Your Time Will Come
By Blakeley Dunn
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Photos by: Meris Mchaney
It was cold in Colorado when I started practicing casting in front of my house. I knew that saltwater fly fishing would be a challenge coming from the freshwater rivers I was used to. The wind, the waves, being on a boat were all things I had not experienced yet. I wanted to be prepared. I had heard of the guides in Honduras and how passionate they were about fishing. I didn't want to disappoint them. I spent hours in front of my house, casting in the snow, and the wind, casting between classes while I was remote learning during the pandemic. My goal was to be able to cast out 40 yards and to be able to put the fly exactly where my guide in Honduras wanted me to. I was going to do my best to catch my first permit.
I was sitting in the lodge after dinner when I saw Ranklin come in. The trip leaders, Heather and Olivia, explained to me that Ranklin would be my guide the next day. He was the guide I was most nervous about disappointing. My worst fear was that he would tell me I was trout-setting instead of strip-setting like you are supposed to do for saltwater. Ranklin and I spoke about what we would be trying to accomplish the next day of fishing. He knew that I wanted to catch a permit while I was on the trip. "Your time will come. The fish will pick you when it is your time," he said to me. The next morning was bright and clear with a bit of wind. Meris, one of the leaders and amazing photographer, Mia, a Honduran teenager who was joining us for Girls Week, Ranklin, and I set off on the boat to see what we could find. We saw the first sign of permit at the first spot we went to but they had no interest in us. We circled back to the south side of the island and we stopped for a while so I could practice my strip setting. Ranklin was constantly scanning the water. ''/'\re you ready?" he asked me. I felt ready. "Yes," I screamed over the wind and waves. "Ok! Permit at 9 o'clock!" I took a deep breath and made my first cast 20-feet out. Strip, Strip, Strip. I felt the line fly through my fingers. Set! Boom! Fish on! Ranklin hopped into the water and talked me through each step of landing the permit. We were all yelling and screaming with excitement when it was clear that the permit was mine. The feeling of catching this fish is like no other I have experienced. Joy and awe don't even begin to describe it. I just felt so grateful that Ranklin was there to talk me through all of it and so thankful that the fish picked me. Once back on the boat it was decided that we were going to go for it; permit, bonefish, tarpon-a Grand Slam. Ranklin knew exactly what to look for on the water and soon we found a school of bonefish on the flats. I cast out, listening to Ranklin's wise words, and boom! Bonefish on! I didn't know how fun it was to catch a bonefish. They put up quite a fight swimming all over the place. I couldn't believe I had caught two of the three fish needed for a Slam. We piled back into the boat. Ranklin knew the spot to try to get my tarpon. Soon he spotted the tarpon rolling and rolling. I cast out and the tarpon were not interested in the least bit. We started cranking music and dancing in the warm sunshine. Catching the last fish in my Grand Slam wasn't as important and enjoying the moment with new friends on the water. In between singing and dancing I cast out again. This time, tarpon on! The tarpon was small but was so strong. We were in deep water, too deep to anchor. I had to try my best to lead the fish away from the bow of the boat. When we finally were able to get the fish, I cradled it in my hands and gently let it slip back into the water. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have caught three amazing saltwater species in one day. In two hours, I had managed to get a Grand Slam.
I was sitting in the lodge after dinner when I saw Ranklin come in. The trip leaders, Heather and Olivia, explained to me that Ranklin would be my guide the next day. He was the guide I was most nervous about disappointing. My worst fear was that he would tell me I was trout-setting instead of strip-setting like you are supposed to do for saltwater. Ranklin and I spoke about what we would be trying to accomplish the next day of fishing. He knew that I wanted to catch a permit while I was on the trip. "Your time will come. The fish will pick you when it is your time," he said to me. The next morning was bright and clear with a bit of wind. Meris, one of the leaders and amazing photographer, Mia, a Honduran teenager who was joining us for Girls Week, Ranklin, and I set off on the boat to see what we could find. We saw the first sign of permit at the first spot we went to but they had no interest in us. We circled back to the south side of the island and we stopped for a while so I could practice my strip setting. Ranklin was constantly scanning the water. ''/'\re you ready?" he asked me. I felt ready. "Yes," I screamed over the wind and waves. "Ok! Permit at 9 o'clock!" I took a deep breath and made my first cast 20-feet out. Strip, Strip, Strip. I felt the line fly through my fingers. Set! Boom! Fish on! Ranklin hopped into the water and talked me through each step of landing the permit. We were all yelling and screaming with excitement when it was clear that the permit was mine. The feeling of catching this fish is like no other I have experienced. Joy and awe don't even begin to describe it. I just felt so grateful that Ranklin was there to talk me through all of it and so thankful that the fish picked me. Once back on the boat it was decided that we were going to go for it; permit, bonefish, tarpon-a Grand Slam. Ranklin knew exactly what to look for on the water and soon we found a school of bonefish on the flats. I cast out, listening to Ranklin's wise words, and boom! Bonefish on! I didn't know how fun it was to catch a bonefish. They put up quite a fight swimming all over the place. I couldn't believe I had caught two of the three fish needed for a Slam. We piled back into the boat. Ranklin knew the spot to try to get my tarpon. Soon he spotted the tarpon rolling and rolling. I cast out and the tarpon were not interested in the least bit. We started cranking music and dancing in the warm sunshine. Catching the last fish in my Grand Slam wasn't as important and enjoying the moment with new friends on the water. In between singing and dancing I cast out again. This time, tarpon on! The tarpon was small but was so strong. We were in deep water, too deep to anchor. I had to try my best to lead the fish away from the bow of the boat. When we finally were able to get the fish, I cradled it in my hands and gently let it slip back into the water. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have caught three amazing saltwater species in one day. In two hours, I had managed to get a Grand Slam.
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Photo by Meris MChaney
We started our way back to find the rest of the group. When I told everyone that I caught a Grand Slam, their excitement and congratulations erupted. Fish for Change Girls Week had quite the day on the water! Two other girls also achieved a Grand Slam along with some other really great catches.
The Fish for Change Girls were amazing. They cheered me on when I got a great catch and encouraged me later on in the week when I was nursing the worst sunburn I had ever experienced.
The Fish for Change Girls were amazing. They cheered me on when I got a great catch and encouraged me later on in the week when I was nursing the worst sunburn I had ever experienced.
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Photo by Meris Mchaney
"Heather would say to the group, 'you will become most like the five people you spend the most time with.' it made me wish that I could spend all of my time with these girls."
Although I was the youngest in the group, I never felt excluded. I was instantly dropped into a community of girls who fish -something that I had always wanted. I grew up fly fishing with my family and was accustomed to being the only girl on the river. Heather would say to the group, "you will become most like the five people you spend the most time with," it made me wish that I could spend all of my time with these girls. They were good leaders and amazing friends. I hope that I can grow up to be like them.
When I was planning for my trip to Guanaja, Honduras with Fish for Change I was busy thinking about the species of fish I wanted to catch and how it would feel to go on my first international trip without my parents. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. I knew it was going to be an amazing trip, but there is no way I would have been able to guess how life-giving my week in Guanaja would be. Thank you, Fish for Change, and Orvis for making this trip happen. I have so many amazing memories and I learned so much. This trip and the relationships I made on this trip have changed my life. I can't wait for the next fishing adventure down in Guanaja, Honduras.
Blakeley Dunn, 16, Colorado.
Blakeley came to programs under the Orvis scholarship. She is passionate about the outdoors, traveling.
and protecting the environment. She hopes to have a future in the fishing industry
When I was planning for my trip to Guanaja, Honduras with Fish for Change I was busy thinking about the species of fish I wanted to catch and how it would feel to go on my first international trip without my parents. I was nervous and excited all at the same time. I knew it was going to be an amazing trip, but there is no way I would have been able to guess how life-giving my week in Guanaja would be. Thank you, Fish for Change, and Orvis for making this trip happen. I have so many amazing memories and I learned so much. This trip and the relationships I made on this trip have changed my life. I can't wait for the next fishing adventure down in Guanaja, Honduras.
Blakeley Dunn, 16, Colorado.
Blakeley came to programs under the Orvis scholarship. She is passionate about the outdoors, traveling.
and protecting the environment. She hopes to have a future in the fishing industry