Well… guides can really make this look easy.  Here we have a guide in Andros make a backhand cast in some decent wind and hookup pretty much instantly.

Sure made that look easy.

Reposted from January – Anyone heard anything about New Caledonia recently?  Seems to have dropped off my radar.

Check out the big bones of New Caledonia at: hotasafish: big bonefish in new caledonia.

Charles Rangeley-Wilson is a Brit of some fishing reputation.  He went to New Caledonia a couple-three years ago and found some big ole bonefish there.  New Caledonia is one of those places where the fish aren’t numerous, but they are big… real big… up to 30 pounds (totally kidding on that, just wanted to see if you were paying attention… they might get up to the magical 20 pound mark there, although I’ve yet to see the confirming photo of such a fish).

Sadly, the photos on the post are not recent… more a trip down memory lane… but it is a nice trip… scenic and fishy.

Here’s Charles with another bone…

Reposted from the archives.

Yeah, there are bones in San Diego Bay.  They are not as big as they get… well… in most places.  Doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with them though.

This isn’t the kind of bonefishing most of us think of… no walking the crystal flats looking for subtle movment.  This is sinking line and blind casting.  If you have a kayak, you can head out there yourself.

If you are looking for a guide (like SoCal Fly Fishing Outfitter), you can pick one up for about $350 (before tip).

This trip is certainly under $1,000.  You’ll just have to take another trip for the mangroves and conch.

On bait, some fish around 2-3 pounds  can be caught, although fly fisherman tend to get smaller fish from the reports I’ve read.

I like boats.  I don’t have one, but I like them.  I like the look of them.  I like being on them.  My favorite place in the whole world (at least that I can talk about) is on the bow of a flats boat.  It means I’m after bonefish.  I’m somewhere that is probably pretty awesome.  Good things are afoot.

Hell’s Bay makes some really good looking boats… really, really nice.

That’s the Marquesa Advantage and it looks awesome.  It costs more than 2x what my new Mazda costs, but I’ll bet it is more fun.

Chico is the man.

THE FLY LANDED in the right place. You let the small shrimp imitation sink to the proper level, and the bonefish seems to have noticed it. It’s time to start acting like a shrimp.

via Fly Fishing Techniques, Bonefish – MidCurrent.

Tips for bonefishing from Al Caucci.  Why not?

Rig your rods with flies before you step into a boat. This way when your guide stops the boat you are on the bow and ready to fish by the time he makes his first push with the pole. I can’t tell you how many times I caught and landed bonefish while someone was struggling to get their rod strung up.

You can read all of Al’s advice at Al Caucci Fly Fishing.

Yeah… they get kind of big out there.

I want to catch a fish that big.  I can’t really comprehend what that pull must be like.

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Exuma, Bahamas, June 2010. It was our first trip to the island and definitely not our last. When my husband, Todd, asked me how I would like to celebrate my 40th birthday I told him, “Saltwater fly fishing of course!” He asked me “Where?” so I suggested we try the Bahamas since we had yet to fly fish there. It did not disappoint

via Bone Lake Country Living: One More Sweet Song.

I can’t wait to turn 40 so I can get a trip like this.

I usually write the post the night before it goes up… last night I ended up in the ER with a little girl with a temp over 104.  Four hours later and I was back home, but I was also ready for bed.  The good news is that everything is well with the little girl.  I went to the “Draft” folder and found this… no pics, but a link to a good story.  Hope you enjoy the read.

The Seychelles look nice… I wanna go there… bad.

Following exhaustive research on a mutually satisfying destination, Meredith quite surprisingly one evening suggested that we look into the Seychelles. As an avid (not skilled, mind) salt water fly fisherman, I already knew that little research would be necessary and immediately attempted to procure a written agreement from her. I jest of course, but for those who don’t engage in piscatorial pursuits, the islands and their surrounding flats make for arguably the best and most species-diverse fly fishing in the world. It was agreed that this seemed a swell locale and I unbegrudgingly began the task of organizing the journey.

via Charleston Mercury > News > Never too Far for Adventure.

Yeah… goodness.

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A nice fly from Capt. Matt Thomas who guides down in the Lower Keys for… well… things that eat Blue Crabs.

(hmmm… when I put this up last night the video displayed… not sure why it isn’t doing that now)

Nice video.

I’m going to have to get on the fly tying video thing here soon… I need to get a couple of the patterns I used down in South Andros up… I think they are good stuff.  Sounds like a project for the weeks ahead.