ANGLING ACROSS HEMISPHERES
Expertise on & OFF the Water
We Fly. We Fish.
No Slack Loops offers remote guided angling across hemispheres. Bespoke expeditions to places not taken lightly and never forgotten. Experienced guides and trip hosts who make magic happen.
The hardest part often happens off the water. We manage the distance, the timing, and the details, so everything on the water feels simpler.
SERVICES
No Slack Loops provides knowledgable fly fishing guides and trips hosts — all with the experience to maximize your enjoyment on the freshwater and saltwater fly fishing locations we support.
We partner with exclusive lodges, fly fishing travel specialists, airlines and local indigenous communities to create bespoke, forensically planned angling expeditions to lightly fished secretive locations.
All expedition equipment can be provided, including fly fishing tackle, arrange licenses and permits. We liaise with the appropriate authorities to ensure we comply with all local regulations.
GUIDED EXPEDITIONS
Visit our Expeditions page for more bespoke, professionally guided and hosted adventures into some idyllic places. Join our guided expeditions or we can arrange an exclusive trip for you and your group. We currently operate in New Zealand’s South Island, Mexico, Bolivia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Patagonian Chile and Argentina, and across the South Pacific Ocean.
THREE DAY HELI-FISHING
Dates: November 22-26, 2027
Fare: US$8,000 for two anglers
Three days (plus two travel days) adventures in a remote South Island New Zealand backcountry location, staying in basic, warm lodgings that are only accessible by helicopter or days of walking. Luckily we choose to take a helicopter in and out.
While this trip is entirely weather dependent, we work in three distinct regional wilderness areas, all accessible within a day drive from Christchurch city, to allow us to avoid forecast unfavorable weather conditions if possible.
INCLUSIONS
The listed fare is for two people. We provide everything down to new bedding, waders, boots and freshly brewed coffee. Bring yourself, your best mate and your New Zealand fishing license. We’ve got everything else covered. Excludes international travel and domestic flight transfers to/from either Christchurch or Queenstown.
Price shown is in USD$ and is for the three day expedition (plus two part days of travel inclusive of all accommodation and meals after arrival into either Christchurch or Queenstown). Our fare is fully inclusive of all services we provide. A comprehensive itinerary and inclusions is provided upon enquiry.
BESPOKE TRIP PLANNING
Please call us to discuss variations on this trip structure – such as daily fly-ins and luxury fishing lodge accommodation and meals for the duration of your adventure with us.
Hosted Small Groups (Permit-only entry)
Manuae atoll is not for the faint-hearted. This uninhabited island is genuine No Slack Loops territory. It’s illegal to land here without securing a permit and having a guide. We are working with the landowners representatives on conservation initiatives and to bring a few lucky anglers here within our remit to build sustainable angling eco-tourism in the Cook Islands.
THE ATOLL
Steeped in history, this duo of remote islands in the Cook Islands group has seen off longterm habitation – even an ill-fated attempt to build a casino here – and is now being preserved as a conservation estate. Onsite security protects the atoll from poachers seeking to pillage its rare giant clams or to plunder the local fishery.
The facilities are primitive — a simple well of cool water, a clearing with an old hut, a tennis court surface, and a long-abandoned airstrip constructed back in 1981 – decaying remnants of prior occupation.
Entry from the vast blue water that brings us to Manuae is via a difficult tidal channel that once claimed the grader used to build the runway. We utilize a second smaller boat for access to shore and to cross the channel between the two motus. Only once we have safely transferred our fishing gear and essential camping and food supplies, can we can relax and take a closer look at the fishery.
EXCEPTIONAL FISHING
You might see the world’s largest gathering of giant trevally here. They school up in their hundreds outside the reef and enter the main channel by the dozen. This is why we are here. You’ll fish for bonefish from a modest 4-5lb up to well over 10lb. Perhaps fewer than on neighboring Aitutaki, but definitely bigger. The fishing is what you would expect at an atoll that is very, very difficult to access. Which is why No Slack Loops is here.
MANUAE ISLAND LOGISTICS
Talk to us about travel options to Rarotonga and onto Manuae Island. Hawaiian Airlines runs a commercial route from Honolulu to Rarotonga and we typically meet you at Rarotonga and accompany you to the atoll.
Trips are for up to a week, but it’s best to mix up the intensity of primal Manuae with a few relaxed guided days on air-conditioned Aitutaki over your six day fishing week.Aitutaki sports some excellent restaurants and high quality accommodation options whereas on Manuae, we erect large tents complete with stretchers, carry on all our basic provisions and catered meals, along with rechargeable portable fans to keep cool. We manage basic cooking centered on local seafood. We have a very good caterer on Aitutaki and we bring plenty of water and other beverages to avoid dehydration.
Exploring Manuae is a pioneering fly fishing expedition. If you are not fully fit and healthy, we recommend a day or overnight trip only, and to focus on the excellent Aitutaki fishery. But if you’re keen and eager, Manuae will deliver a highly memorable fishing experience over 4-5 days. Please talk to us about options, dates and availability.
Kanton Island, also called Abariringa, is part of the Phoenix Islands within the self-governing Republic of Kiribati. This stunning atoll is the only permanently inhabited island in the Phoenix group today, currently with 28 residents (as at July 2026), according to our local manager on the island.
LOCATION
Located south-west of Christmas Island by approximately 1900km (1200 miles), access onto Kanton is by charter flight and the logistics of this alone are what help preserve this spectacular fishery to this day. You may already be familiar with Kiritimati (Christmas Island/CXI) which sits within the Line Islands group near the equator, along with Fanning Island that we also arrange trips to.
Kanton is the largest and northeast island of the Phoenix group and has previously been referred to as Canton Island, Mary Island, Mary Balcout's Island, or Swallow Island.
Importantly, Kanton lies inside the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA). The PIPA covers over 400,000 km² of ocean and islands, and Kanton is one of the core islands within the reserve. In fact, Kanton Atoll is the only inhabited atoll inside the protected area.
The protected area includes islands such as: Kanton, Nikumaroro, Rawaki, McKean, Oron and Enderbury Island (now Manra). It was established by Kiribati in 2008 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. The region is famous for near-pristine coral reefs, deep-sea ecosystems, tuna migration routes, and immense pelagic biodiversity.
GETTING THERE
The atoll has a long aviation history from the flying boat and trans-Pacific refueling era. It has a modern airstrip but is without regular flights. We have been working very closely with Kiribati residents and liaising directly with our resident team on Kanton to coordinate all planning, build accommodation (raised thatched huts) and for on-site support (fuel, runway observation and maintenance, meals, water, hygiene and storing our on-island supplies).
Flight routes are not from Tarawa as might be expected and this presents the first major obstacle for any enquiring angler. Some previous visitations were by boat with these illegal missions falling foul of the permit-only requirement for shore access. We arrange your access, license, and on-site customs entry.
Similar to better-known Fanning Island, the airport is situated in the north-west point of the atoll and Kanton’s major channel flows through west side low lying lands. Aside from this channel, there’s only one other small rupture to the north — a tidal channel opening onto spectacular white sand bonefish flats. Otherwise, the island’s land mass above the high tide mark entirely encircles the lagoon.
KANTON’S FISHERY
In short, the fishery is magical with superb giant trevally fly fishing to rival that of any other remote Kiribati atoll destination. This may not always be the case and increased protections and surveillance are being put in place including policing by the newly established Line & Phoenix Islands Guides Association who are working closely with the local Ministry of Fisheries. We are working closely with these groups to ensure the atoll remains policed and protected. We have a security official situated on Kanton Island to assist with this protection.
DATES
We are currently organizing week-long expeditions for July and September 2027. We welcome contact from anglers wishing to join these sanctioned exploratory missions. We have a singular rod (space) remaining on our first 2027 trip (five anglers are booked already), so we’ve opened up the second (September) date for interested anglers.
DETAILS
We fly into Kanton Island on a charter flight landing Saturday and departing the following Saturday. That typically gets you back home by Sunday night.
Flights to the island as well as any international or national connections are excluded from our advertised trip fare.
The trip fare includes fishing license, accommodation the night before your charter flight if required, all accommodation, all meals (mostly seafood), beverages, local guides and boats for the week. We include a cooler of drinks and other supplies that we ship onto the island to accompany you each day.
The accommodation consists of a single thatched hut for each angler with rechargeable cooling fan, mattress and full mosquito netting. The setup is primitive but we make no apologies for the lodgings, given the remoteness of the destination!
We have arranged Customs inspection on arrival onto Kanton Island, as well as aviation fuel on the island, local runway inspection, as well as the other complex logistics required to make each trip to Kanton Island a success.
If you want to explore Kanton Island, give us a call, or drop us at email.
Note: Catch-and-release fly fishing is permitted on Kanton only through an authorized expedition and subject to the required Kiribati Government, PIPA and Fisheries approvals. Kanton is a restricted sustainable-use area within PIPA; it is not an unrestricted public fishery.
We are Pacific Island specialists and arrange expeditions to Kiribati, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. We are currently planning and running expeditions on Kanton (Canton), Nonouti, Washington and Fanning Islands in the Republic of Kiribati, Manuae and Penrhyn Islands in the Cook Islands group, as well as non-lodge-centric fly fishing adventures in Kiritimati (CXI) and Aitutaki near Rarotonga.
BESPOKE EXPEDITIONS
We meet at Cassidy International Airport (CXI) on a Wednesday where we spend one night.
On Thursday, we’re flown in a Twin Otter (17 seater) to a remote pacific atoll for (typically) 5-6 days of pioneering saltwater flats angling. Flights to/from this atoll are Thursday and Tuesday, so you are welcome to stay longer.
Although we are based at Fanning Island Lodge, there are options to spend a night camping onsite at a reef/channel edge to fish the change of light. We’ll work with you to plan your dates to coordinate with the best tides, moon phase and trip duration.
LOGISTICS
We arrange return commercial flights (included in our fare) from CXI to Fanning Island and liaise closely with the airline to ensure scheduled maintenance/training/engineering doesn’t disrupt our travel plans. That said, the island is remote and only serviced by one plane, so make sure to hold comprehensive travel insurance.
We work alongside the indigenous community who provide us with local guides, boats, accommodation, meals including fresh seafood, and even some non-angling cultural experiences to spice up your trip. Aside from Starlink, shower and flush toilets, this atoll is as isolated as you can be on Planet Earth and still be smiling.
As part of our trips onto Fanning (and all our Pacific destinations) we pack gifts for the local people to help make their daily life easier. We encourage you to do the same.
Whilst there are some basic provision available to purchase on the island, it’s best to arrive with everything you need to get through your week in style. We will share a comprehensive packing list with all our confirmed guests.
INCLUSIONS
Minimum of two anglers per week, maximum of six. All food, provisions, gear and fishing license are provided. All prices are in USD$. The price is indicative only and a full itinerary will be developed in conjunction with you.
Expect coconuts, papaya, local mantis shrimp and lobster, sustainably-caught bluewater fish such as yellowfin tuna, rainbow runner or wahoo.
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
We have exclusive access onto the upper Rio Grande and its tributaries above the Chile border. We can float fish the entire Rio Blanco from Lago Blanco to its confluence with the Rio Grande — the most storied sea-run brown trout fishery on earth — that runs down to the Argentina coast, passing through many fly fishing lodges during its winding journey.
Staying at newly built private cabins within the Las Segadas Lodge allows us access to spring creeks teeming with resident fish (expect to catch up to 30 per day if you choose) and a myriad of private waterways within this estancia.
We have partnered with Isolation Outfitters to run bespoke adventures on 200,000 hectares. Expect to see guanaco, grey foxes, spectacular soaring birds and fishing that’s up with the best the New Zealand offers.
THE FISHERY
From late February to mid-April, fish for large sea-run brown trout returning up the Rio Grande. From November to December, fish the Rio Chico, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Rio Catalina, and a myriad of spring creeks and unnamed virgin water on this estancia.
Las Segadas Lodge opened in February 2026 and previously this huge Tierra del Fuego farming station — including all waters not publicly accessible — were only infrequently fished by friends of the estancia’s owner. It’s is truly virgin territory in the heart of Chile’s Rio Grande.
INCLUSIONS
All prices are in USD$ and exclude international travel to Santiago de Chile and accommodation and flight transfer to Punta Arenas. From there, we manage your charter or commercial flight to Tierra del Fuego, your short (25min) road transfers to the lodge and everything right up to your arrival back into Punta Arenas.
Aitutaki is the perfect Pacific destination to bring non-fishing partners and to create bespoke small group expeditions. The atoll offers diving, lagoon cruises with snorkeling, moped, kayak and bike hire, blue-water trips, guided walks and a stunning beachfront and resort-side pools for those seeking some relaxed time in the sun.
ARRIVING
Take the Alaska Airlines weekly route to Rarotonga landing Friday night and we’ll be there to meet you. We stay at one of the beachfront hotels before transferring up to Aitutaki after breakfast and coffee on Saturday morning.
Depending on your preference for accommodation, we’ll arrive on a stunning island resort, or unpack our bags at a holiday villa, then head down to the beach for a half day on the water to get warmed up for the week ahead.
Sunday is a spiritual and family-centric day for the Aitutaki community and we respect that by spending the day exploring, perhaps taking a tourist trip around the atoll or out into the blue water to watch whales (seasonal), and enjoy a big dinner out on the town.
FISHING
Monday through Friday is about catching giant trevally, bonefish, triggerfish and other local species. We enjoy a quick cooked breakfast before meeting our guides and boats at the water’s edge. We take packed lunches and cool beverages each day.
Expect to fish for bonefish up to 10lbs and GT’s up to and over 60lbs. This is a healthy and remote fishery.
DEPARTURE
We relocate back to Rarotonga on Saturday morning or Friday evening to ensure you make the return flight to Honolulu. For those carrying on to New Zealand or Australia, you have much more flexibility in flight days and times.
EVERY FISH IS EARNED
GET THE BALL ROLLING
Submit this form to kick off planning for your remote angling expedition, or to book our fly fishing guides and hosts for your upcoming trip.