How to Prepare the Ultimate Fly Fishing Couples Retreat.

Want to Connect with More Than a Fish?

Planning the perfect fly fishing retreat for couples can seem daunting,

but it doesn’t have to be! In this blog post, we will provide you with all the information you need to plan a successful trip. Whether you are looking to fish for roosterfish on the fly or just relax at a cozy fly fishing lodge, we have you covered. So read on and get started planning your dream fly fishing retreat today! When it comes to fly fishing, there is no better place to do it than in Baja California. The country is home to some of the best roosterfish on the planet, and couples can have a blast trying to catch them. If you are planning a trip specifically to fish for roosterfish, we recommend staying at our lodge. We have private, exclusive facilities that have a maximum occupancy of 8 people, so you will never feel overcrowded. We have our own pools with infinity edges that overlook the Sea of Cortez, and Bahía de los Sueños, also known as Bahía de los Muertos. On a designated couples retreat, you will never have to listen to another family at the large hotel playing “Marco Polo ” in the pool where you wish to have some quiet time with the one you love.

We are located on a mountain top with a spectacular view of the water and have everything you need to make your trip successful. However, if you are just looking for a relaxing fly fishing vacation, there are plenty of other lodges in Baja that will suit your needs.

Here at El Gallo Fly Fishing Lodge, we aim to make all of our guests feel at home. Part of that is creating opportunities for you to enjoy the lodge with everyone that is important to you in your life, and that includes your partner. That’s why we’re blocking out some special times in our calendar for couple’s retreats.

More than just a fishing excursion for you and your special someone, the El Gallo lodge is set up to provide a platform to explore the surrounding region, and if you’ve looked at our website, you know we’ve got a lot to offer. Here are a few things that will be unique to our couple’s retreats.

Planning for your retreat

As you start to think about what you’ll need to pack and arrange for your flights, you might want to take a few moments with your partner and discuss what this retreat will be about for you. While we’re here to facilitate an amazing fly fishing experience, we’re also family oriented and we know that it can be tough to get time away from busy lives to really deepen the emotional connection between a couple. So, whether you’d like to schedule some time to plan for your future, read a good book together, or just spend time in nature with the one you love, we suggest taking a bit of time to decide what you’d like to take away from your time at El Gallo. It has been our experience that the surrounding area has a peaceful, emotionally healing effect on guests, and that serenity might provide just the backdrop you need to reconnect. There’s certainly no lack of romantic settings and sights and we hope our lodge will inspire you to take back something more than the best sport fishing trophy photos you’ve ever taken.

Sharpening your skills

While most of our visitors have spent quite a bit of time mastering the art of fly fishing, going after big, fast, open-water game fish, like the Rooster, is a different game altogether. That’s why we sell practice rods that guests can use between trips, or even after a day’s fishing, to sharpen their game and be better prepared to make the catch of a lifetime. We’re working on a series of instructional videos, featuring our founder, Donnie Price, but until that’s ready, here’s a great video about double hauling from the guys at Echo Fly Fishing to help you get started.

Couples only

During any of our couple’s retreats we will limit both lodges to double occupancy. So, a couple will be constituted by two guests who share one of our king bed rooms with a private bath, we do want to be sure that guests who arrive expecting a couple’s environment are not disappointed.

Couples are always welcome on regular excursions here at El Gallo, with the understanding that they will either be booked as double occupancy, or pay full price for two king suites. Singles are encouraged to take advantage of the rest of our calendar.

Your accommodations

El Gallo operates two-four bed haciendas overlooking Los Muertos bay, and the Sea of Cortez from a mountaintop, just a few minutes drive from the boat ramp and beach access for fishing. Each house is equipped with four king bed suites with private baths, a large common area, a full kitchen, with staff, a dining area, private infinity edge pools overlooking the Sea of Cortez and more

The surrounding desert is beautiful and tranquil any time of year, and hiking is encouraged. We also maintain several rides along ATVs for a little more adventurous way of seeing the surrounding desert. One of our trained staff will operate the vehicle at all times to ensure safety.

Security:

This is something that we obsess about. Our facilities are behind 24-7 guarded gates with professional security. Anyone that enters, or exits our spectacular part of the World is known, or does not pass. Our lodge is at the top of a mountain, we do not have beachcombers walking in front of our lodge at all times of day and night, (Creepy)!

Pick a unique place.

One would be hard-pressed to think of a place more unique than Baja. It is a true dichotomy that one of the harshest, arid environments meets one of the most prolific aquatic habitats in the World. You have the opportunity to walk this line like a tight-rope. What a spectacular treat it is to share this experience with the one that you share your life with.

Once you have decided on a location, it is time to start planning the details of your trip. When it comes to fly fishing, the most important thing is to make sure you have the right gear. If you are renting gear, be sure to do so in advance so that you can be sure to get everything you need. It is also a good idea to brush up on your fly fishing skills before heading out on your trip. You can do this by taking a fly fishing class or reading one of the many great fly fishing books that are available.

Know your Quarry.

Now that you have all the logistics planned, it is time to start thinking about what kind of roosterfishing you want to do. There are different techniques of fly fishing for roosterfish, and each one has its own set of challenges. At El Gallo Fly Fishing Lodge, we offer fishing from a boat, with live chum, (the most opportunities for catching roosterfish), and Beach fly fishing without bait teasers, (this is graduate school for fly fishing). Do some research and decide which type of experience you want to target. Once you have a goal in mind, start to prepare. This may include tying your own flies or practicing your casting in the yard. Our lodge offers coaching on how to prepare for your perfect getaway. Everything from working out, to honing the craft of excellent fly casting.

Another important aspect of planning your trip is to make sure you have a good understanding of the roosterfish you are hoping to catch. Roosterfish are notoriously difficult to catch, so it is important to do your homework before heading out. Be sure to read up on the best techniques for roosterfish fly fishing and talk to a local guide about where the fish are biting. With a little bit of preparation, you will be well on your way to having a successful trip.

Daily activities

Something else to think about is the extracurricular activities offered at the establishment that you stay at. Is only fly fishing for roosterfish that you wish to do, or is there something else? At our lodge, we offer sailing, horseback riding, ATV trips through the desert, and along the beautiful Mexican Peninsula of Baja California Sur. We also have snorkeling, beachcombing miles of private beaches.

Morning

For guests staying in our east facing lodge, the sunrise is beyond anything you’ve likely experienced. Our mountain top view out over the crystal clear water produces a colorful light show like no other. Find yourself a comfortable seat and sit back for an experience that we think is the best way to start a day here.

While you’re free to sit out, or arrange for your own excursions, we do offer a lot of activity as part of your retreat package. Every morning, at the El Gallo lodge, our staff will prepare a fresh breakfast served with your group in our private dining rooms with amazing mountain top views. For those who are early risers, a dip in the saltwater pool is nice any time of day, and early morning is a great time to experience a walk in nature.

After breakfast, all those who will be boat fishing that day(which is typically all of our guests) will be taken to the dock in a private van driven by our staff, where you’ll be met by an El Gallo captain. We hire and maintain our entire fleet of vessels and their captains to ensure the best fly fishing experience you can find in the region. We also maintain a dedicated tender boat to make bait deliveries and provide support as needed.

Midday

FIshing typically lasts from mid morning to about noon, meaning you’ll get three to four hours of fishing action each day. This may not seem like a lot, but you’ll find it can be pretty tiring wrestling game fish on the fly. On deck, you’ll be served a fresh lunch of sandwiches and other fresh local fare, along with cold beverages on the return trip.

After your arrival at the dock, the van will bring you back to the lodge, where the rest of the day is yours to enjoy. You will find that by midday at most times of year, the desert has heated up enough to encourage a nice leisurely afternoon in the air conditioning, in the pool, or in a nice shady spot. The locals typically take advantage of this for a literal siesta, and many local shops and eateries will close for a couple of hours every day.

Evening

As evening approaches, sunsets at El Gallo west are something of an event. The light over the water, and glowing against the desert landscape is something many of our guests take time out to enjoy. The local nightlife is somewhat lacking. There is one hotel with a bar in La Paz, but an hour’s drive away, shopping and more nightlife can be had. You’ll need to arrange this with the staff beforehand, but transport is included in your resort package.

Most guests prefer to enjoy the patios here at the lodge, or soak in the pool or hot tub with drinks from our fully stocked bar. If you’re like us, you’ll probably want to head to bed early, as morning comes quickly, and getting plenty of rest is the best preparation you can do for the best fishing experience.

Additional Amenities

Consider what is included with your trip. Our experience includes everything except for extracurriculars, abundance, or specialty alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. Other lodges will uncharge for all drinks, (by the drink), riders to and from the airport, food, and even the $50 daily bait fee. Don’t get bit by the up-sale shark!

The staff at El Gallo will do everything in their power to make your stay a comfortable and memorable one. We do ask that you let us know in advance of any special dietary needs, or requests you might have, and take the time to inform us of your preferred itinerary, so we can meet as many expectations as possible. Of course, we may not be able to accommodate everyone at all times, so, we encourage you to adopt a relaxed and flexible mental attitude about your stay here. We promise you won’t be disappointed at what we have to offer,and if you’re willing to compromise on things like schedule and timing, we’ll do our best to fulfill your ideals.

Included “extras”

As always, for any guest who either doesn’t have appropriate fly fishing equipment, or just chooses not to transport their gear, we have you covered. If you’re an experienced saltwater angler, please let us know your preferences and we’ll do our best to set up a rig that will meet your demands. For those who are beginners, or have less experience with saltwater or boat fly fishing, our guides will be happy to offer assistance in what you need and what will suit you best.

Beyond fishing, as mentioned, we do have:

ATVs for guided rides through the desert,
private beaches for fishing, swimming, or lounging
Snorkeling gear
Beautiful secluded hiking trails
And did we mention, each house has an amazing saltwater infinity edge pool, with what we think is one of the best views on the planet?

Sailing excursions

El Gallo has also established a partnership with a sister company that offers sailing excursions to the nearby Espiritu Santo Island World Heritage Sight. Their vessel can accommodate up to six couples, and takes you on a captained sail to the island, with views of dolphins and other marine life.

Once there, you can relax and enjoy the view from the boat, or engage in snorkeling, kayaking or hiking on the island’s gorgeous walking trails. There is an additional cost to charter the boat, so please let us know if this is something you are interested in to get pricing.

The Best Times to Come

As shared previously, El Gallo has set some specific calendar dates aside as couples only retreats. If you’d like to come at another time when our calendar is available, you can also gather your couple friends and schedule your own retreat. In order to do so, you’ll need either four couples to reserve one lodge, or eight to reserve both.

For couples who are not both seasoned anglers, used to the high energy sporting mentality often present when serious fly fishers visit, consider a visit during the off season. You can do this with a group, as suggested, or by booking a double occupancy during any of our open dates. This is a great way to experience what we have to offer at a bit of a slower pace. The fishing is also a bit less aggressive during the off months, as large Rooster fish are not in season. Other species will be more prevalent, and while they offer a great fly fishing experience, they can often be more appropriate for those not looking to push the limits of what they’re capable of, or just learn the ropes on a slightly less high energy excursion.

Bring everything that you will need. We have some things at the lodge that many people forget to bring, but you are at the mercy of the Masses if you do this. Things to think about are sunscreens, sun clothing, (think light-weight, light-colored clothing), flip-flops, chapstick, etc. We have a full blog over these items, check out:

The last step in planning your perfect fly fishing retreat is to simply relax and enjoy yourself! This is a vacation after all, so be sure to take some time to explore the area, try the local cuisine, and just soak up the incredible views. Baja California is the perfect place for a perfect couples retreat.

The El Gallo Fly Fishing Lodge staff is eagerly awaiting your visit

So there you have it, everything you need to know to plan the perfect fly fishing retreat for couples. Baja California has something for everyone, so start planning your trip today! To get more information on the trips that we offer, please click the button below, and fill out our information form, we will be happy to give you a shout, and help with anything.

Whether you choose one of our dedicated couple’s retreat time slots, book as a couple during our regular season opening, or gather your own group and choose an available time to “build your own” couple’s retreat, we’ll be here with the same great service we hope you’ll come to know and love. For us, it’s a pleasure to do the job we love, and sharing it with our guests is just the icing on the cake.