Dream Fishing Trip, where to?

[fightingquaker13]

The quaker is feeling guilty. My dad traditionally (and has since I was small) taken big summer trips. He plans and researches them all year. Some mundane, some pushing the borders of sanity. However, the last three years or so I have declined do to go, just not feeling social enough to deal with a cruise ship in Alaska or a rafting group in Argentina. This last year though, the old man is starting to look, well, old. I don't need to explain to any guy on this board what a kick in the balls it is to see your dad that way or how many woulda, coulda, shouldas it brings up. So, while he's healthy enough and relatively flush (though not rich, lets figure $3k max for a week, which is better than his under employed son can bring to the table, my role is to be the man Frriday. ) where do we go? The objective for him is cool scenery, low hassel, friendly people and fish. Me, I would prefer not to test my claustrophobia against an airplane longer than necessary, but for this trip I'll make an exception. Neither of us are wimps. Where do we go? And I do mean anywhere. Peacock bass in Brazil, sail fish in Panama, tiger fish in Kenya? This has the feeling of being a Bucket Club sort of trip. I want to do it right. The Old man has made me the travel agent. Help me out. Where do I take a healthy 72 year old that has seen all 49 continental states, catch him some fish, give him an adventure, and not kill him off?
FQ13

[Bic]

Absolutely no question for me: the Southern coast of Ireland, offshore.  Partly due to wonderful memories of the place and partly due to the warmth of the locals (and their great little pubs!). It's been 35 years since I last fished in Ireland but I still have those memories and miss it almost every day......hmmmm.........maybe I'll meet you there?

[philw]

wow  where to start  I have a bit of a list on what I still need to do.

Marlin fishing in Cairns   QLD   

Bluefin Tuna Fishing    @ PT Lincoln

Barra up in the NT

Trout Fishing  in Tasmania 

try out this Lake fishing I here about wall eye

need to also try Ice Fishing   in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

[crusader rabbit]

Relatively close to home (short air trip), very friendly locals (Spanish speaking, but a lot of 'em speak English, too), tremendous fishing for marlin and sails, relatively low cost for charter trips (where English is universally spoken), exceptional accommodations (condo, hotel, cabin on the beach, tent, whatever), really good food, and day trips to a rain forest when you want a break from catching all those fish... 
The answer: Golfito, Costa Rica

Been there.  Done that.  Would do again in a heartbeat.

Crusader

[tombogan03884]

New Zealand and Scotland are both renowned for their fishing, I'm not a fisherman so I can't really give advice.
Good luck, you are doing a good thing for you BOTH.

[Sponsor]

[2HOW]

bone fishing with a fly rod down on the flats in FLA

[shooter32]

I'd have to go with Alaska...

http://www.alaska-fly-fishing.net/

[Timothy]

FQ....

You live in Florida with world class fishing right outside your back door.  I'm sure it would mean more to your Dad to have you with him then what amount of travel and money you spend on your trip.

3K doesn't get you out of the country let alone afford a guide, boat, tackle, etc.....

If my Dad were still alive, I'd love to have a 6 weight fly rod with 1/2 lb 'gills or crappie to fill the boat with and then argue about who was gonna clean 'em....

It's been thirty years since I fished with my Dad.....but I can still smell the panfish fryin'...

[Walkeraviator]

Every March my Father and I take a week long trip to Blood River on KY lake.  The fishing is unbelievable, the people are friendly, but the beauty of the area is lost for sure during the cold months.  Also would recommend southeast TN.  Killer deep water resovoirs make for killer Smallies. 

If I had to leave the US i would go peacock bass fishin in Brazil like you mentioned. 

There are killer Pike lakes and scenery in Canada.

[Solus]

Ok...another local to think aobut.

In the 70s, I used to guide canoe trips down the Spanish river in Ontario.

I always had a couple day layover scheduled at Pogamasing Lake.  It was beautiful country and reportedly great fishing.  There were two rustic lodges there which had some cabins..very basic.  No electricity, no showers in the cabins, but a shower was available at the lodge.

Have no idea if either place is still in business or what the cost is.  Folks would fly in and land on the lake.  Sudbury was the closest major city and it was 60 miles away.  At that time there was no road access, but a railway did make stops across the river to drop supplies.  Not sure about passengers.

I did google the lake and found several entries.  Some pics from 2007 showing the 'Duck' that they had way back in the 70s still being used.

Maybe not what you and your Dad would enjoy, but another option.