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Gear — 3 Comments
09
Aug 11

Rio Bonefish Line – Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

So, I did a poll a couple weeks back asking what line folks used.  The overwhelming winner was the Rio Bonefish line.  Rio, as a company/brand did very well.  27% of anglers reported using the Rio Bonefish line.

I don’t think I have actually fished the Rio Bonefish, but I threw the Rio Tropical Clouser in Andros and kind of loved the line.

Well done Rio. Keep putting the good stuff out.

I’m starting to sound old when I say things like “$80 for a fly line??” Sadly, that is true for the Rio Bonefish line and not really out of line with other offerings from many of the big players.

The SA Bonefish line was second with 15% of the vote and comes in at $70.  I’ve actually fished the SA and it feels a little light to me, but that could be me with the crack smoking again.

One thing is clear… there are a lot of options for the angler today and the lines come at a variety of price points.  One thing to keep in mind when you are selecting a line is how you plan to fish.  Fishing from a flats boat often means longer casts (since you see the fish from further away).  For those trips, a line that is weighted closer to the weight of the rod is usually best.

If you are primarily wading, you may want to have a line that is a little over so your rod can load at short distances (the Rio Redfish is a little heavier than the Bonefish line and is prefered by some for that application).

So… go forth and select a line.  Just do me a favor… get it wet.

 

All the other stuff / Tactics — 7 Comments
07
Aug 11

Backhanded Cast

I saw this post over at Deneki about backhanded casting.  I agree.  It is a great skill to have. I wouldn’t have gotten my Grand Slam in Belize if I didn’t have a backhanded cast.

One thing I noticed in South Andros was that my backhand cast is actually better looking than my forward cast.  The loop is tighter and seems to lay out flatter.  I don’t really know why, but my backhand cast is a thing of real beauty.  I’ve been trying to figure out why and trying to make my forward cast more like it, but I haven’t cracked that code just yet.

Anyone have that answer?

Locations — No Comments
06
Aug 11

Andros South… minus sound

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.

 

 

Locations — 3 Comments
04
Aug 11

I could never be mad at you, Google Alerts

If it weren’t for the good folks over at Google, I likely would never have found this story from the Malaysia Star.  The location is the Maldives and, as it turns out, there are indeed bonefish there.

Now… I may disagree with a few things… like:

Known to exist in only a few places in the world, the hunt for this species is simply exclusive.

(They’ve been caught from Long Beach to Hawaii to most of the South Pacific, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf and there are rumored to be a few in the Caribbean, to name a few places they might be found.  However, there remain none in Kansas.).

I agree with others…

But fishing for bones is not so easy.

A different perspective from a different part of the world.

Conservation — 2 Comments
03
Aug 11

Bonefish Flat interviews Aaron Adams

The Bonefish Flat recently ran an interview with Aaron Adams… one of my favorite guys.  Aaron, of course, is the Director for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, a fine organization you should all be supporting (yes, I’m looking at YOU… that is… if you don’t already).

You can also read my interview of Aaron here.

Aaron is amazing in that he is a very busy guy, but seems to always make time for questions.  He’s super accessible and easy to talk to… just don’t expect him to divulge any secret places!

All the other stuff — 2 Comments
31
Jul 11

Shark Week – The Lemon

So, it is Shark Week.  In honor of Shark Week, I thought I’d post up something about my good friend from South Andros, the Lemon Shark.  I hung out with a lot of Lemons in Andros.  They were everywhere.

Bastard of the flats... the Lemon.

I'm pretty sure this one was a Lemon too, although this was Grand Bahama, a year earlier.

Overview – Lemon sharks may dive up to 1,300 feet when searching for food, but usually they are found near shore areas at depths closer to 295 feet. Their unusual coloration sets them apart from most other sharks. “Lemon” refers to their light brown, yellow-tinged skin. It provides good camouflage for the sharks, which like to rest over the sandy bottoms of shallow water regions. From a distance, it is hard to tell where the sand ends and the shark begins. One clue might be the presence of small reef fishes, such as wrasses, which gather around this shark to pick off parasites from its gills and skin. This species is most commonly found in the Caribbean, but it also exists in the western and eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific from southern Baja California to Ecuador.

All the other stuff — No Comments
29
Jul 11

Flatswalker’s Rules

You can’t catch bonefish until you can catch bonefish. It’s a lot like the one hand clapping thing.

via Flatswalker: SaltWater Fly Fishing Guide Blog – Flatswalker.

 

 Flatswalker lays down some rules/guidelines he’s developed over the years.  Always a good read.  Check it out.

Fish Tails — 2 Comments
28
Jul 11

Sarah’s first bonefish

Now, Sarah has a leg up on most folks starting out trying to find their own bonefish.  Her husband is one of the best anglers I know, my friend Shane.  She’s had a pretty good teacher and that can really reduce the learning curve, but it is still an accomplishment to score your first bonefish.

Nice bonefish Sarah!

 

Here’s Sarah’s story in her own words:

I’ve been on seven bonefishing trips in the last several years. I’m grateful when I realize
that’s twice (oaky maybe 7 times) as may as most anglers dream about…in a lifetime. A
couple of those trips I didn’t even get any follows. During the earlier trips, my husband
and guide, Shane was slowing teaching me the ways of the ghost of the flats. What to
look for, how to spot them, how to cast into the wind, how to clear your line when the
fish takes off, how not to lose a finger while they run…About four years ago (with the
help of husband guide by my side) I was able to spot, cast to, and land my first fish and
then my second the same day. It was a huge accomplishment. And those two bonefish
remain the biggest I’ve landed since then. We weren’t married yet at the time, but I
secretly think that’s when he starting thinking about making me his wife.

As any bonefish angler knows, when chasing the elusive flats dweller, Murphy’s Law
truly applies. I’ve done it all wrong, many many times. I’ve seen a large school, gotten
excited only to cast and find out the hard way that my line is wrapped around my foot.
I’ve cast to a bonefish shaped clump of turtle grass only to be frustrated when it didn’t
try to eat my fly. Then, there’s casting in the wind. I’ve stared at objects “that could
be a fish” so long with the hopes of using my jeti mind skills to somehow will it into
becoming a bonefish. Not so much. I’ve made the most beautiful casts only to plop the
tiny fly down on the fish’s head so as to spook him so bad he tells all his buddies to steer
clear of that flat for the rest of the day. I’ve tried to make casts into the wind only to have
my line fall in a jumbled mess a few feet away. I’ve broke fish off because I didn’t “let
him run.” Did I mention the wind? What can go wrong will go wrong when bonefishing.

But, once in a great while, the fish gods smile down upon you and everything goes right.
Today was that day. Husband guide dropped me off to walk a flat by myself while he
walked the boat a ways away. He was a good 200 yards away when I spotted 6 fish
coming at me on my right side about 80 feet away. Wind and sun at my back. (“That’s
when all the conditions are right for a good time.” – Alan Jackson) So, my heart starts
thumping and I make my cast…about 50-60 feet. One cast. Three strips. Fish on. Big
smile, giggles out loud. I had done it all…all by myself!! All is right in my little world
today.

Conservation / Locations — 2 Comments
26
Jul 11

The pearl of Aitutaki – Way to go Butch

If Aitutaki were an oyster, the budding bonefishing industry would surely be its pearl.

via The pearl of Aitutaki | PostIndependent.com.

Well, look at that, Butch Leone!  A nice little story about Aitutaki that features Butch Leone, who has started a tagging program there in his little piece of the Cook Islands.

Fantastic.

 

Conservation — No Comments
21
Jul 11

BTT Symposium November 11-12

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust continues to be one of my favorite nonprofits.  Support them if you can.  If you are REALLLLLY into bones and conservation, head to Key Largo in November for the Symposium.

yeah... what he said.

Key Largo, FL: The Fourth International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2011 at the International Game Fishing Association Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, FL.

Held every third year, this Symposium promises to be the largest and most informative to date. Two full days of presentations on cutting edge scientific research of bonefish, tarpon and permit from fisheries scientists around the world is scheduled, as well as panel discussions, fly casting seminars and tying clinics by some of the world’s noted flats anglers. On the final night an “Evening with the Legends” banquet will be emceed by author and angler Andy Mill, participants include; Joan Wulff, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Sandy Moret, Rick Ruoff, Mark Sosin, Ralph Delph, Steve Huff, Bill Curtis, Stu Apte and George Hommell.

Leading up to and as part of the Symposium, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust will be auctioning multiple guided days of fishing and special one of a kind fishing adventures with expert guides who have donated their time to benefit BTT. For more information on these auctions and to submit your bids please go to www.tarbone.org and click on the the “Symposium Auctions” button.

Space is limited, so be sure to register early. All interested anglers are welcome. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit www.tarbone.org. We can also be reached at 239-283-4733 or info@tarbone.org.

 

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