Casting Bonds - David and Ryan Leiffer

Ryan Leiffer is one lucky son and David Leiffer is a heck of a dad. On their father-son trip to Anglers Inn El Salto they made new memories. Not only was the quality of their time together priceless but the quality of their fish was consistently HUGE! 

They’ve been fishing together since just after Ryan was born. This celebratory graduation trip might not have brought these ultra-close men closer together but this is one trip that neither one will never forget. 

HPFC: What inspired you to plan a fishing trip to Anglers Inn together? 

The Leiffers: Ryan and I have fished together since before he could walk -- from riding on my back in a baby carrier wading in creeks to smallmouth trips in Canada to High School Bass Fishing Tournaments, we’ve done it all. Ryan had to choose between Canada smallmouth, Amazon peacock bass, or El Salto Largemouth. He chose well! 

HPFC: Who proposed the idea of a fishing trip – father or son? 

The Leiffers: I (dad) proposed an idea that I knew Ryan would love.  

HPFC: How old are each of you and how long have you been fishing together? 

The Leiffers: I am 46 and Ryan just turned 18. We have been fishing together for 17 years and 9 months (mom said he had to be 3 months old before he could use a baitcaster).  

HPFC: How did you decide to go to Anglers Inn for your fishing trip? 

The Leiffers: We knew El Salto was THE top trophy bass lake in the world. An internet search and connection to Hanna made the choice of Anglers Inn easy.  

HPFC: What preparations did you make before heading out for the trip? 

The Leiffers: We read all of the information that Half Past First Cast published on the web. We ordered the lures that were recommended and renewed our passports. We packed light on clothing and heavy on fishing gear! 

HPFC: Did you have any specific goals or expectations for the fishing trip? 

The Leiffers: Catching a 5 pound bass in Arkansas is a lofty goal. Ryan has done this and wanted to catch a double-digit bass -- a fish of a lifetime. We knew it was a possibility but certainly not guaranteed on Lake El Salto. I also wanted to enjoy quality time with my son, spending time together doing something we both enjoy and watching him excel at something he’s gotten better at than me.  

HPFC: Did you learn anything more on this trip about each other or about fishing techniques? 

The Leiffers: I learned that Ryan can actually be an adventurous eater! I also got to witness his sense of humor as he tugged our guide’s line when he wasn’t looking.

I learned that a crankbait doesn’t necessarily need to tick the bottom to get bit, how to fish a baitcaster with one hand, how to get gnats out of your eyes, and I learned that if you listen, you can actually HEAR the bite on a rattling lure before you feel it!

We’ve had a debate for years about lures that get abused and worn out -- do they still work? I can confirm that bass will hit a scratched up and paint-missing crankbait with one eye, no eyes, extra eyes, and completely covered in stick-on eyes. Bottom line… just throw it, they will bite it!

This wasn’t new, but I was reminded daily of how much I love my son and how much I’ll miss him in a few months when he heads off to college. 

HPFC: Can you share any interesting or memorable moments from your time on the trip?  

The Leiffers: One of our favorite fishing sessions happened when we started catching fish on literally every cast on rattling lipless crankbaits. Boats from another lodge saw what we were doing and made their way over to try and get in on the action. Cast after cast, no bites for them. Our guide knew the only angle that these fish wanted the bait to come from and kept us lined up as the wind changed. At one point, we all three cast and reeled in four solid bass on one cast (two on one lure!) while the other boats watched. At first I thought our guide was angry that these other boats had come so close, but eventually I realized he was secretly enjoying this. 

HPFC: How did the father-son dynamic influence your fishing experience? 

The Leiffers: Ryan is a better fisherman than me. He got to prove this over and over. He caught bigger fish. One afternoon we were seeing who could get to 100 fish first. He won that as well. There were also tough periods where I got to see his mettle and watch him tough it out. Thankfully, Ryan is a respectful and polite young man. Proud dad moments throughout the week! 

HPFC: Were there any challenges you faced during the trip, and how did you overcome them? 

The Leiffers: Nope! We are so used to challenges that if there were any we didn’t even notice them. Ryan has a younger brother with severe special needs. He’s non-verbal and is not mobile, but he has a smile and laugh that will make anyone forget their perceived challenges. The only challenge we faced was the pain of wishing he could be with us. An early morning topwater bite with pictures sent back home to mom helped overcome this.  

HPFC: Did the fishing trip strengthen your bond as father and son? 

The Leiffers: Our father-son bond was remarkably strong to begin with but watching Ryan excel in his element was an absolute joy.  

HPFC: Did you catch any remarkable fish or have an exciting encounters with wildlife? 

The Leiffers: Ryan ended up catching a 10.1-lb largemouth, the biggest of our trip, and I think the overall biggest of the week. He caught it on topwater early in the morning. I’ve ordered a replica mount that will hopefully be ready for him to take to college to hang in his dorm room.

Here’s a quick summary of our biggest catches:

• 7.1 David - Rico Popper

• 8.1 Ryan - Texas Rig

• 8.1 David - Trace Glidebait

• 8.1 David - Rico Popper

• 8.4 David - Chatterbait

• 8.8 Ryan - Glidebait

• 9.7 Ryan – Crankbait

• 10.1 Ryan - Bullet Popper

HPFC: Were there any funny or lighthearted moments that occurred during your trip? 

The Leiffers: My son and I are both rather tall and I actually hit my head pretty hard on a doorframe the first day. We are also rather picky eaters: no onions, no tomatoes, no mayonnaise. Plain and dry, please. The amazing staff found this funny. No onions or tomatoes -- you know you’re in Mexico, right?? But they were also very accommodating and made every meal absolutely perfect and delicious! Due to my elementary Spanish and astute awareness of my surroundings, I discovered that I had been given a nickname by the staff: Chiquilín! This translates roughly to “big immature kid.” Don’t worry, toss the tomatoes and onions out, extra cheese please, Chiquilín will be back! 

HPFC: What did you enjoy most about the fishing trip? It doesn’t have to be about the fishing. 

The Leiffers: What an awesome time we had at Anglers Inn El Salto! From the airport pickup to the drop-off, every single thing was perfect! The facility, the staff, the fishing…everything was phenomenal, but the real highlight was our guide for the week, Juan.  

Juan was hilarious and fun all while putting us on the fish. He’s an excellent teacher and he didn’t just teach us about fishing. We learned the history of the area and the lake. He answered our questions about the area’s agriculture and ranching. Juan taught us about the numerous bird species and joined us trying to call to them. We also got to witness a full-speed falcon attack (adios, duck!). 

I’m sure it isn’t easy for a guide to do, but “Juancho” was able to strike the perfect balance between being assertive (vamonos - next spot! Don’t cast there!) and being accommodating (Sure, you can throw the flutter spoon.) 

A true fisherman, he was shaking along with Ryan after reeling in a 10-pounder! In addition to all of that, he’s a top-notch photographer. The fishing was awesome but Juan was awesomer!  

HPFC: What advice would you give to other fathers and sons who are considering a fishing trip to Anglers Inn? 

The Leiffers: Read all the content and recommendations provided on Half Past First Cast. Listen to your guide and be willing to try new things. If you’re over 6’7”, duck when you enter a doorway!