Re: Andros trip pt 2

Down South

Date: April 06, 2008 at 13:07:52
From: MIker, [pool-72-76-160-41.nwrknj.east.verizon.net]
Subject: Re: Andros trip pt 2

Its seemed that each days run from the lodge was somewhat predetermined by the guide staff so most if not all boats started their runs in the same general direction and then headed off to spots favored by that particular guide.Theres aproximately 40 miles of water one could cover heading east and an untotaled amount of cuts rivers etc off of that so you very seldom saw another boat fishing close to you.Once you arrived at a spot the guide picked to start you flip a coin with your boat buddy as to who fished first.This I understand can get sticky with some but the four of us never had a problem. Fish to you got a fish or lacking that a good shot at one without being a hog.If it was windy it helped to tend the other fishers line especially if he was making a couple of shots at moving fish and the line was blowing all over the place.

What I have heard but did not know about bonefish is that they have mirror like sides and take on the color of their surroundings so whether in sand/mud waters or over white sand with corral they are hard to see. And unlike Keys bonefishing you seldom fish to tailors or mudding fish.

Once you arrive at a site the guide poles the baot in close to mangroves where you look for fish.If its sunny you can see them from ok to difficult. As the sun levels goes down they get very difficult to see.What happens sometimes is that you might be parked under a cloud and you might see sun for example to the north or south. The guides have to figure whats best, run another 10 15 minutes or stay put.It not unusual to get stuck under a passing cloud for awhile and then see fish, or if you wait too long waste an hour or so and see nothing..

I had 4 rods along, 7 thru 10 wt. but fished only the 8 and 9.I made up my leaders 10 to 12 feet long all mono.On the 8wt. rod I had butt section of 30 and becuase i didnt label the leaders made up I wasnt quite sure of what I had on my 9wt. rod.Where Im going with this is one day I had trouble turning the fly over into the wind and didnt not think to check my leader, 40 butt into strong winds with a 10 wt. line is what will I put on my 9wt. set up if I ever go back.If the winds down an 8wt. rod is fine.

You can fish about any fly you want there as long as its a gotcha or some derivative of a gotcha.Of course I didnt bring enough gotchas and the guides dont like putting all that effort into poling if you dont have a gotcha on.

The guides mostly dont like to get into discussions nor debate with you about fishing techniques and have alot of pride in their work,so when they tell you to do something they dont expect nor like to be questioned..Show them a different fly and you hear yes I like that fly mon but the fish dont, put on the gotcha mon.

Most of the time the guide will spot the fish before you and tell you fish 50 ft. 12 oclock,if you dont see it right away he'll tell you to cast 40 ft. to 11 no pick it up 50 ft. drop it strip, strip and if youre lucky "long strip" and fish on.It amazing but a good guide can actually talk, walk you into fish that you havent seen.

Seeing fish is a whole nother thing becuase you heart rate goes up and when it grabs the fly its easy to pull the rod tip rather than make a long strip.. This will cost you fish and comes with experience.When you see one you try to get a cast in front of it, jiggle the fly along and if it notices it strip, when he goes down on it a long strip will do but its esier said than done.

Unlike what has been written over and over you dont have to be a great caster to catch bonefish and if I went back I might cast lefty for an hour or two for the following reason. If the guide picks up that your not a very good caster hell put you into down wind 40to 50 ft. shots.If he thinks you can do more he expects more of you and then next thing you know youll have what he call 50 ft head shots into a strong wind. Id like to buy real estate ocean frontage from some of these fellows becuase what they said was 40 or 50 ft.was often more like 60 to 70 ft.THe problem being that most of these casts were blind to a spot he was telling you to cast to and what 50 ft to him msot likely is not the same to you.The tougher the shot the tougher it was to get a fish.If I went back Id probably mark my lines so the guide and I could be on the same page as to what was 40 ft and 60 ft.

Im getting long winded in my old age so Ill finish up later.

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