Black Fly Lodge Hosts Fly Fishing Pioneers

Legendary anglers Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, Chico Fernandez and Joan Wulff get together in the Bahamas.

By John Frazier
March 17, 2014
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Black Fly-1
When creativity and passion are the driving forces behind a new venture, success is all but inevitable. Black Fly Lodge located in Schooner Bay on the Bahamian island of Abaco was built on this principle and in a short time has developed a reputation as a first class bonefish operation. Salt Water Sportsman_ visited the lodge in early January of 2014 to document_ The Gathering_, a rendezvous of some of the biggest names in fly-fishing which included: Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, Chico Fernandez, Joan Wulff, Pat Ford and Vaughn Cochran. Each one of these living legends was honored for their contributions to fly-fishing by having a guest suite named after them. Harsh weather limited the amount of time the group of old friends were able to fish but that only stoked the story telling fire that burned each day and night into the wee small hours of the morning. ___ _ _ From Left: Pat Ford, Stu Apte, Joan Wulff, Chico Fernandez, Flip Pallot and Vaughn Cochran talk about old times in front of Black Fly Lodge.
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Black Fly-2
Flip and Diane Pallot watch angler Brett Martin cast to an unsuspecting Abaco bonefish.
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Black Fly-3
Brett Martin shows off well deserved bonefish he caught in an afternoon downpour.
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Black Fly-4
Flip and Diane Pallot kick back and relax as Black Fly Manager (and guide) Clint Kemp poles across a shallow flat.
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Black Fly-5
Rods await a break in the weather
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Black Fly-6
From left: Chico Fernandez, Dave Bylar and Paul Pinder prepare to chum for mutton snapper.
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Black Fly-7
From left: Chico Fernandez, Stu Apte and Flip Pallot pose for a quick photo before heading to the flats.
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Black Fly-8
Stu Apte gets a little bit of good luck from legendary guide Paul Pinder.
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Black Fly-9
Black Fly manager, Clint Kemp painted his East Cape Vantage purple in honor of his grandmother, Violet.
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A customized pushpole fork made from a guava tree fork.
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Black Fly-11
Flip Pallot strips a small Clouser Minnow in hopes of a yellowtail or mutton snapper for dinner.
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Chico Fernandez and Dave Bylar await the arrival of mutton snappers.
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Black Fly-14
Clint Kemps shows Brett Martin the finer points of a guava tree pushpole fork.
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Black Fly-15
Flip Pallot discusses the advantages of using a guava fork for a push pole foot.
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Black Fly Lodge guide, Paul Pinder runs to the next flat.
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Black Fly-17
Flip Pallot takes a break to tell one his many tales.
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Old friends reminisce days and years past.
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Flip Pallot and Chico Fernandez prepare for a day on the water.
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Black Fly's staff requests a photo with The Gathering legends.
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Black Fly-21
Diane Pallot takes cover from the elements during a run to the next fishing spot.
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Flip Pallot waits for bonefish to give up their presence.
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All of the legends that attended The Gathering signed a limited number of posters commemorating the event.
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Black Fly-24
In lieu of room numbers, Black Fly Lodge named each guest suite after a legendary fly fisherman and/or personality.
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Black Fly-25
Joan Wulff signs a limited edition Black Fly poster commemorating The Gathering.
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Black Fly-26
Each legend's room at Black Fly Lodge is adorned with an original portrait painted by Vaughn Cochran. Vaughn Cochran presents Joan Wulff with the painting that now hangs in her room.
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Black Fly-27
Flip Pallot writes about one of his first trips to the Bahamian island of Abaco.
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Black Fly-28
Flip Pallot writes about his first time that he fished Abaco.
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Lazy evening in the common area of Black Fly Lodge.
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Clint Kemp wears many Black Fly caps — manager, cook, guide and also bartender. Here, he prepares an authentic Cuban mojito.
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Black Fly-31
Joan Wulff enjoys a pre-dinner mojito.
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Black Fly-32
Flip Pallot holds court and shares one of his countless fish tales.
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Black Fly-33
Chico Fernandez and Joan Wulff at the Black Fly Lodge main bar.
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Legendary tarpon fisherman, Stu Apte.
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Black Fly Lodge shot from the sea wall of Schooner Bay.
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Black Fly-37
Legends of fly-fishing sign Black Fly Lodge manager Clint Kemps inside hatch.

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