Seems like it is the time of year for folks to start giving trips away. This time, it is Frontiers and Abaco.
The catch, however, is that you need three buddies who are willing to pay full price and then your trip is free.
I don’t have buddies like that. If you do, you are sitting pretty and are about to go fishing in Abaco.
It’s coming, winter that is. So… how about winter bonefishing. There are some good reasons to head out in the -ary months. For example… that picture below.
The guys from Angler Adventures has some thoughts on winter/cold water fishing.
One of the top 3 questions we get asked is, “When is the best time to go bonefishing?” While the answer varies on the anglers’ expectations and their destination, here’s a good argument for fishing the winter months by Doug Schlink of Angler Adventures.
Free.
Angler Adventures is raffling off a free stay at North Point Riding Club on Grand Bahama for two. I really should have kept that to myself, reducing the odds and favoring my winning, but I’m just a giver. That’s what I do… give. However, if you learn about it HERE and you win, I expect to be the other rod you bring along. Deal?
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.
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.
Aaron Adams is the bonefishing equivalent of EF Hutton from back in the day. So, when I saw that he was talking tides in Florida Fly Fishing Magazine, I had to highlight it.
At any given time, only 10% of the fishable water harbors bonefish. So figuring out how to eliminate the fishless 90% from your search area is half the battle. Understanding how bonefish use tides to their advantage will go a long way toward finding the productive 10%.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PwP1EjaBik
Cuba continues to look kind of awesome.
Check out the mother of all troutsets at :45.
Been there.
Nice that the bone got tagged… well played.
I’ll add, I don’t speak Spanish, so, sorry if they said “Death to America” anywhere in there.
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
The revised and updated Bonefish Fly Patterns is more of an analytical treatise on not only bonefish flies, but the prey bonefish feed upon, and the types and features required of an effective fly and how and where to fish it. Brown goes into a full analysis of what bones eat broken down into the percentages of prey they eat in the Bahamas and Florida. It’s almost like a diet book in the way each food source is listed by type and percentage eaten, but also by what prey bonefish seem to prefer regardless of availability.
Sounds pretty good, eh? Ed Maurer publishes the online journal Florida Fly Fishing Magazine (Click here to see the full review), so he has some room to speak with authority on the subject. Of course, I’ve interviewed Dick and he actually send me a copy of the book, which I’ll review as well, once I clear things off the table a bit and make some time to give it the attention I need to give it.
Check out the link above and check out Dick’s new book. If you like bonefish and want to know more about fly selection, this is a must have.
The Bonefish Flat beat me to this one. I had emailed with Chris from Hell’s Bay ages ago about doing an interview, but it just never happened. I dropped the ball on that as other things came up. Glad to see The Bonefish Flat picked up the interview.
Good stuff.
Hell’s Bay doesn’t compromise on ANYTHING. We use the best available materials. You can always cheapen things up, but we never take short cuts by using cheaper materials or cutting corners. You won’t see raw glass on a Hell’s Bay, everything is sanded and finished. Places on the boat you will never see will get a good finish. This is a better way to build it, giving the owner another layer of protection. Yvon Choinard, owner of Patagonia, was once asked why he doesn’t make a product you could buy at Wal-Mart. He responded, “Lots of people could build a cheaper product. We build it the best way we can and we never skimp on quality.”
