OK, you have a shrimp pattern tied on and a bonefish at 11:00… now what?
From the first time I cast at a bonefish up until the last trip I’ve had plenty of times when I had a fly out there in the general vicinity and wondered “How the hell should I be stripping this?”
The good folks at Deneki have taken a shot at this, as you’d expect they would.
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
Deneki had a great list of advice on how to have a better trip, not matter where you go. I like it.
Here was #4:
Try different stuff. Fish for dollies instead of salmon or sharks instead of bonefish. Catching different fish in different ways is fun.
Couldn’t agree more.
CUDA!
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.
Another FIBFest related post from the good folks at Deneki.
Photo by Cameron Miller
Chasing bonefish had never held huge appeal to me… after all, I’m a steelhead angler that thrives on punishment. Give me a river full of fish and I start losing interest – the hunt is what captivates me.
via Hunting for Bonefish and Steelhead | Tom Larimer Guest Post.
Tom Larimer wrote another good piece for the Deneki Blog about the hunting aspects of bonefishing compared to steelheading. I have to say, the hunting aspect of bonefishing is something that really grabs me. That you have to see the fish before you catch it… you have to know where to expect it and when it will be there, then you have to make the cast and get the retrieve right… I love it.
I imagine that it has a lot of parallels to hunting, although I’m not a hunter myself. You have to know where the elk or deer or grouse are going to be. You have to get in the right position. You have to see your target and you have to make the shot.
Of course, you get to let your bonefish go.
This is my guest post for Deneki Outdoors, the owners of Andros South. Love that place.
Photo by Andrew Bennett, fish catching by me.
While out stalking the phantom of the flats, it turns out you can do more than just catch and release. You can fish for science!
via Bonefish Science | Tagging and Fin Clipping Bonefish.
Tagging and fin clips… two great ways to help the folks at the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.
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OK… there was a lot of travel to get here, but today was go time… bizness time… bonefishing time.
I was paired up with the Outdooress today and with Andros South guide Ellie.
Fish were caught. The guide was hooked. A lemon shark was alllllmost caught. A good time was had. I kind of love this place.
The crew, waiting to get on the water.
Ellie, our guide for the day.
waiting... looking...
The skunk is off... first fish of the trip.
The Outdooress and her first bonefish
More will come, but now… Kalik is calling.
Go to the Michale Gracie blog to see the best bonefish pic you will see this week, or month, or year.
Today I get on a plane to start my journey to Andros Island. SFO to LAX then to Miami then to Nassau and then to Congo Town, South Andros. The trip will span two days, but will be close to 16 or 18 hours from the time I leave SFO to the time I touch Androsian soil.
A lot of time has been spent thinking about this trip, tying for this trip, writing about this trip… and here it is… finally. Departure Day.
Recently, I saw this story about a trip the Troutfitter made to… ya, you guessed it… Andros South (that’s where I’m going, if you haven’t been following long).
From the story…
“You’re down there fishing in sunny weather, wading in knee-deep water that’s 72 degrees. Meanwhile, there’s 2 to 3 feet of snow back home. You can’t do better than that,” he said.
via Central New York anglers enjoy their Bahamian bonefishing adventure | syracuse.com.
I’ll be trying to give updates daily. They have the internets down there, I’m told. I can’t wait to meet the other FIBFest folks, throw a Kalik or two back and then throw a fair bit of line.
Is there anything better?
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