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VISIT Eleuthera - Spanish Wells - Harbour Islands Mayaguana - Great Inagua - Ragged Islands San Salvador - Rum Cay - Conception Islands
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GUIDES, TIPS & TACTICS
Wading is very different from fishing out of a poled skiff. First, you don't necessarily want to strip off as much line as you can cast accurately (as you would fishing from a skiff), especially if you can cast over sixty feet. We recommend stripping off forty to fifty feet of line, then trailing it behind you in one long open non-tangled loop. This will allow you to break the water surface tension on the line and make a good cast quickly. You should still have at least a rod's length of line out of the tiptop guide, and be holding your tippet just above the fly in your non-casting hand. In general, wading anglers can get closer to fish without spooking them than boat anglers can. To balance this out, however, wading anglers are often fishing to tailing fish. Bonefish in skinny water will usually be more spooky than fish in deeper water. It is important to notice a fish's behavior. Is it cruising, stopping occasionally to feed, or is it feeding aggressively? This will tip you on how you should present your fly. We like to cast very close to aggressive fish, especially when their heads are buried and kicking up mud. Fish feeding sporadically need a longer lead. Cruising fish need the longest lead, and especially if they're bunched into large schools. When we see a school of ten or more fish in skinny water, tails and fins breaking the surface, we often drop a fly twenty or more feet in front of them, then just let the fly sit. A small Yarn Crab is our favorite pattern for this tactic. As the fish reach the fly, we give the fly just the slightest twitch. This method works most of the time, even on the spookiest of fish on flats that are hammered by anglers. The mistake most anglers make is to strip too soon, or too long. A longer strip makes too much commotion. You just need a tiny twitch, and patience, patience, patience. Another tactic we employ when wading is casting directly into the wind. By doing this you will be able to straighten out your backcast, then drive it forward with ease. You can crouch low and use a sidearm cast to avoid most of the wind too. But most of all, the wind will be carrying any sounds or disturbances you make away from the fish. You'll be able to get close for good visuals on the hook-set. The last tip is on how to walk
when you wade. Shuffling or sliding your feet is a good option when fishing
on flats with a lot of stingrays, though there are not many of these in
The Bahamas. If you shuffle, be careful to do it slowly and smoothly.
You don't want to put up a wake that will alert nearby fish. Our favorite
method, taught to us by some long-legged Bahamian guides years ago, is
to walk like a heron if the water is shallow. Pick your leg up slowly,
completely out of the water, then point your toes and ease your foot back
down to the bottom. Total silence is the goal here. No splashing. No wake.
Stealth is key when stalking tailing bones. Independent Guides Section - Last additions/updates - May 26, 2009. Phillip Rolle is one of the top guides on North Andros, and he specializes in fishing the Joulter's Cays. If you are looking to book a day guide in the area, Phillip and his team are a good option. Phillip's company, North Andros Fly Fishing, also has a nice two-beroom rental cottage available if you would like to book a package of lodging, meals, and guided fishing on North Andros. This is a good option for serious anglers looking to focus on fishing the Joulter's Cays. You can contact Phillip through is web site North Andros Fly Fishing. - Two Boys Inn - Great Value and DIY Options -- Frankie Neymour, Charlie's brother, and Barry Neymour, Frankie and Charlie's cousin, have started a small guest house on Cargill Creek....this is an ideal spot and a great price for anglers who want to fish with a top guide and/or DIY....excellent wade fishing options in the area. Email Kim for the details, and she can begin booking your trip. BIG CHARLIE'S LODGE on Cargill Creek - One of our favorite guides of all time--Charlie makes every day on the water fun. Charlie, and his wife, Fatiah, have moved from Nottages Cottages, and now have their own comfortable lodge on Cargill Creek. Aside from great bonefishing, tarpon fishing, and reef fishing, Charlie also offers camps out trips to the West Side for wild boar hunting and wing shooting. You can book Charlie and some of the other best independent guides on Andros by emaling Kim directly. Bonafide Bonefishing, operated by top guide Docky Smith, is our choice as the best guide to fish with on Long Island. Please visit Docky's web site, which is a wealth of information on fishing in Long Island. Here you can book Docky directly, learn more about his operation and experience, see his tackle recommendations, and look at some great photos. Check out the permit shots. Wow. Email Kim directly to begin planning your complete package including accommodations and other activities at Stella Maris Resort. Green Turtle Cay, Abaco - The perfect blend of a remote cay with gorgeous beaches, classy small resorts, and good fishing. A romantic spot for a honeymoon, or plenty to do for a family vacation. So, all this means we get lots of requests for guide recommendations on Green Turtle. Here they are. Rick Sawyer (242-365-4261) or Ronny Sawyer (242-365-4070) are the bonefishing guides we recommend. You can visit Capt. Rick Sawyer's web site at: Abaco Flyfish. Freeport, Grand Bahama
- Our Lucaya, now the Westin Lucaya and the Sheraton Lucaya (but all the
same resort in spite of the different names) draws the general vacationing
public to Grand Bahama, and some of you want to go bonefishing while on
a family vacation. There are a number of independent guides who can take
you out. Here are a few we like. East End, Grand Bahama - There are some good options on the East End of the island as well fishing with independent guides in this area and staying in Freeport, or choosing a nice relaxing lodging option on the beach away from it all. We have heard good reports from readers about guide Bill Humes. Bill can be contacted at www.rainbowreeftours.com or by phone at: 242 353 6013. Bill has lodging options on his web site for beachfront locations near McLeans Town. Captain Perry Demeritte, out of McLeans Town has received excellent recommendations from readers. Capt. Perry will pick you up at your hotel for a full or half day of fishing. He also has fly rods and spinning rods for rent. You can contact him at 242-353-3301, or e-mail , or visit his web site for full details of his services, his rates, etc. Capt. Perry is a licensed guide with a customized 17-ft Maverick Mirage powered by an 85hp Yamaha. Deadman's Cay, Long Island - Captain Phillip Cartwright has received high recommendations from readers who have fished with him a number of times and keep going back. you can contact Phillip at: 1-242-337-0143. Colin Cartwright has a good bonefishing operation under way....The Triple Seas Bonefish Lodge is located on the waterfront near the Deadman's Cay Sound. The lodge can accommodate four anglers, and is just minutes away by boat from the inland flats. All rooms have a/c and private baths. The Hot Spot restaurant and bar is a short walk away. Anglers fly into Deadman's Cay Airport. Colin is also available as an independent guide if you are staying somewhere else. For more information contact Colin Cartwright at 242-357-1067 (cell), or 242-337-0443 (home). Email: Colin Cartwright. Harbour Island, North Eleuthera - This swanky little island is one of the most upscale in the Bahamas and home to a number of full-service resorts (including our favorite, Pink Sands), numerous rental homes and cottages, and of course, three famous miles of pink sand beaches. Visitors fly in to North Eleuthera Airport, then take a land taxi, and then a water taxi to reach the island. A number of well-known bonefishing guides work from the main Harbour Island dock, including the legendary Bonefish Joe Cleare and Bonefish Stanley Johnson. Most of the guides can be contacted through the hotels and resorts. Guided bonefishing prices on Harbour Island are the highest in the Bahamas, but not quite as high as in the Turks & Caicos, so be prepared. Stanley Johnson's grandson, Jermaine Johnson, offers a reliable guide service, and easy communication through his web site, e-mail,, or by phone--home: (242) 333-3205; mobile: (242) 464-0760.
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©
2003 Stephen and Kim Vletas
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WADING
THE FLATS: We're seeing more people interested in fishing on their
own than ever before. With that in mind, here are some things that you
might find useful.