March Merkin Permit Tournament: Kilpatrick, Ain win again.

Posted under fly fishing news by Will Benson

Jon Ain and Guide Doug Kilpatrick came from behind to win the 3rd annual March Merkin Permit Tourney.  With only one permit on the board from day 2 Ain was in the running with others that had scored fish. The leader board was very close as most fish were small. Teams Gable/Dawes, Thompson/Moos, the omnipresent Hinrichs/ Suplee (with 2 fish and the lead), and World Angling’s own Mark Phillips and Mike O’brien.  All the teams knew that one big fish could win the event. The conditions on day 1 and 2 were tough.  Bad visibility, calm winds and lethargic tides left most teams fishless.   Some boats saw plenty of fish and couldn’t get close while others said the flats were devoid of fish.  The big fish were offshore spawning and not on the flats as they usually are in March.  After a slow day 3 and with only 20 minutes left in the tourney Mark had all but given up hope trying to find fish.  Exhausted and mentally drained Mark was about to throw in the towel when O’brien spotted a school of fish mudding and tailing at 10 o’clock.  O’brien took the shot and dropped the fly right in the school.  One strip and the flyline came tight.  “An act of God”  is how Mark described the event.  With only 3 other fish caught on the last day O’brien’s fish was good for a 3rd place finish.  Kris Suplee and Warren Henrichs took 2nd with their 3 fish caught on days 1 and 2 while Doug Kilpatrick proved his talents as one of the best keys guides by producing 2 large Permit for his angler on a very difficult day.  Congrats to Doug and all the others who caught fish despite the less than stellar conditions.