I got an email from Andrew at Deneki today.  His outfit owns and operates Andros South and it turns out one of his guides, Norman, has encountered a tragedy. Norman’s young daughter Nala died last week in an accident on South Andros. I’m pretty sure I talked to Norman about Nala when I fished with him during FIBFest last year.

Norman is a really nice and quiet guy. He comes across as professional, honest and knowledgeable in his guiding and I got the sense from him that he was a pretty solid all around guy.

Norman tagging a bonefish for BTT

Norman could use some help right now to cover the costs for the funeral.  If you’d like to help out, you can contribute to this fund, set up by Deneki. You won’t get a tax deduction, but it is still worth doing.

Sending good thoughts to Norman. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.

Deneki has a habit of pounding out really exceptional bonefishing content.  2011 was no exception.

Here is a list of their top bonefishing posts from 2011.

This was the year that I got to go to Andros South.  It is a very special place.  The Slack Tide Bar, the food, the guides the WATER.  Exceptional.

Great Place.

Another photo and story from Louis Cahill.

I fished with Norman at FIBFest, earlier this year.  I was a bit intimidated by him before getting on the boat.  I had heard he was tough.

He wasn’t. Really, he was solid.

Here’s a picture that photog extraordinaire Louis Cahill took.  Go to his blog to read the details.

Some love for a place he’s taken a few pictures of… Louis Cahill talks The Slack Tide Bar. Check it out.

I was only there a week, but it feels very much like a part of my soul.

Deneki put up some pictures and I love every single one.

I’m just going to pretend I’m here…

I already know who I’m going to vote for, and odds are good if you don’t know, you at least know which party.  We could have the whole thing wrapped up in a couple hours if were were really industrious (and I wish we were). Instead, it will be all false modesty and ginned up outrage and plans for this and plans for that and, sadly, we’ll eat it up like an Androsian bone going after something with lots of rubber legs and craft fur.

Oh, I’d rather all the politicians just shut up and put as much effort into making things right as they do in pointing out everything that is wrong.

However, since that goes against the laws of politics, I’m just going to pretend I’m at the Slack Tide, having a Kalik and enjoying some good company and that no one is talking politics.

If I’ve screwed up in bonefishing, and I have… plenty… I probably have done the most damage with my stripping.  I can get a little too in my head, over thinking the problem and coming up with some modified strip that just scares the hell out of the fish and leaves that fantastic V of a bonefish that has just had enough of your $h*t.

Glad to see a story from Deneki about stripping.

photo credit - Andrew Bennett

For those of you keeping score at home, the final result was Andros South 1, Hurricane Irene 0.

They made it through.

 

Our team on South Andros is safe and sound, and we experienced no damage from the storm.

That from the Captain of the Andros South team.

Good news.

OK, I don’t seem to have any sound on this, but, it is still awesome.

Andros South. I miss this place very, very badly.

You can always count on the Deneki Blog to deliver the goods.

I manage to hook my thumb first thing. A few practice casts, lots of opportunities, lots of failed casts to get to the fish, loads of flailing. “Cast now! Tip down! Strip, strip, strip!!!” again and again and again. Man, Charlie has loads of patience. I’m casting at fish I can’t see, I’m casting half the distance where the fish supposedly is, the wind is totally screwing any chance I have of getting the fly close to the fish. “Strip, strip, strip!!” “Little guy on!!” I’m not skunked, I couldn’t be happier. Got the little guy in the boat, and fumbled around in an attempt for the picture of possibly my only fish.

via Bonefishing Report from a Rookie | Kellsey Perkins at Andros South.