20
Apr 10

Interview with Andros South’s Rick Sisler

Andros South is a lodge you probably have heard of.  It is the bonefishy offering of Deneki Outdoors located in some of the most prime bonefish habitat you can find anywhere.  Rick Sisler is the manager of Andros South and has been for a number of year.  Rick’s got a background as a guide working the waters of Chile and Alaska prior to his Andros gig.  Rick agreed to an email interview about his experiences.

Rick, as I understand it, you’ve spent some significant time guiding in Chile and Alaska.  Are there similarities between those places and South Andros that might surprise folks?

The shear area we have to fish in each of these areas is probably the biggest similarity. Just endless waterways in all three give you the feeling that you are truly getting away from the hustle and bustle of real life.

Andros South, gearing up for the day.

What do you find is the most common item that guest leave home that they wish they had once they get to Andros South?

An extra set of polarized glasses. Really you should have a pair for low light and a pair for those super sunny days you normally get here. They can make your day!

What was your first impression of the landscape when you got down there and how has that view changed over time?

I grew up on the west coast (Oregon) and have lived in Alaska, when not guiding in some far off place, for almost 20 years now. So I am used to the mountains, The Bahamas has nothing I would call a hill, let alone a mountain!! I am still not used to that. The coconut trees are probably my favorite visual here along with the mangroves, because they shout Bahamas and Bonefish!

No mountains here.

Do you have a favorite bonefishing rod/reel?

Probably a 7wt Sage Xi2, just because they are tough, can huck big flies without too much effort and they handle the environment well compared to other rods I have seen. The salt is very tough on all parts of the rod and the more salt worthy the better!

Bonefishing and wind seem to go hand in hand.  How constant a companion is the wind at Andros South and do you have any tips on dealing with the wind?

Wind is a constant in almost every fishery on the planet at some time or another. Its probably the number one issue most people have with fishing. Don’t believe that you must fish a 10′-14′ leader for bonefish, at least in the Bahamas. if you can get away with a shorter leader and tippet then do it. It will make a huge difference in getting the fly to turn over and lay out cleanly. Plus when you get a close fish you can work the fly much closer to you before you run out of line to strip.

Do you have a favorite bonefish?  A fish that stands out from all the others?

My wife’s 10+ lb bonefish! Her first trip to Andros South, she was 6 months pregnant with our first child, and she had already landed 13 fish that day. The 14th fish that came along was a giant. She spotted it, the guide called it a shark, then a cuda, then big Bone Mon!! She made a perfect 50″ foot cast and the fish ate it on the run. Epic battle ensued and the guide could have been heard in South Florida he was so jacked up. I landed 1 fish that day! And I had my chances!

As the manager of the Lodge you must see a lot of people come through, year after year.  People come with different expectations, experience levels and objectives. Do you have any clients that stand out as having a particularly memorable trip?

One very recent trip with a father and son team. The kid had a great attitude, his dad was super laid back and just wanted the kid to have fun. He did and then some! he was able to land a bunch of fish that week with one being around 8lbs. Not bad for his first time!

Getting clients on fish... nice.

Thanks Rick.  Hope to see you in person, in Andros, one of these days!


18
Jan 10

Grand Bahama – Day 4 – The Wind

I could hear the wind last night… it was blowing hard.  Weather.com said the wind today in Freeport was going to be around 17 mph.  The wind on the East End had to be harder.

When I got to the first flat there were waves… waves are not good for sight fishing for bonefish.  The water was churned up and visibility could be measured in inches, not feet.

Second stop and it was just as bad.

Here’s the flat yesterday…

Same flat today…

Oh… that’s not good.

This was going to be a tough, tough day.  Forget that the wind  had to be blowing 25 mph… there was no seeing the fish.

So, what do you do when you are on a fishing trip and the weather doesn’t cooperate?  You go fishing.

I drove as far east as I could and found a beached barge I remembered from my first trip.  Put on a clouser and went in search of something that would eat.

skunk breaker, but no bonefish (a nassau grouper, me thinks)

skunk breaker, but no bonefish (a nassau grouper, me thinks)

Also found a cuda.

Little Cuda

Little Cuda

This guy didn’t like the windy conditions either.

I found a flat that was sheltered and the water was clear… but the fish weren’t there.

Crab.

Crab.

I tried a road I had been told about heading to the North side of the island, that would have been sheltered from the wave action that had dirtied the water on the South side… but it was too much for my mico-compact.

Basically, it was not going to be a good bonefishing day.  So, I went to Geneva’s and had some cracked conch and Kalik.

Tomorrow I fly out, but not until 2:00, so I have some time to try for bones in the AM.  If the wind isn’t as bad (and it isn’t supposed to be as bad tomorrow) I might have a shot.  The temps are supposed to be cooler, but, you go fishing when you can, not only when everything is perfect.