Carp on the fly season has begun.Check out this Youtube link and get stoked on this great fishery!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik1iobnh6Sg

I hope your out fishing

best

Conway Bowman

Back in action...

2010-03-21T09:53:00.001-07:00

Its been a long four weeks. Dealing with all sorts of weirdness here in San Diego and trying to put the final touches on my new saltwater fly fishing book for the Orvis Company.For the record, writing a book on flyfishing is a tough gig! There is so much information needed to be covered and to put that information on paper is a task that is very laborsome for sure.

Yesterday...

The big event at Lake Hodges " The Hodge Podge" was not as well attended at I would have hoped. We ahd some great companies who attended like Kaenon,Simms, Ross/Buff and of course the San Diego Fly Shop/Bluewater Tackle from Solona Beach who put on the event. Ed Z from the San Diego Union Tribune stopped by and we had a great chat about fly fishing for carp at our local lakes.

until next time

great tides

conway

Carpin' San Diego Style

2010-02-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

I love spring. The heavy rains that fall in February and March mean the reservoirs around San Diego will be filling up with water, creating some great carp flats for wading and sight casting to tailing carp come April, May and June.

Waking the hard sand flats at some some of our local carp "ponds" and casting crayfish patterns to some big "tailers" is about as good as it gets for fly rod sight casting. It's very much like casting to Redfish on the marsh in Louisiana without the travel.

I was lucky enough to get a beautiful EastCape Caiman flats skiff recently delivered from Florida. This baby is going to bring flats skiff fishing to So Cal. not only for carp but for spring time and summer bass.

As I sit here looking out at the rain falling outside , I know carp season is just a couple of week away. Man I can't wait!

" A Crawlin' Carp"

The Caiman

Why I Fly Fish for Carp

www.bowmanbluewater.com

www.kaenon.com

A day on the bay with Mishfish...

2009-12-27T16:40:00.000-08:00

San Diego bay was calling. I had not fished the " Big Bay" in a very long time and thought a morning of bay bass fishing would be a perfect after Christmas activity. So, Mish and I hit the road early on Saturday morning welcomed by a Southern California December sunrise.

Mish had a new rod she was trying out "The Bambwoozler". This custom bamboo spinning rod was a gift from a one of her coworkers who worked long hours perfecting it's unique casting and fishing action.

After launching the " SS MISHFISH" from J Street, we headed to our favorite bay bass spot south of the Coronado Cays . Casting Christmas Tree colored MC swim biats, It took 5 minutes before Mish was hooked up on the "Bambwoozler." Mish made quick work of the little spottie, got it to the boat for a pic and quick release. A great way to start the day

We great action all morning. A steady bite of nice sized spotties using Swimbaits, crankbaits and dropshot rigs.

I was really happy to be on the water with Mish. even if she did out fish me...Again.

conway

Wishin' I was Fishin'......Redfish!

2009-12-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

Redfish...Redfish...Redfish...Giant Redfish. I had a dream last night. There I was standing on the bow of Capt. Greg Arnold's Hells Bay Flats skiff, scanning the marshy waters south of New Orleans looking for Gaint Redfish...

Since 2003, I've been venturing to the Crescent City in search of giant redfish on the fly. There is no better place to sight cast the fly to fish over redfish 30 pounds while enjoying the great food, music and people of New Orleans.

It looks like my annual pilgrimage may not happen this year. Work and scheduling conflicts may keep me off the marsh until 2011.

So, I'm wishin' I was Fishing'.....Redfish in New Orleans

conway

Let's go fishing!

2009-12-20T08:41:00.000-08:00

Thanks for checking out my blog! I'm just getting started so stay tuned for some awesome fishing reports...everything from makos on the fly, giant redfish in Louisiana, huge tarpon in Belize and trout in the Eastern Sierras. I'll also be posting from some of the fishing shows I hit up around the country such as the upcoming Fly Fishing Show in Somerset New Jersey. A few times a month I'll post tips on how to become a better fly fisher on both fresh and blue water. You can follow me fishing all over the world and see some of the great places I fish, who I fish with, where I stay and some great bargains on fishing travel just like on my old TV show Dollarwise Fly!

Thanks for tuning in and enjoy the stories!

Also, if you're not famliar with my website check out www.bowmanbluewater.com.