Leland's keith Westra
I’ve fished ever since I can remember. A guy from my dorm at Humboldt State University first introduced me to fly fishing. 
Let me put it this way; instead of attending our Freshman Orientation, we fished several small creeks around the Upper Trinity! The first little 8-inch rainbow on a dry fly was the beginning of my downfall. My first steelhead was caught on the Mad River estuary. I was fishing for half-pounders with my new five weight rod, when I hooked and landed a beautiful 8 pound buck on a size 12 Brown Hackle Peacock. I then became engrossed with steelhead, and when they were in, we skipped out of our General Ed courses. My addiction grew. I ended up assisting Bob Kelly in the Beginning Fly Fishing Course at Humboldt. It was exciting to help others learn the sport and I really think that teaching in those courses led to my career with Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters. When hosting fly fishing trips, or fishing with my buddies, I think I get a bigger kick out of watching their excitement hooking and landing fish then catching fish myself!
I would have to say that fishing a flat for tailing bonefish 
would rate as my favorite water and the bonefish as my favorite fish. I love the heat, and you can’t beat wading in shorts while scanning the water for a glimpse of a tail, or the way that your heart races when a big bone trembles in anticipation of taking your fly! Then, there’s that first blistering run and you see your backing and you just have to laugh that a fish that size could be so strong. Finally, the fish comes to hand, you get bonefish slime all over you, take out the fly and get to see him cruise back out across the flat. And nothing beats a few Victoria Bitters or Belikins after a long day wading the flats. It’s magic! Out of all of the beautiful spots that I’ve fished for bonefish, I’d have to say that Los Roques, Venezuela is my favorite. They have such a variety of magnificent waters to fish including mangroves, beaches, and pancake flats.
I always take a selection of flies for varying conditions, but the one I wouldn’t travel without would be the Bonefish 
Clouser (tan/white, tied with pink thread and gold eyes) in a size 4. This fly has caught bonefish on almost all my trips. I always make sure to pack the materials for this fly, along with a travel vise, just in case. I also wouldn’t part with my Sage 890-4 XI2 and Hatch Monsoon 7 Plus with a SA 8 weight Bonefish Line. For bonefish, permit, or baby tarpon, this combo is killer! The rod is light and powerful; it loads in close for bones, yet has a ton of strength for going the extra distance for cruising Tarpon. A Hatch reel is a thing of beauty and almost maintenance free. I’ve had to set this baby down in some sandy situations and with the sealed drag, nothing gets in.
For pure excitement, I recently fished for Mako Sharks with 
Conway Bowman off of San Diego. Everyone should experience the feeling of awe as a 100 lb. plus Mako circles the boat as you present your foot-long fly! Next, there’s the rush when the Mako eats your fly and doesn’t even realize it’s been hooked until you drive the hook home a couple of times. Then, they kick in the afterburners, making acrobatic leaps, while reaching speeds up to 60 mph. And all you can do is hold on to your 14 weight for dear life! It rocks!
I didn’t think a Sage XP could be beat, but now I must part with my 697-4 XP and replace it with the Z-Axis. It’s so light, with the new G5 technology. This’ll be my new High Stick nymph rod for fishing the Lower Sacramento, and it’ll also work great for surf perch around the Bay, American shad, and bonefish in Christmas Island.
I have a thing for Australia. I’ve never been there, but I can 
play the didgeridoo and I wear my Blundstone boots on almost a daily basis. I’d love to take a few weeks and fish via a Mother Ship out of the Gulf of Carpentaria. There are so many different species to fish for and most all of them will make your reel sing. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll be hosting a trip there soon.
-- Keith
Keith has been with Leland for many years. He is Manager of the Leland San Francisco Retail Store and an innovative, enthusiastic fly tyer and fly tying instructor.