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Category: Bonefishing

  • Weather Conditions and Fishing Techniques: Adapting Your Approach

    Weather Conditions and Fishing Techniques: Adapting Your Approach

    Here’s the thing about bonefishing: the weather doesn’t just affect your comfort—it fundamentally changes how fish behave, what they can see, and how you need to approach them. Whether you’re dealing with glass-flat calm conditions that make every shadow a warning signal, or cloudy, rainy days that let you get closer but hide the fish from view, understanding how to adapt your technique can turn a frustrating day into an exceptional one.

    The difference between a skunked day and a banner day often comes down to one simple question: are you fishing the conditions, or are you fishing the way you always fish?

    Super Calm Conditions: When There’s Nothing to Break Up the Shadow

    Glass-flat calm water conditions for bonefishing showing the challenge of approaching

    Picture this: the water’s like glass. Not a ripple. Not a breath of wind. It’s beautiful, but for bonefish, it’s also terrifying.

    When it’s super calm and there’s nothing to break up their shadow, everything that moves in the air becomes a warning sign. Fish get spooky—like, really spooky. They get super nervous and they’ll blow up at the smallest movement. Even the light reflecting off your leader can send them running.  Garon Williamson at Grey’s Point Inn on Acklins was guiding Doug Schlink on one of these slick days.  Garon made sure that they walked carefully and slowly, stopping at least 100 feet ahead spotted fish because “they’ll fell the energy in the water”.  Even the push water from your footsteps can be enough to send a fish in the opposite direction.

    The Challenge

    In these conditions, bonefish are operating at maximum alert. Every shadow, every movement in the air above them, every reflection signals danger. They become extremely wary and difficult to approach. It’s like trying to sneak up on someone who’s already looking for you.

    The problem isn’t that the fish aren’t there—they are. The problem is that they’re seeing everything, and they’re not in the mood to take chances.

    Adapting Your Approach

    When the water’s dead calm, you need to change your game:

    • Move slowly and deliberately—No sudden movements. No rushing. Every step, every cast needs to be intentional.
    • Pay extra attention to your shadow—Your shadow is a dead giveaway. Position yourself so your shadow doesn’t fall on the fish. 
    • Use longer leaders—A longer leader minimizes the disturbance and keeps your fly line further from the fish.  Ten-foot leaders work most of the time, but sometimes even fifteen-foot leaders aren’t enough (or are too hard to cast).
    • Lighter Flies – less splash on entry and better control casting
    • Consider getting out of the boat—This is huge, and we’ll get into why below.

    The key here is patience. You’re not covering water quickly—you’re stalking. Every cast matters. Every step matters.

    Cloudy and Rainy Conditions: When You Can Get Closer

    Angler bonefishing in cloudy, rainy conditions with reduced visibility

    We all dread cloudy and rainy days fishing. Here’s the good news: you can typically get closer to fish because they can’t see you as well, and they don’t care about getting wet in the rain. The weather is creating all these disturbances—ripples on the water, reduced visibility, all that—but the fish still need to eat. So they’re still there, still feeding.

    The Opportunity

    This is where cloudy and rainy conditions become your friend:

    • Fish are still feeding—They need to eat regardless of the weather
    • Your approach is less visible—The conditions are working in your favor
    • Their sensors are somewhat dulled—The reduced light and surface disturbance make them less alert

    It’s like nature is giving you a bit of cover. Use it.

    The Challenge

    But here’s the catch: you can’t see them either. Their sensors are dull, but you also don’t have the typical sight-fishing advantages you’d have on a bright, clear day. You’re not going to spot that perfect shadow or see that fish cruising in the distance.

    What You’re Looking For: Changes

    This is crucial: you change what you’re looking for.

    You’re not going to see a bonefish’s shadow when it’s cloudy or raining. That’s not happening. But you might still see their tails sticking up out of the water. You might see dorsal fins breaking the surface. You might see wakes, or nervous water.  They might also show up like they appeared out of nowhere.

    So you shift your focus. Instead of looking for shadows and shapes, you’re looking for:

    • Tails—Bonefish tails sticking up out of the water as they feed
    • Dorsal fins—Breaking the surface as fish move through shallow water
    • Wakes—The V-shaped wake a fish creates as it moves
    • Nervous Water — The choppy surface of the water that’s moving differently, often opposite, of the surrounding surface movement
    • Look Everywhere – Don’t just look ahead of you.  Take a moment to pause and look to 7 O’clock and 4 O’clock, where fish often just “appear” when it’s hard to see.

    It’s a different kind of sight fishing, but it’s still sight fishing. You’re just reading different signals.

    Wading vs. Boat Fishing: When Weather Dictates Your Approach

    This is where things get interesting, because the weather doesn’t just affect the fish—it affects how you and your guide might choose to target them.

    Fishing from a Boat

    Angler casts from skiff at Grand Bahama Bonefishing

    When you’re in a boat, the guide’s up on a polling platform, so he’s 10 or 12 feet in the air over the water. That height gives him a great objective angle—he can see fish from way out, spot movement, read the water. But you? You’re on the front of the boat. You only have your five and a half, maybe six foot objective angle to look for fish. So it’s a little harder to see.

    Sometimes in a boat, the guide will call out the fish: “There’s a fish here. 80 feet, 11 o’clock, moving left to right. You see him?” And then: “30 feet. 25 feet.” It’s much faster. You don’t see as much—you’re relying on the guide’s eyes.

    That works great when conditions are good. But when conditions are challenging, even with the better point of view, guides may not see bonefish until they’re in difficult positions, such as inside 30 feet, at 3 o r9 o’clock , or heading away.  For a lot of anglers, it’s much better to wade. 

    Getting Out of the Boat: When Conditions Call for It

    Comparison of bonefishing: wading in shallow water flats

    Here’s why getting out of the boat can be a game-changer:

    • Everything slows down—You cover less water on foot, you don’t see as much area, but you slow down. And that’s often exactly what you need.
    • You can get closer to fish—Without the boat slapping the water, without that bigger shadow, without the bigger objects pushing through the water, you can get closer without spooking them.
    • Better positioning— You can slowly get yourself into position quietly.  You can get low when making your presentation, sometimes getting on your knees if you have to keep a fish from spotting you.  You can get into positions that just aren’t possible from a boat.
    • Exceptional opportunities—You can get within 12 feet of a fish sometimes if you’re on foot. It’s exciting to have bonefish follow your fly almost to your rod tip.  

    For many anglers, wading is one the more exciting ways to bonefish and is they’re go to method (and how they pick their destination).  When you’re wading because the weather dictates, it might be what saves the day.

    It’s not about the boat being bad—boats are incredible tools and in many fisheries are the only way to be successful. It’s about matching your approach to the conditions. Sometimes the conditions call for a different approach.

    Important Note

    Not every destination has that option. Some fisheries are primarily boat-based, and wading isn’t practical, so it’s important to know which destinations offer wading opportunities and which are primarily boat-based fisheries. When you’re planning your trip, ask about wading options. It might be the difference between a good day and a great day.

    Bonus Tip

    It’s almost impossible to have an inclement weather system effect an area for most than a few days, which most clearing up after one or two days.  To help maximize the number of “quality” weather days, we recommend that you fish for as many days as possible when planning your trip.  For example, on a three-night / two-day trip, it’s possible to have poor conditions for two straight days, but on a seven-night / six-day trip, even with two poor days, there are still four quality days left. 

    Key Takeaways

    Let’s bring this all together:

    • Super calm conditions make fish spooky—move carefully, pay attention to shadows, and consider wading if it’s an option
    • Cloudy and rainy conditions allow you to get closer—but change what you’re looking for (tails, fins, wakes instead of shadows)
    • Wading can provide advantages in challenging conditions—everything slows down and you can get closer
    • Adapt your approach based on weather conditions—don’t just fish the same way every day
    • Work with your guide to determine the best approach for the conditions—they know the water and the fish

    The bottom line? You’ll get weather on every fishing trip and when the weather conditions change, it’s something to work against—they’re something you can work with. Learn to read them, adapt to them, and use them to your advantage.

    Related Articles

    Want to dive deeper into bonefishing techniques and strategies? Check out these related articles:

    • Why Every Angler Should Carry Crab Flies when Bonefishing —Learn why crab flies are essential in your bonefishing arsenal
    • Prime Time Bonefishing —Discover the best times and techniques for bonefishing success
    • Hurricanes and Post-Hurricane Fishing (coming soon)—How extreme weather events affect fishing opportunities
    • Planning a Fly Fishing Trip to the Bahamas Guide(coming soon)—Complete guide to planning your Bahamas bonefishing adventure

    Note: Techniques may vary by destination. Discuss options with your guide and travel advisor when planning your trip.

    Ready to Put These Techniques to the Test?

    Weather conditions can make or break a bonefishing trip, but with the right approach and the right guide, you can turn challenging conditions into opportunities. At Angler Adventures, we specialize in matching anglers with the right destinations, the right guides, and the right timing for the best possible experience.

    Whether you’re planning your first bonefishing trip or looking to refine your technique, we’re here to help. Our team has decades of combined experience in fly fishing travel, and we know which destinations offer wading opportunities, which guides excel in different conditions, and how to time your trip for the best weather windows.

    Ready to plan your next bonefishing adventure?

    Let’s talk about where you want to fish, what conditions you want to experience, and how we can help make your next trip unforgettable.

  • Prime Time Bonefishing

    Prime Time Bonefishing

    Two of our most popular Bahamas lodges, Bair’s Lodge, in South Andros and Abaco Lodge, on Abaco, consistently score an excellent rating in fishing, guides, accommodations, food and service. Many of our long-time clients have never been to Bair’s or Abaco Lodge since most of the space is sold to repeat customers a year in advance. The following is a listing of available dates (please see our Bair’s Lodge or Abaco Lodge pages for a complete listing the current rates). These spaces will fill up quickly; we suggest contacting us immediately if you are interested.

    Abaco Lodge (offering 7 rooms for 8 anglers) on the Marls of Abaco Island has quickly become one of the most sought-after lodges in the Bahamas. Single rooms (first come first served), new customized Maverick Skiffs, excellent management, superb guides, and a unique fishery keep stock in Abaco Lodge rising.

    Abaco Lodge Prime Time Availability

    Dates Package Availability Rates
    Oct 17 – 21, 2023 4-nights/3-days 2 Rods $4,012.50 + VAT
    Oct 21 – 25, 2023 4-nights / 3-days 6 Rods $4,012.50 + VAT
    Nov 5 – 8, 2023 3-nights / 2-days 2 Rods $4,050.00 + VAT
    Nov 15 – 20, 2023 5-nights / 4-days 4 Rods $6,450.00 + VAT
    Dec 11 – 16, 2023 5-nights / 4-days 6 Rods $6,450.00 + VAT
    Jan 27 – Feb 3, 2024 7-nights / 6-days 4 Rods $7,950.00 + VAT
    Feb 3 – 7, 2024 4-nights / 3-days 4 Rods $5,650.00 + VAT
    Feb 10 – 14, 2024 4-nights / 3-days 8 Rods $5,650.00 + VAT
    Feb 15 – 20, 2024 5-nights / 4-days 2 Rods $6.750.00 + VAT 
    March 9 – 12, 2024 3-nights / 2-days 2 Rods $4,275.00 + VAT
    March 15 – 19, 2024 4-nights / 3-days 6 Rods $5,650.00 + VAT

     Bair’s Lodge (offering 6 rooms for 12 anglers) overlooks a beautiful remote beach on South Andros. Bair’s has been in our top five most popular Bahamas bonefish destinations for the better part of two decades. Bair’s has one of the deepest guide rosters anywhere, new Maverick Skiffs customized for South Andros, and access to all of South Andros fishing zones.

    Bair’s Lodge Prime Time Availability

     

    Dates Package Availability Rates
    Oct 5 – 11, 2023 5-nights/4-days 6 Rods $5,212.50 + VAT
    Oct 11 – 15, 2023 4-nights / 3-days 6 Rods Call for Special Discount
    Oct 18 – 23, 2023 5-nights / 4-days 8 Rods $4,837.50 + VAT
    Nov 17 – 21, 2023 4-nights / 3-days 4 Rods $5,350.00 + VAT
    Dec 5 – 9, 2023 4-nights / 3-days 2 Rods $5,350.00 + VAT
    March 6 – 11, 2024 4-nights / 3-days 6 Rods $5,650.00 + VAT
    March 15 – 19, 2024 4-nights / 3-days 8 Rods $5,650.00 + VAT
    March 19 – 22, 2024 3-nights / 2-days 2 Rods $4,275.00 + VAT
    March 22 – 29, 2024 7-nights / 6-days 2 Rods $7,950.00 + VAT

    We would love for you to have the opportunity to experience two of our finest lodges in the Bahamas. Availabilities are subject to change. Please contact us to confirm and book any of these dates.

    Our Services are Free!
    Contact us for Seasonal Discounts, Special Offers or Promotional Pricing

  • Update on South Andros

    Most anglers identify South Andros as a huge expanse of wadable flats around the southern and southwestern tip of the island:  Flats filled with large schools of uneducated bonefish in the 2-4 pound range eager to eat flies.  Anyone interested in seeing larger fish in singles and doubles would gravitate the North Bight of Andros, the West Side of Andros, or the North Shore of Grand Bahama.  Think again!

    Over the last few years, more and more clients fishing Bair’s Lodge, Andros South, Pleasant Bay or Mars Bay are catching big bonefish.  The 7 – 10 pounders are being landed every month.  Mars Bay has kept a record of the bonefish caught this season, here are some highlights.

    1)      The numbers of fish being caught over the spring and neap tides are virtually identical, but the “moon” tides are producing bigger fish.

    2)      Anglers are landing good numbers of fish in the 27” – 31” range in each month.

    3)      The largest bonefish landed was an astounding 36”.

    To put some of this into perspective, and provide information on how to estimate the weight of your Atlantic bonefish, please refer to the table below, which has been excerpted from page 20 of Randall Kaufmann’s Bonefishing!.

    Size (in)

    Weight (lbs)

    Size (in)

    Weight (lbs)

    18″

    3.5

    28″

    8.6

    19″

    3.8

    29″

    9.6

    20″

    4.1

    30″

    10.8

    21″

    4.6

    31″

    11.9

    22″

    5.1

    32″

    13

    23″

    5.5

    33″

    14.4

    24″

    6

    34″

    15.6

    25″

    6.5

    35″

    16.8

    26″

    7.2

    36″

    18

    27″

    7.7

    37″

    19.2

    This method of estimating weight is not as accurate as [girth2 x length / 800], however it does highlight the massive size of a 36” bonefish!  For those of us with ruler marks on our rods, it also provides an easy way to estimate the weight of our bonefish and minimize the amount of time spent handling the bonefish (click here for best practices for on handling and releasing bonefish).

    Go ahead and speculate why there are so many more big bonefish being caught on the South Andros flats.  It could be cyclical, climate change, guides getting better at finding bigger fish, or better anglers doing the fishing.  With anglers landing plenty of fish in the 7.7 to 11.9 pound range, our conclusion is that this might be the best time to fish South Andros.

  • Remembering The Gyno Crab

    

    NOV 6 – 13, 2004, I was one of a party of 8 very talented flyfishers and great guys who descended on Casa Blanca on Mexico’s Ascension Bay

    in quest of permit. The first day out, just a couple were taken, one by first time permit fisher Dr. Ralph Cifaldi. Ralph was using a crab pattern of his own concoction; a variation on the Dorsey Kwan, distinguished by a long tail of amber dyed polar bear barred with a brown marking pen.
      

    Taken with a Gyno Crab
    "Tara" with a nice Ascension Bay Permit

    The second day, there was better success in the group, with Ralph coming in as top rod with a “hat trick” – 3 more permit on this just his second day chasing permit! This piqued our interest a bit more in Ralphy’s unorthodox pattern.

     

    The third day, more permit were released by the group, but again the top rod was Doc Ralph, with another hat trick! 3 days into the trip and Ralphy had 7 permit under his belt. The excitement over Ralphy’s fly grew, and being the generous soul that he is, he stayed up late cranking out more of his crab patterns so as to present each one of us with one at breakfast.
     
    There was no doubt in my mind what fly to tie on that morning! We ran back into the bay, inside of the tip of Vigia Grande. The wind had slightly clouded the water along the south side of the bay, and my superb guide Manuel (Tarantula) worked the edge between the cloudy and the clear water. Suddenly I spotted a huge permit working up tide toward us. I called to Manuel and he kicked the boat right, and with a couple of strong pushes on the pole put me in position to intercept the fish. I launched Ralph’s fly, it landed perfectly, I made a one-foot long strip and the big fish quivered, lunged forward and ate it. It immediately took off on a searing and what I expected to be a “reel-emptying” run. But about 70 yards out, it just stopped, and slowly pulled. I looked at the bottom and it was moving. Yes, now he was just leisurely towing the boat across the bay! This went on for 42 minutes until finally we got the fish close enough to tail it. But Manuel couldn’t get it over the gunnel! Finally, he went over the side in chest deep water to “wrassle” the beast into submission. We didn’t have a boga grip, but Manuel said his largest “bogaed” fish was 38 pounds, and allowed as how this guy was just about as big! We settled on 35 as an estimate.
      

    By the end of the week, our party of 8 had tallied an amazing 35 permit on fly, and quite a few over 20 pounds. And Ralph’s pattern accounted for 17 of these, and the fly didn’t even a name. The last evening, our group sat around the palapa having beers and trying to come up with an appropriate name for Dr. Ralph’s (a gynecologist by the way) remarkable fly. Finally John Canavari burst out, “I’ve got it! The Gyno Crab”. And the name stuck. Google it!
    I can’t swear there’s something special about the pattern – maybe it was just a case of a lot of happy permit eating well. But if any fly catches any permit, I want to have it in my arsenal! Hope this works as well for you.

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     Angler Adventures

    800-628-1447 – 860-434-9624
    Fax 860-434-8605
    E-Mail:Info@angleradventures.com
    PO Box 872, Old Lyme, CT 06371
    web site: www.www.angleradventures.com

  • 2 for the Price of 1

    2-for-1-deals-from-Angler-Adventures

    Angler Adventures has negotiated several value packed “2 for the price of 1” deals at some of our premier lodges. For more information, please click on the lodge name, or call us at 800-628-1447 (860-434-9624).

     

    Paloma-River-Lodge

    • Spectacular, remote setting.
    • 6 person capacity.
    • Rainbows and big Browns.
    • Normal weekly price $3,250 per person, double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special for November 2009: $1,625 per person double occupancy / shared guide.

     

    Lodge-Name-Test

    • Excellent Bonefishing with good chances at Permit.
    • Access to Gorda Cay and Mores Island.
    • Price Reduction for 2010.
    • Normal weekly price $2,820 per person double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special through February 2010: $1,813 per person double occupancy / shared guide.

     

    Turneffe-Island-Resort

    • Permit, Bonefish, and Tarpon.
    • 30-miles off the coast of Belize.
    • Only 6 spots currently available: 2 – November 7 – 14, 2009 & 4 – November 21 – 28, 2009.
    • Normal weekly price $3,902.58 per person, double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special: $2,573.09 per person double occupancy / shared guide.

     

    Abaco-Lodge

    • Direct access to Bonefishing in the Marls.
    • Nice Accommodations and Gourmet Meals.
    • Great location for non-anglers.
    • Normal weekly price $6,800 per couple double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special, February 1st – March 15th, 2010: $4,250 per couple double occupancy / shared guide.

     

    Acklins-Island-Lodge

    • Extensive Hard Sand Flats.
    • Wade fisherman’s paradise.
    • Comfortable cottage style accommodations.
    • Normal weekly price $3,085 per person double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special for bookings confirmed before January 1, 2010: $1,962.50 per person double occupancy / shared guide.

     

    Nomads-of-the-Seas

    • Experience Chilean Patagonia in luxury.
    • Unparalleled level of Service.
    • Access to typically inaccessible fertile fishing grounds.
    • Normal weekly price $17,850 per person double occupancy / shared guide.
    • Angler Adventures’ Special: $8,925 per person double occupancy / shared guide.

    These discounts are offered to new reservations only and do not apply to existing reservations, nor date changes to existing reservations.  Discounts for alternate times, or other lodges may be available. If the above offerings aren’t exactly what you’re looking for call us at 1-800-628-1447; and we’ll find you the best possible deal!

    800-628-1447 / 860-434-9624
    Fax: 860-434-8605
    Email: info@angleradventures.com
    PO Box 872, Old Lyme, CT 06371
    Website:www.www.angleradventures.com

  • Bonefish Fly Patterns – preface excerpt

    The following is from the preface to the second edition of Bonefish Fly Patterns by Dick Brown.  There are some great bonefish flies included in this edition that we’ve been recommending to our clients, specifically the Simram and the Bully Special (by Bully Bevins of North Riding Point Club – one of our favorites).  Check out the image of Trodella’s Ghost, it’s like a modernized version of our favorite skinny water bonefish fly – the Bunny Bone!

     This revised edition of Bonefish Fly Patterns contains forty-seven new flies that were not in the original 1996 edition. Some are recent patterns created by new flats anglers with fresh, inquisitive eyes—like Victor Trodella’s killer Ghost tailing fly and Omeko Glinton’s Meko Special. Others like Eric Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp, Vic Gaspeny’s Threadhead, Rick Simonsen’s Simram, and Patrick Dorsy’s Kwan and Bone Slappa are creations of skilled flats veterans willing to pass along the exact recipes of go-to favorites they’ve relied on for winning tournaments. Still others are well-known classics that I simply could not get into the original book for one reason or another—like the Horror and the Mini-Puff, which have produced on flats around the world for decades. A few new creations, like the Toad and the Slinky Toad, were developed in response to the significant findings of recent bonefish feeding studies that have established the importance of newly discovered prey forms in the diet of Florida and Bahamian bonefish—especially the gulf toadfish. Four—the Bastard Crab, Big Ugly, Merkwan, and Bunny Crab—come from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Aaron Adams, who is both a marine research scientist and an avid angler. Finally, several new entries, like the Skok/Boyle Reverend Laing fly, the Bevin’s Bully Special, and Trodella’s Ghost, were driven by new tying materials and new uses of existing materials, which have enabled tiers to find novel solutions to old bonefish challenges like flash intensity and splash impact.

     Reprinted from Bonefish Fly Patterns, 2nd Edition by Dick Brown, ©2011. Published by Lyons Press an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT

    looks a lot like a Bunny Bone
    Trodella’s Ghost Fly Photo: © 2011 Dick Brown

  • Turneffe Flats Resort – A Tarpon Story

    The following recap of Angler Adventures owner Chip Bates’ trip to Turneffe Flats Resort appeared as a newsletter in September 2010.  Kevin Sheehan’s recent report got us excited about the summer tarpon fishing on Turneffe Atoll as the numbers of large, migratory tarpon rapidly increase over the next few months.  Enjoy!

     My son Tyler wanted to catch a big Tarpon on a fly and I wanted to wade flats for Bonefish and Permit in case the Tarpon weren’t “on”. We had a week in August between Tyler’s summer job and school.

    The Turneffe Islands have a migratory population of big Tarpon that usually arrive in May and remain through most of October. Bonefish and Permit are year round. On paper, it appeared that that Turneffe Flats Resort had what we were looking for. In reality, it was better than expected.

    First, it’s great bonding to travel with your son. Because of his work and college schedule, we hadn’t done this since high school. Secondly, Tyler and I love the fishing lodge schedule: up early, eat, fish, eat, and to bed early. Well, that’s where we differ…at least I was in bed early.

    We were assigned Dubs as our guide. Dubs is an upbeat, happy guy who takes his fishing seriously. The only disappointment of the trip was that neither of us landed a Permit. Not for lack of trying. We had multiple, if not dozens, of shots daily. We’ll save the Permit for another trip.

    Nice Bonefish from Turneffe Flats Lodge
    Chip's 8 lb Belize Bonefish

    We warmed up on Bonefish and caught plenty. Turneffe Flats has some of the best wading anywhere, but we also poled some deeper flats for larger fish and caught bones up to 8 lbs. To me this was a delightful way to fill in the gaps between Tarpon and Permit.

    One afternoon about 3:00 PM, Dubs suggested the tide was good for Tarpon. We motored back to a large creek, adjacent to the lodge, that connects the ocean to the lagoon. This creek is too deep to pole, but it’s crystal clear. As we approached the creek, Tyler spotted something break the surface at a distance.

    We stopped and looked but could confirm nothing. We continued towards Dubs’ favorite Tarpon spot. Dubs dropped anchor and asked Tyler to cast his intermediate line perpendicular to the current, let the fly sink, then swing in the current on the retrieve. While Tyler was straightening his line, Dubs saw activity in the area we’d just come from. Next we saw two 100 lb Tarpon come completely airborne like dolphins at Sea World. Holy #$*@!, we all said in unison. Up came the anchor and we got our butts to that spot in a hurry. For the next 45 minutes it was mayhem. Big Tarpon everywhere around the boat, under the boat, airborne on both sides of the boat, all chasing big needlefish and ballyhoo. It was one of the most incredible sights I’ve seen in lifelong fishing career. 

    Bottom line: Tyler jumped 4 tarpon from 80 – 120 lbs. Every fish eventually threw the fly. The frenzy petered out just before dark. Time for dinner. Dubs said the tide would be good again in the morning. He wanted to be on water before sunrise.

    Gorgeous 80 lb Turneffe Atoll Tarpon
    Tyler, Dubs and a nice Tarpon

    We got to Dubs’ favorite spot in the pre-dawn light. It was beautifully quiet and calm, except for the tide. Tyler straightened his line, ready to cast the black and purple Puglisi Tarpon Streamer tied on a circle hook, the same fly the 4 tarpon ate the day before. It wasn’t long before we saw Tarpon roll in the current left of the boat. One cast and Tyler was dancing with a tail walking Tarpon that again spit the fly.

    Not being a fan of circle hooks, I suggested to Dubs that we change the fly. We selected the exact same pattern tied on an Owner Aki traditional bend hook. Tarpon remained active around the boat and it wasn’t long before Ty connected again. This time the fly held through the first jump, the second and third jumps. 30 minutes later we landed this gorgeous fish, estimated at 80 lbs.

    The Tarpon had stopped rolling. We were back in time for breakfast, ready to sight fish for bones and permit the rest of the day.

  • Belize Special Rates

    We’ve put up a couple of report type posts on the fishing around Turneffe Atoll this week.  Since Belize is a great summer fishing destination and there are some great special fishing rates at 5 of the best fishing operations in Belize, we thought we’d get those special rates all posted in one place. Click on the links below to visit each destinations web page or call (800-628-1447) / email (info@angleradventures.com) for more information or to confirm your reservation.

    Permit Belize Style - Photo Credit: Turneffe Flats
    You can do this and get a discount!

     Turneffe Flats Resort – June 25 – December 24, 2011
     
    The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,859.72 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide.  The regular rate is $3,384 per person.

    Turneffe Island Resort – May 28 – December 16, 2011

    The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,587.50 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide.  The regular rate is $2,868.75 per person.

    Belize River Lodge – July 24 – December 18, 2011 (limited space available)

    The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,412 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide.  The regular rate is $3,668 per person.

    El Pescador – June 1 – December 15, 2011

    The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $2,595 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide.  The regular rate is $3,474 per person.

    Tarpon Caye Lodge – March 1 – July 31, 2011

    The cost for 7-nights/6-days fishing is $1,999 per person based on double occupancy accommodations and a shared boat / guide.  The regular rate is $2,890 per person.

  • Easy Bonefish Leaders

    We really like the “half again” leader formula – it’s easy to remember, turns over bonefish flies nicely, and can be easily adjusted to fit a variety of conditions.  Especially for Bonefishing, we find that the simpler the leader the better.  The “half-again” leader starts with a long butt, then half again, half again.

    For example, a 5’ butt of 30-lb, 2 1/2 ’ section of 20-lb, 15” of 15-lb plus 27” tippet of 12 lb gives you an 11-foot leader. 

    We recommend clear leader material such as Mason, Maxima Clear (not “Maxima Chameleon” or “Ultra Green”) Ande, Rio Saltwater IGFA or other brands designed for use in salt water.  The stiffness of Mason makes a good transition between fly line and leader, improving the ability of the leader to turn over the fly. Maxima, Ande and Rio are thinner than Mason,if you prefer a softer material.  Bring spools of 30-lb., 20-lb., 15-lb., 12-lb., 10-lb., and 8-lb. Mono.

    Chip Bates with a nice 12 pound Bahamas Bonefish
    Chip ties his own, you should too!

    Standard leader length is 9 – 12 feet.  On a windy day, shorten your leader to 7 – 9 feet.  On a calm day, lengthen your leader to 12 – 14 feet (or more).  In either case, test out how your leader turns over the fly under the conditions that day and make any necessary adjustments.

    Don’t Forget:  Check your leader regularly for wind knots or abrasion and replace if worn or weakened.

    You can find more on leaders, like using Flourocarbon, why we recommend it and what knots to use, as well as other helpful information about bonefishing in the Bahamas in our “Bahamas Bonefishing What to Bring List”.

  • Andros South Reduces Their Rates

    Long time favorite bonefishing lodge, Andros South, has just added another incentive to take a bonefishing trip this fall.  For October, November and December, Andros South reduced their 7-night/6-day fishing package rate from $3,950 per person to $3,250 per person, a savings of $700 per person.

    The $3,250 rate includes 7 nights having your own room, 6 days fishing south Andros Island with 2 anglers guide, all meals and drinks (including beer, wine, and liquor), round-trip transportation to Andros South from the South Andros airport, loaner fishing equipment (if needed), Global Rescue enrollment, and Bahamian room tax.

    Tailing Bones and Image Courtasy of Andros South
    And you get your own room!

    There is currently space in the following weeks (please call or email to confirm that space is still available).

    October 22 – 29, 2011

    November 5 – 12 & 19 – 16, 2011

    December 3 – 10 & 10 – 17, 2011

     Not what you’re looking for?  Check out our other bonefishing lodges in the Bahamas.

  • Bonefish Flies 2.0

    Saltwater flats fishing authority, Dick Brown, is releasing the second version of his Bonefish Fly Patterns book in June 2011.  Both of Dick’s books are considered must reads for any angler interested in improving his skills and learing more about bonefishing.  Sharing Dick’s passion for the sport, we’re excited to celebrate this all-new second edition by posting exclusive excerpts from Dick’s 2 books (Bonefish Fly Patterns and Fly Fishing for Bonefish) over next few months.  Many of you may have fished with guides mentioned in the book like Meko or Bully, or in locations after which flies are named, such as Mores Island.

    Check out the flyer here Bonefish Flies 2.0.

  • Why Bonefish in the Bahamas?

    A great example comes from a group of ours that just got back from Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island, Bahamas.  There is something special about Bahamas bonefishing that isn’t found wading a flat or casting to tailing fish.  The charm and arms wide open welcome of the Bahamas is even more apparent in the outer islands, like Acklins.  Group member Alec Kempe was describing a photograph taken after dinner on their last night said, “Shirley gave a speech in which she quoted Shakespeare from Romeo & Juliet “Parting is such sweet sorrow”; Peter baked us a wonderful cake & as a finale, Peter, Lavanda (wonderful singing voice) & Shirley sung to us. What a great show of appreciation & warmth – really a nice family!”

    That being said, the other reason to bonefish in the Bahamas is, well, BONEFISH!!!  Here’s a nice “10-pounder” landed by Pierce Walmsely.  Alec Kempe prefaced the image of Pierce’s bonefishng with “Lemon sharks & ‘cudas were all over us that day.  Gator kept Lemons from eating this particular fish with some great pole-on-the-sharks-head work.”

    Pierce Walmsely's Acklins bonefish.
    The colors are another reason – photo credit Alec Kempe

    Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn is one of the unique destinations where almost 100% of the fishing is done wading, unless you choose to fish from the skiff.  Want more information on Grey’s Point or fishing the out islands of the Bahamas – call Angler Adventures at 800-628-1447 (860-434-9624) or drop us an email at info@angleradventures.com.

  • Why Bonefish are Special

    We think bonefish are special too.  Here’s why Dick Brown thinks so:

    “Why bones are special—The bonefish is the nearest thing there is to a perfect gamefish for fly-fishing anglers. A voracious predator, it readily (but warily) takes flies. It accelerates faster and sprints farther than any other fish you take on light tackle. It fights more doggedly than most fish twice its size.

    This performance alone would qualify the bonefish as one of the world’s top fly-fishing targets. But what makes this silver phantom of the tropics the ultimate quarry in fly fishing is that you must see it—sometimes from 80 feet away—before you can even cast to it. You stalk it like a predator. You track it down, take your aim, and cast with precision. You must make no mistakes. The ruthless, primitive survival instincts of this skittish creature leave no room for error.”

    Reprinted from Fly Fishing for Bonefish, New and Revised by Dick Brown, (copyright 2008). Published by Lyons Press an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT

    It's special, let it go!
    Isn't that special?

  • The “Bully Special” Fly

    Here’s another excerpt from Dick Brown’s revised Bonefish Fly Patterns, which was re-released this summer.  At Angler Adventures, we’re really big fans of bonefish guides that can consistently find big fish.  The fly below was created by an excellent big bonefish guide at North Riding Point Club on Grand Bahama.

    The Bully Special

    It's not pretty, but it is effective
    Bully Special Fly Photo: © 2011 Dick Brown

    A Bully Bevans design. Sample in photo was tied by Bully on a size 4 34007 hook and measures horizontally 2″ in length from hook eye to end of tail; bottom tip of wing is about 1 3/8″ below hook shank. A second sample from Bully measured 2 1/2″ by 1 3/8″ on a larger hook. Fly rides hook-point up.

    Hook: 34007; sizes 4, 6

    Thread: Fluorescent (Gotcha) pink or orange (actually burnt orange in hue) Danville Flat Waxed Nylon 3/0

    Eyes: 5/32″ Spirit River nickel-plated I-Balz weighted barbell with green iris

    Tail: Heavy (about thirty to forty strands) copper Krystal Flash

    Body: Wound pearl Diamond Braid

    Wing: Heavy (about thirty to forty strands) copper Krystal Flash

    Prey notes: Suggestive of dark and medium brown mantis shrimps found in the Bahamas.

    Anecdotes: New England fly fisher Ledge Mitchell was one of the first to use the fly, and he later scored a trophy fish with it. “Bruce Bauman and I were fishing with Bully at North Riding Point three years ago,” says Ledge. “We were doing OK but had had a couple of refusals, so I asked Bully if there was anything else we should try. He reached in his pocket and pulled out an all–gold-copper pattern, saying, ‘Try this.’ We had good luck fishing that fly— five bones, as I remember—and when I asked what it was called, Bully replied, ‘I don’t know.’ So I said to Bully, ‘I’m going to name it after you.’” A year later Ledge returned to NRP and took a 14-pound bone while fishing with fellow angler Carl Soderland and guide Deon Leathen. The fly? You guessed it—the Bully Special, which Ledge had tied on a big #2 hook. Author’s note: This fly, or one very similar to it, appears in the 2008 new and revised edition of Fly Fishing for Bonefish as the Deepwater Cay Club Fly. I have Ledge Mitchell (see his anecdote above) to thank for tipping me off that the pattern was, in fact, the Bully Special from the North Riding Point Club.

    Bully Bevans is a superb bonefish guide. He is the North Riding Point Club’s “big fish specialist” and one of the guides most often requested by guests there. His fly has been extremely successful on Grand Bahama’s productive north shore.

    Tying notes: Bully says he came up with this very effective big bone fly because he was out of flies and needed something to fish with for a client the next day. Good tying materials are notoriously rare in the Bahamas, so in a moment of pure serendipity, he tied his creation out of what he had on hand. It worked from the first day and is now his favorite fly. He ties it in sizes 4 and 6 only—he does not like it any bigger. He likes lead eyes for normal 11⁄2- to 2-foot depths and bead chain for shallower water, but none for tailing. Author’s note: I received three samples of this fly tied by Bully: two from Bully and a chewed-up sample from Ledge Mitchell (which may be one of the first Bully ever tied). One had I-Balz eyes and pink thread, one had unpainted lead eyes and brown thread, and one had nickel-plated eyes and fire orange thread . . . and all looked very fishy!

    Reprinted from Bonefish Fly Patterns, 2nd Edition by Dick Brown, ©2011. Published by Lyons Press an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, Guilford, CT

  • FlyCastaway visits Angler Adventures

    Gerhard Laubscher of FlyCastaway is visiting Angler Adventures in Connecticut next week and giving a couple of presentations about FlyCastaway’s cutting edge fishing operations on St. Brandon’s Atoll, Mauritius and Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles.  Both destinations offer spectacular fisheries that get almost no fishing pressure due to their remote locations and are priced like rare commodities, adding exclusivity to both destinations attributes (Farquhar prices at $7,500 US and St. Brandon’s prices at 6,500 Euro). 

    To get started, here’s the guides report from the April 4 – 11, 2012 week at Farquhar that included one of our clients, Steve Gross, who was looking to tally up as many species as possible.

    If you’d like to attend Gerhard’s presentations, click here.

    Farquhar Atoll: 4-11 April 2012

    Beautiful TrevallyLike a tide eager to begin its initial surge, our new group of guests arrived on the shores of Farquhar champing at the bit to explore the multitude of flats and species Farquhar has on offer. After our customary quick briefing and some hasty rigging of tackle, the group which consisted of 9 men and one hard core fisherwoman set out to get a brief taste of what was in store for the rest of the week. The weather was set to be stable …we were hoping for an absolute cracker!

    GT's are abundant on FarquharYves quickly enticed his first Trigger to eat the fly. Jeff joining the action as he got stuck into a Milky as they are still here and feeding hard! Clare quickly showed the boys she was here to do business by landing the first GT, sadly her Dad. Finally after countless attempts, Wayne O finally managed to land his Trigger, which has been eluding him for years. And it didn’t end there for Wayne as he recorded our first Farquhar Slam, that being GT, a Bone and a Trigger in one day. Now that’s some serious angling and bragging rights!

    There are Milkies too!But back to the rest of the week, the Milkies were still hanging around and after and epic battle, Alex landed his first Milky, awesome fish Alex! His action didn’t stop there either, he also managed to land a GT and a Bone in the same day, quite an achievement. Good fishing was being experienced by all, although we did have a fair number of large GTs lost due to hooks pulling and lines breaking. Clare however had the pink touch (literally), and landed another good GT. Things were heating up and the pressure was on to get the desired species.

    A small GT is still a Giant Trevally!!!Ian subsequently also made his way in to the record book by landing all three of the species and Yves just failing to qualify by losing his GT. Wayne, Dean and Jeff had one truly memorable day whereby they landed 5 GTs, although Wayne did get smoked by a Yellowfin Tuna which tore off 300m of backing in less than 20 seconds late in afternoon!

    Triggerfish offer a flats fishing challange on Farquhar2 Slams in two days. Let’s make it 4 in three days. Dean and Jeff decided they also wanted a taste of that action and had no trouble landing a Trigger, a Bone and a GT. Piece of cake, all in a day’s work at the office….these were the comments around the dining room table each evening. Steve continued his species count and landed a truly impressive Napoleon.

    Don't under estimate these Sharks. They're fast, powerful, and fun on a fly, especially on a skinney flat.Last day out on the flats and Ian once again showed his metal landing a 98cm GT which was the largest of the week. Jeff and Wayne muscled in some Bumphead Parrotfish, whilst Steve braved “THE WALK” and reaped the rewards, landing Bones, Bluefin and two Blackfin Sharks. It was really good to have Steve out fishing with us after months of preparations and planning!

    An amazing week of fishing with 4 Farquhar Slams, 15 GTs, 6 Triggers, 2 Napoleons, some Bumpheads, a Milkfish and countless Bluefin, Grouper and Snapper. That is what Farquhar is all about!

  • Bonefishing in Winter Water Temps

    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. 

    For years I’ve heard that you shouldn’t go bonefishing in the winter months (December, January, February, even March) because of the risk of cold fronts.  I’ve also heard and read that bonefish are temperature sensitive and it’s futile to fish in water temperatures under 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    Hogwash!  In 25 years of booking bonefish trips and making plenty of them myself, I’d like to offer my “observations” on the subject.   While I haven’t adhered to strict scientific doctrine, I always carry a stream thermometer on bonefish trips and check water temps frequently.  And in my opinion, it’s more important which direction the water temperature is moving. 

    Yes, when a cold front pushes in and chills the water temps on the flats below 68 – 70 degrees, bonefish will start moving off the flats if they feel the temperature dropping, into deeper, warmer water.  It’s generally accepted (and I agree) that smaller bonefish are more sensitive to cooler water temps and the bigger boys will stay up on the flats feeding longer with dropping water temps (and be the first to return on rising temps).   I know a few trophy bone hunters who go in January so they won’t have to weed through the smaller fish!  As the water temp continues to drop, the bigger fish will also move off into deeper, warmer water.  But I’ve witnessed bigger fish feeding on the flat until temps hit 65 degrees.   If the temp continues to drop or holds steady at less than 65, fishing will be slow.

    However, bonefish need to eat, and by design, they take their nourishment on the fertile, food-rich flats.   Deep water is Slim Pickens for a bonefish so they don’t like to stay there long.  It’s been my observation, that even when air temperatures are in the low to mid-60’s, if the sun is out, the flats will soak up the sun’s radiant heat and warm quickly.  As soon as the bones sense the water temperature is rising, they will return to the flats and feed voraciously.  And the fishing can actually be fantastic.  I’ve experienced this on numerous occasions, but perhaps the best example took place in late February on Grand Bahama a few years ago.   

    North Riding Point Guide Bully with a Huge winter bonefish
    Notice the Fleece? And the 14 lb January Bonefish?

    My fishing buddy, Mark Hatter and I arrived during a “cold front”.   The water temperature on the flat was 63-64 degrees our first morning.   But the sun was strong, and the flat was soaking in the radiant heat, and the water temp was rising.  We barely got line stripped off our reels before we were making shots at hungry bones.   The sun held and the water temperature continued to slowly rise (I checked it several times during the day), and the bones fed like gluttons all day!   At 3:30 pm as we reeled in, I checked the temperature one last time – 69 degrees.  We had boated 32 bones, all between 5 and 9 ½ pounds, and the water temp never even hit 70 degrees!  It was a spectacular day of high quality bonefishing – in the dead of winter, on the tail of a cold front – when you’re not supposed to go! 

    I’ve had other similar experiences that support my position.  And on the flip side, I’ve lost fishing days to wind and sideways rain in April and May, so called “prime time”.   The weather can bite you in the tail anytime.   The guy who said, “the best time to go fishing is when you can get away”, may have known something the “experts” didn’t!   So…Fear Not Winter Bonefishing!  You might just hit some of the best bonefishing you’ve ever had!

    Want to learn more about bonefishing bonefishing in the winter months or go on a winter bonefishing trip – Call Doug in the Angler Adventures office (800-628-1447 / 860-434-9624) or email Doug@angleradventures.com.

  • Free Bonefishing!

    Attention all bonefish anglers: We here at Angler Adventures are raffling off a free bonefishing trip for 2 anglers to one of the best destinations in the Bahamas, North Riding Point Club.  This trip to Grand Bahama Island is valued at $6,600.  The trip is for 4-nights/3-days of fishing for 2 people anytime North Riding Point Club has space available during the months of January, February, March, June, July, October and December 2011 or 2012.

    It’s easy and free to enter – just email Evan@angleradventures.com for a chance to win this awesome bonefishing trip.  Or, give us a call at 800-628-1447 (860-434-9624) and we’ll be happy to add you. 

    Plus, to sweeten the pot, we’ve added a bonus promotion for everyone who enters the raffle. Stay 5-nights/4-days for the price of 4-nights/3-days. In other words, you pay $2,640 per person (October to the end of February and July), a savings of $660 per person or pay $3,300 per person (March through June), a savings of $900 per person.

    For more details, click below:

    Want Free Bonefishing? Click here for more details.
    Wanna Bonefish for Free?

  • St Brandon’s Atoll Bonefishing

    FlyCastaway has arrived in Connecticut and we’ve been enjoying spending some quality time with Gerhard and hearing him speak about the fishing programs.  You may not have heard, but St Brandon’s has been described as the finest bonefishing in the world.  We know it’s a tall order to fill, since there are excellent fisheries like North Riding Point, that produce quality numbers of double digit bonefish each year.  An excerpt from a FlyCastaway’s description of the May 11 – 20, 2012 trip to St. Brandon’s.  

    The week started off with an absolute bang, the neap tides meant we had ample time to fish some of our Bonefish hotspots and we literally climbed into the monsters St Brandon’s has become renowned for. Simply put, the fishing was off the charts! Each day at least one team would return home with an image of a weighed double digit Bonefish. For those not in the know, most dedicated saltwater anglers will go his entire lifetime without ever holding a 10lb fish….and we were doing it on a daily basis. By the end of the week we racked up no less than ten fish, which weighed over the 10lb mark, two of which were eleven pounds!

    The average size was equally impressive, and when guys started putting their noses up at eight pounders we had to give them a little pep talk. Something along the lines of “each fish is special” and “you don’t know when you’ll get this opportunity again”. Added to this we had some scary good sight fishing for these hogs as they tailed in water no deeper than our gravel guards …

    The “schooling” bonefish are in the 6 – 7 pound class, one or two 4-pound bonefish may be the smallest bonefish you’ll see, and there are bones there pushing 14-pounds.  Oh, the fishing is 100% wading and there are only 8 anglers fishing these flats every other week over two 3-month seasons each year. If you love bonefishing, this might just be having your cake and eating it too!

    Nice Bonefish from St. Brandon's Atoll

  • Seychelles Best Flats Fishing – Farquhar Atoll

    The Seychelles became a bucket list destination because it’s a beautiful, remote destination with fantastic wading for bonefish on hard sand & coral flats and a variety of other species both on and off the flats that added depth to the fishery.  Recently, a new fishing operation has opened on Farquhar Atoll, which has taken those credentials to the next level.  

    Beautiful and remote? Farquhar is called the “Jewel of the Seychelles” and considered to be the most beautiful island in the archipelago and also the southern most atoll (2 hour flight from Mahe).  The staff and guests are the only people on the atoll, living in the islands only accommodations.  Check.

    Fantastic Bonefishing? The fishing is 100% wading.  The average schooling bonefish is 4 – 6 pounds and there will be quite a few bonefish in the 6 – 8 pound range.  Most anglers end up leaving the schools to find fish in single and doubles for a bit more of a challenge.  Check.

    Variety of Species?  In addition to Bonefish, there are the normal fish you’d expect to see on a flat in the Seychelles: Shark, Barracuda, Snapper, Triggerfish, Trevally (including Giant Trevally), Milkfish, Napoleon Wrasse and Indo-Pacific Permit.  The guides on Farquhar have also figured out how to catch Humphead Parrotfish, which were previously though to be uncatchable on the fly and become experts at targeting GT’s (Giant Trevally).  You can also fish deeper water for Sailfish, several Grouper species, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Job fish, and more.  A client of our landed 18 different species on the fly…all with a floating line!    Check.

    This is truly one of the special fishing destinations in world, and the reservations book shows it – the first availability is for late-October 2013.  If you’re interested in fishing Farquhar, we suggest getting started now.  Like Farquhar, but more interested in Bonefishing?  Check out Farquhar’s sister operation St. Brandon’s Atoll, which has better bonefishing with less variety. 

    Farquhar Bonefish
    Bonefish!

  • Three Second Rule

    Bonefish Flies

    One of the biggest mistakes a bonefisherman can make is failing to adjust his fly to changing water depth.  Your fly should be weighted such that it sinks quickly to the bottom and then stays near the bottom within view of the fish after you begin stripping.  If you strip the fly above a bonefish, it will never see it.
    The average flat depth, whether you’re wading or poling, ranges from 1-2½ ft.  In this depth, a Gotcha or Amber Shrimp with medium sized bead chain eyes should provide close to the perfect sink rate, without overweighing the fly (and potentially spooking the fish).  A good rule of thumb is your fly should reach the bottom in about 3 seconds.  If you find your fly is not getting to the bottom, you should switch to a fly with lead eyes or add a few wraps of lead wire to the eye of the fly.

    The angler who is willing to fish deeper flats will often be rewarded with the largest bonefish.  Big bonefish prefer the protection of deeper flats or shallow flats close to deep water.  When you’re fishing water 3-4 feet deep, you’ll need a fly with lead eyes to get to the bottom quickly.  Proven deep-water flies are the Clouser minnow (especially tan and white and chartreuse and white), the Simram, (a rabbit fur version of the Gotcha fly with lead eyes) and Henry Cowen’s Bonefish Scampi. Lead eyes come in a variety of weights and for joy of casting, you’ll want to carry flies with the smaller lead eyes, as well as the heavier lead eyes that cause many of us to duck when forward casting.

    The last thing a bonefisherman wants to do is scare the daylights out of an actively feeding fish by casting too heavy a fly too close to the fish. Therefore, you must go light in skinny water. By light we mean no weight other than the weight of the hook. For this we recommend mono (or plastic) eyes and a body that lands softly. A well-designed fly for this situation is a pattern called the bunny bone in sizes 4, 6, and 8.

    The bunny bone is made with rabbit fur, rug yarn and mono eyes.  You can throw this unweighted fly quite close to a tailing fish. Its entry into the water is soft, but it sinks well. The rabbit fur makes it look alive even before it’s stripped. All you need to do is give it the tiniest of strips. Don’t strip the fly too far or too fast when working a tailing fish.

    Before you begin fishing it is also advisable to have a handy selection of the flies you’re most likely to use that day.  Have a selection that covers all water depths, so you are prepared when a quick change is required.  For even quicker adjustments to changes in water depths, have a spool of lead wire handy and wrap a small piece around the eye of the fly, as needed.

     This was another except from the Angler Adventures “Bahamas What to Bring List”.

  • Preparing for Your Bonefishing Trip: Wading

    Protect Your Feet with a good pair of wading shoes or boots designed for flats fishing, a few pairs of wet wading socks, and don’t forget to break in your shoes.  Wading shoes and socks will help to keep sand out and reduce blister forming friction, as well as giving support for a day of wading.  But, if the first time you put on your wading shoes in the Bahamas, it’ll be a long week.  Break in your shoes by wearing them around the house for an hour or two a couple times per week.  It’s much better than blisters or sore arches.  Do Not wear last years sneakers with cotton socks or open sandals – your feet will thank you.

     Click here for more information on wading shoes

    Find a Comfortable lumbar pack or chest/sling pack.  Bigger is not always better.  The pack should have the essentials (flies, leader and tippet material, nippers, hook file, pliers / hemostats, light rain jacket, camera, water bottle, and maybe your lunch / snack) but not packed full so it disturbs your casting.

    Wading is Exercise and it can be a lot of work, especially at a destination like Grey’s Point Inn, South Caicos or the Seychelles where there are extensive flats and you might wade all day.  Some flats are firm and easy to wade, while others can be slightly soft or have uneven bottoms, which make walking more difficult.  To be sure you’re physically prepared for long wading sessions, schedule long walks or hikes months before your trip.  It’s also a great way to find some more remote areas on your local waters, so don’t forget your rod and a box flies!

    A Little Practice Casting can make the difference between getting your fly to that 9-pound bonefish, or watching it leave a rooster tail as it runs for deeper water.  The majority of shots at bonefish while wading happen between 40’ – 60’, so accuracy and versatility are more important than speed and distance (but the later can also be helpful).  The best practice casting is to targets in that 40’ – 60’ range, from different angles (click here to see a diagram of the casting clock).  Be sure that you’re not just casting with the wind at your back – knowing how to handle wind blowing in your face or from your right / left will make getting your fly in the right place much easier.  Don’t forget to practice your casting while wearing your pack!

    Want more tips on flats fishing; check our “What to Bring” list by clicking here.

    Image

  • Religious Experience vs Purpose in Life

    Religious Experience vs Purpose in Life

    by Chip Bates

    In his fascinating article in the November/December issue of Fly Fishing in Salt Waters entitled, “Thinking Outside the Boat”, Editor John Frazier refers to his wading experiences at Grey’s Point Bonefish Bonefish Inn, Acklins Island, Bahamas, as a “religious experience”.

    I’m an extremist member of that congregation.

    I’m celebrating a half century of fly fishing this year. I’ve seen my passion for the sport get more and more focused over the years. In the 70’s, I caught my first bonefish on a fly in the Bahamas. In the 80’s, I added tarpon and permit (Belize, Mexico, Bahamas, Los Roques and Florida Keys). In the early 90’s, I chalked up my first double digit bone (Andros). In the late 90’s, I gravitated toward wading, mostly to enable my partner and me to fish at the same time, one in the boat, one on foot. That was also the decade I fished the Seychelles for the first time. Wow!

    All-day-walking miles of gorgeous flats, searching for underwater movement of any kind, keeping sharks at bay when bones were in sight, mixing it up with milkfish, trevally and permit. It was way too much fun to call exercise.

    By the year 2000, I had blinders on. I’d become a wading junkie, transfixed by catching big bonefish on foot in water so shallow, the fish couldn’t hide it’s own body parts!

    Bonefish-tailing-on-the-Flats

    Knowing where to find them, what tide, time of day, how to approach and catch these hyper sensitive, actively feeding fish, became my “purpose in life”!

    Being in the right place at the right time, then having it confirmed by the sudden appearance of an enormous tail, creates an explosion of urgency, nervousness, opportunity and energy …. An adrenalin rush beyond compare. You get pretty good at judging the size of the fish by the thickness and width of the fork in his tail. Think jaws of life, not pruning shears!

    Chip’s progression:
    Sightfishing
    Fishing for bonefish
    Fly fishing for bonefish
    Fly fishing for big bonefish
    Fly fishing for big tailing bonefish
    Fly fishing for big tailing bonefish while wading!
     

    That's a big tail!
    That’s a big tail!

    Back to Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Editor, John Frazier.  John fished 3 days at one of the premier wading destinations in the Bahamas, Grey’s Point Bonefish Inn on Acklins Island, with Angler Adventure’s fishing “pro”, Doug Schlink. Three days was hardly enough, but John adapted quickly, caught lots of fish to 6 pounds and got a shot at a 10 + pound fish in 6 inches of water! I’ll give John a few years to ratchet up “religious experience” to “purpose in life”.  For a great read, by a talented writer, fisherman and photographer, check out this link to the:

      “Ultimate Wade Fishing Special” in the November/December 2013 issue.

  • Go Small. Go Light. Go Weedless.

    Bonefish on Grass Flats

    Go Small.  Go Light.  Go Weedless.

    by Chip Bates

    You can encounter tailing fish on any fertile bottom, but weedy bottoms hold the most prey, therefore the most fish. Big fish seem more comfortable feeding in the shallows over a dark bottom.  Click here for tips on Shallow Water, Tailing Fish.

    The end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming brings the skinniest water that’s when you’ll find fish tailing over the weeds. To catch them, you’ll need a fly that doesn’t “plop” when it hits the water: go small.

    A tailing fish is focused on a small area.  Frequently he’ll create a cloud of sand or mud where he’s feeding. You must put the fly in the area where’s he’s rooting, a matter of inches from his nose. You must throw a fly that doesn’t spook him when it lands: go light.

    Once the fly lands in front of the fish, let it sink, then give it the tiniest of strips: go weedless.

    Without a weed guard, your fly will invariably snag on grass and stripping a fly that’s hooked on a weed is like drag on a dry fly.  Click Here for Tips on Tailing Fish over Weedy Bottoms.

    There are loads of excellent flies for bonefishing in skinny water, but our number one fly is the Bunny Bone when we need to go small, light or weedless.  Having a variety of Bunny Bones in your fly box is a necessity, especially when wading for bonefish.  Tan or brown (tied with tan or pink thread) rabbit fur tail with a little gold Mylar and mono eyes are top producing colors.  It’s also a great fly in slightly deeper water with small or medium bead chain eyes, instead of mono.  Try adding crazy legs and don’t forget the weed guard!  Click here for more information on tying bonefish flies, including the Bunny Bone.

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  • 14 Pound Bonefish on a #2 Simram at North Riding Point Club, Grand Bahama

    Huge Bonefish fooled by #2 Simram
    #2 Simram fools 14 pound Bonefish & What’s New at North Riding Point Club

    The bonefish in the photo above is a 14-pounder landed in February off the north shore of Grand Bahama. Carl Heilman, who landed this monster, also landed a tarpon (the group jumped 3 and landed 2). Chris Bamford landed the other tarpon, as well as the triggerfish, John Wilson jumped a tarpon and Scott Trerotola landed a 10 lb Mutton Snapper that was cruising behind a Ray. Each member of the group also landed several bonefish between 5 – 10 pounds.

    Bill & Liz Aldendifer also had a fantastic trip to Grand Bahama. Together, they landed several fish in 7 – 8 pound range, a couple 9 pounders, a 10 pounder, and a 12 pounder on Bill’s birthday. Bill came close to having a 14+ pounder in hand, but lost it at the boat when the guide grabbed the leader. Bill, a permit aficionado, said that the 14+ pound bonefish fought harder than any permit he’s hooked, even his 30 pounder in Ascension Bay.

    All of the above mentioned were Angler Adventures’ clients staying at North Riding Point Club. Click or Tap here to see Bill, Liz, Scott, and more photos of our clients with their fish on our Facebook page.

    Paul-Adams-NRPCPaul Adams Takes Reigns at North Riding Point Club

    Replacing Tim and Mercedes at North Riding Point Club (NRPC) is veteran lodge manager Paul Adams. Originally from Indiana, Paul was raised in the Bahamas, while his parents managed Deep Water Cay from 1976 – 1984. Paul attended school in McLeans Town, where he became friends with many of the famous Grand Bahama Guides, including NRPC head guide, Stanley Glinton, who taught Paul how to pole a skiff. Paul’s fly fishing instructor at an early age was none other than well known sportsman and author, AJ McClane. Paul and his wife Alison also managed Deep Water Cay for 8 years, from 1996 – 2004. Paul’s local knowledge, hands on management style and angling experience make him the perfect choice for this position.

    New Hells Bay Marquesa SkiffsNorth Riding Point Club's New Hells Bay Marquesa Skiff

    North Riding Point Club (NRPC) has acquired 5 new 17-foot Hells Bay Marquesa Skiffs with 90 HP Yamaha 4-stroke outboards and new trailers. NRPC has also upgraded their fleet of vehicles with a couple of newer Ford Explorer SUVs. The boats are equipped with padded seats, leaning bar and power poles. The Hells Bay skiffs have been in use since January 2013 and clients and guides alike are raving about the comfort and speed, especially when making the run to Sale Cay.

    For reservations, or more information, please call Angler Adventures at 800-628-1447 or 860-434-9624 or send us an email at info@angleradventures.com.

  • Winter Bonefishing Revisited – Drop That Snow Shovel!

    Winter Bonefishing Revisited – Drop That Snow Shovel!

    The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s August “Conservation Captain of the Month” is veteran guide Capt. Bob Branham. Bob fishes the Key Biscayne and South Biscayne Bay areas and has been guiding for 35 years.  When asked to tell a favorite fishing story, he recalled a day of cold water bonefishing, excerpted from the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Blog below (read the full blog here: http://blog.bonefishtarpontrust.org/?p=2619). Bob’s story couldn’t help but remind us of Doug Schlink’s Blog post on Winter Bonefishing in the Bahamas (http://angleradventures.wordpress.com/2011/09/28/bonefishing-in-winter-water-temps/).

    (BTT) Tell us one (or two) of your favorite fishing stories.

    (BB)  Years ago in March we had a strong cold front pass through. It was a sunny and windless day but the air temp was low 30′s- I had ice on my windshield when I got in my car. My customer was from Toronto and when he showed up I told him it was a no-go – water temp was 54 deg. and there was no way we would see a bonefish. He looked at me and said that he had to get out of the house as his kids were out of control and his wife had some honey-do’s lined up if he stayed home. He mentioned that it looked like a beautiful day to him – he was in shorts. I put on my down parka and off we went. We were headed south in hopes of maybe catching a ‘cuda or something and when I got to Stiltsville, I couldn’t believe it. Bonefish mud was all over this flat. It seemed like every bonefish in the Bay was there, feeding hard. We stayed on that flat all day and hooked 30 fish on fly – none was less than 7 lbs. It did warm up a bit. Air temps hit 65 deg. and water temps came up to the low 60′s. – still way too low for bonefish or so I used to think.

    So, if you’re interested in BIG bonefish, and being shin-deep on a tropical flat waving a fly rods sounds more appealing than being knee-deep in your driveway schlepping a snow shovel, check out our Bahamas Lodges at https://www.angleradventures.com/Bahamas.htm, give us a call at 800-628-1447 / 860-434-9624, or drop us an email at info@angleradventures.com.

    Winter Bonefish
    Winter Bonefishing.

  • 60 Pound Permit Landed on Fly in the Bahamas

    60 Pound Permit Landed on Fly in the Bahamas

    We haven’t stopped talking about Bob Cosgriff’s HUGE PERMIT since he sent us the first photo February 25, 2015 on his way home from the Bahamas.  You can read Bob’s write up and see a photo below.  More photos from Bob’s trip can be found on our Facebook Page.

    60 lb Permit
    Photo Credit to Capt. Barry Kanavy

    “PERMIT – IT’S HUGE!”

    by Bob Cosgriff

    These are the words we all long to hear. But let’s start at the beginning.

    After several months of miserable winter weather my friend Capt. Barry Kanavy and I were looking forward to six days of fishing on Acklins Island at Grey’s Point Bonefishing Lodge.  Acklins is known for its bonefishing so we loaded up on equipment for the grey ghost.  Evan Peterson at Angler Adventures had suggested we hook up with the head guide at Greys,  Garon Williamson to show us around.

    My motto is be ready for “anything”.  So that means 5 rods: Three eight weights for Bones, a nine weight for Permit and a ten weight for Barracuda .  Every thing was packed, lines cleaned, leaders checked and five boxes of flies; just the basics!

    The week started with three days of fly tying as a cold front shut everything down. On day four & five the clouds parted and we got to experience what Grey’s Point is noted for, stalking bones on expansive wading flats. On our last day, I made a casual comment to Garon that we’d like fish from the boat and try our luck with the Cudas we had seen prowling the deeper flats.  That request would change our fishing lives forever.

    5 Foot Barracuda on the Fly
    Photo Credit: Barry Kanavy

    Two hours later Barry and I surveyed our frayed leaders, mangled wire, shredded Barracuda flies and some great photos to remember our time stalking these torpedoes.  Garon mentioned he had one more place to show us for barracuda and the occasional permit.

    We motored over on the ocean side and cruised around for five minutes when I heard Garon call from the back of the boat “PERMIT – IT’S HUGE” …tailing behind a ray.

    I jumped off the poling platform where I had been sitting and walked forward as Barry pulled out my permit rig of choice: Helios2 9wt, Nautilus NV reel , Rio 9 weight permit line connected to a  Rio 20lb leader, ending with a tan Kung fu crab size 4.  I was ready. I was confident.  After all I had recently tamed some bad ass cudas! I stripped out my line, saw the ray, and on my third attempt cast 65 feet landing the leader 2 feet over the ray.  I let the fly sink in the 5 foot water and then felt a small tug. I set the hook and the permit was on.  Things stayed pretty calm, the line cleared the deck and everything was under control.  I had caught small permit before, so how bad could this be? I would soon find out.

    The fish then began a slow turn on my right side. Not a full run but a slow drive by so he could give me a once over. It was then that I realized Garon had been trying to keep me calm when he said, “huge Permit”.  It wasn’t huge, it was a monster! I felt my confidence drain as if I’d sprung a leak. I clicked down the drag three times . . . I was going to need all of it.  I looked at the nine weight in my hands and realized that I had brought a knife to a gun fight. Seconds later my reel started to scream and I said goodbye to my fly line for the next 35 minutes as the permit began his run to open water and large swells. Barry grabbed the back of my belt to stabilize me in the rolling water and to relay commands to Garon. Twice the fish surged out to deeper water and I was still hanging on. Then I looked down at my reel to see the backing getting very thin.  I estimated I had 50 feet left and yelled to Barry and Garon to fire up the engine and we slowly regained some backing only to have the fish take off again.  We kept this game up for 20 minutes until he made a run to some rocks on a point.  Now I had my moment of truth. I had to stop him from reaching the rocks, even if I broke him off. I swung the rod to the left, put as much pressure as I could and hoped he would turn before the rod exploded.  Ten feet from the rocks the fish turned and for the first time in the battle I felt I really had a chance to land this beast.

    Slowly I gained backing and started to control his head.  Finally I saw my fly line coming back through the guides. 35 minutes had gone by and my arms and legs were on fire. Slowly he came to the boat moving back and forth using his body as a brake against me. He was three feet off the bow when I had a new panic attack that I had lost my leverage and the big fish was taking advantage of that.  Finally he came around the side, Garon touched the leader and grabbed the tail like his life depended on it.

    Barry and I waited for Garon to stand up with our trophy, but nothing happened.  Then we heard him yell that the fish was too heavy. Barry grabbed Garon’s belt and back pack and pulled our guide back into the boat – holding the biggest permit we had ever seen.  The fish sat on the floor – We were stunned! No one did anything or spoke for 15 seconds, we just looked at a truly colossal permit.  We regained our composure and with both Garon and I holding the fish Barry took some quick pictures.

    Check out that mouth!
    Photo Credit: Capt. Barry Kanavy

    Now our efforts reversed as we scrambled to get the fish back into the water to live another day.  He was tired but slowly he got stronger and Garon let go of the tail as he headed off to deeper water.

    How big was the permit? We estimated sixty pounds. Other veteran guides, after seeing the pictures say, 60-70 pounds – others less.  Is it a record? We will leave that to others to decide.  We quickly measured the length against the rod – 45 inches! The girth not measured but look at the photos – you guess.

    All we know is that on February 24, 2015 something special took place out there.  Garon summed it up best when he said “We will fish the rest of our lives and never catch a fish like that again”.  Barry and I quietly nodded our heads as we slowly motored back to the lodge.  We were done for the day.

    Ultimately, it wasn’t about breaking or claiming records.  The best part was watching the fish swim away.

    Angler Adventures

    Phone (800) 628-1447 * (860) 434-9624 * Fax (860) 434-8605

    Email info@angleradventures.com

    Website www.www.angleradventures.com

  • Fishing in Cuba Now Legal!

    US Citizens can now legally sport fish in Cuba

    2015 will be remembered in Angling history as the year it became legal for US Citizens, in possession of a “people to people” travel letter from the non-profit fisheries research and conservation organization Bonefish Tarpon Trust (BTT), to sport fish in Cuba.

    2015 is also the year travel restrictions were lifted, making it legal for US airlines to fly to Cuba, US travel agents to book travelers to Cuba and US insurance companies to offer travel insurance to US Citizens traveling to Cuba.

    Angler Adventures has been assisting a limited number of US anglers traveling legally to Cuba for several years. But, the easing of restrictions in general and the travel license from BTT in particular, opens the door for any US angler wanting to fish Cuba.

    What hasn’t changed (and will take years to catch up) is the tourist infrastructure within Cuba and the transportation network to Cuba. Traveling to Cuba is still complex. We recommend using a knowledgeable, qualified travel agent, whether it’s your first trip or your twelfth.

    In addition to having a staff of fishing experts, Angler Adventures is a full service travel agency, licensed to sell travel insurance. Angler Adventures can assist you in selecting a fishing location in Cuba, prepare you for what to fish for and what to bring, assist you in obtaining the travel letter from the BTT, assist with your Cuban Visa, create the most efficient travel itinerary for you and your group and offer you the protection of travel insurance for trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical evacuation, and more.

    Call us today at 1-800-628-1447. There is so much more we’d like to share with you about this fascinating country and phenomenal saltwater fishery.

    Want to know more about traveling to Cuba and its amazing Fisheries:  Click or Tap below.

    Cuba: Now Available – Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook & More

    Jardines de la Reina: Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon! Grand Slam!

    Cayo Largo: Over 500 Fly Caught Permit!

    Cayo Cruz: Big Bones and Tailing Permit

    Isla de la Juventud:  Big Tarpon and Snook