This = Totally Ruling
Old school… vintage video of flyfishing for bonefish in the Keys. I can only imagine…
Archives
26
Aug 09
Florida Bay Ecology on the Brink?
It seems the one constant when it comes to watery ecology is this… things appear to be heading toward utter and total destruction. The AP story below says that Florida Bay’s ecology is headed toward collapse with the cascade of damage and ruin already a good number of domino’s down the path. The culprits are pollution, diverted flows, urban sprawl… really this could be just about any water issue around the country. The more things change, the more they stay the same, they say.
ISLAMORADA, Fla. — Boat captain Tad Burke looks out over Florida Bay and sees an ecosystem that’s dying as politicians, land owners and environmentalists bicker.
He’s been plying these waters for nearly 25 years, and has seen the declines in shrimp and lobster that use the bay as a nursery, and less of the coveted species like bonefish that draw recreational sportsmen from around the world.
“Bonefish used to be very prevalent, and now we don’t see a tenth of the amount that we used to find in the bay, and even around the Keys because the habitat no longer supports the population,” says Burke, head of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association.
Doesn’t that sound good?? No? Yeah, to me either.
Everglades Foundation, one of the orgs trying to get things sorted (and it looks like they are having some success).
23
Aug 09
A First Florida Bone
This was sent to me recently and I thought I’d share. I’ve been fairly scared off of DIY Florida bones after hearing countless assertions that the FL Bones are smarter than most, less numerous than many and just plain tough to find in the first place. So, it gives me heart to relay this little tale from Vince Stanley.
This June after years of blown casts, broken leader, and fouled flies I finally landed my first Florida bone at Islamorada, the PHD capital of bonefishing. For several mornings as we prepared to go tarpon fishing a very large school of double digit bones appeared around the condo dock. This little flat is a flats boat magnet. We had a “Captain” fish over us as the jerk stated we didn’t have a chance in this wind.”
After our engine took an unscheduled vacation I had time to really pursue this action. I noticed the bonefish favored one little sandy hole. They would turn on their side and flash as they ate SOMETHING. I had a MOE size #8 in my “possible” fly box. It was tied from junk cluttering up my tying bench. Third cast, 6 pound bone. No guide, no boat, no sweat until it made a run to go under the dock. My host snagged him with a huge net.
And so, there you have it… the tale of Vince’s first Florida Bone, caught on a self-tied fly.
The Junk Fly
