Welcome to The Bonefish Flat

There's a stiff wind in your face as you squint in the sun trying to see what the guide sees. "Bonefish at 12 o'clock about 90 feet, do you see it, mon?" You don't and keep squinting, your hat pulled low to keep the sun out of your eyes. "Bonefish at 11 o'clock 70 feet out. Come on man, do you see it?" As the guide is calmly shifting the skiff into position, this time you spot the fish, "I got, it," you reply.

"OK, Mon, Bonefish 50 feet at 10 o'clock. Cast when you're ready."

Cast when you're ready. And with that you drop your fly, roll out a cast, false cast once, and then...

Welcome to the bonefish flat.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Fishy Kid Summer Contest Wrapping Up

It's up to us to make sure that the next generation of kids grows up with a love of the outdoors and a respect for the planet.  What better way to get kids hooked on the outdoors than fishing.  


Fishy Kid has a great outdoor contest that has been going called the "Three Months of Summer" contest and it will be wrapping up at the end of the month.  There are prizes for four categories including saltwater which I know everyone here on the flat will want to take part in.  


I know I'm looking forward to getting my kids out on the water for some quality time.  The guys over at Fishy Kid really have done a great job putting together a fantastic Web site that everyone should use as a resource to engaging young people to develop a love for all things fishy. 

fishykidlogo.jpg





Be sure to submit your photo for a chance to win a great prize from one of these great sponsors.  




Mountain Khakis
Osprey Packs
Hook & Hackle
Montana Fly Company
Scientific Anglers
Backwater Paddle Company
Patagonia
Fishpond USA
Rainys Flies
Temple Fork Outfitters
Finactic Designs
ECHO
Charleston Angler
Idylwilde Flies
Cliff Outdoors
Roughfisher.com
William Joseph
South Fork Rod Company

Friday, August 20, 2010

Grab Your 9 weight, I'm Headed Up Yonder

The car is just about packed and the outlook for fishing doesn't look good.  There's a 99.9% chance I won't get to go fishing this weekend.

So you're telling me I've got a chance, I say to myself!!! (Dumb and Dumber for those loyal readers who don't memorize movie lines like I do)

I'm headed north to a coming home party for my wife's cousin who just returned home from a tour in Iraq.  Lot's of driving, but well worth the effort.  We're headed to Long Island (not the island in the Bahamas, unfortunately) and are staying near Rocky Point so I've decided to bring my 9 wt, a floater and a sinker, and a box of Clousers.  I'm ready for anything.


Again, apologies for a lack of postings.  I hit my stride but now I'm finding it tough to keep up with life and the flat, but not to worry.  Brighter days are just around the corner.  

If you're going fishing this weekend and have a report you'd like to share, please feel free to drop me a line at bonefishflat@gmail.com.  

Also, I'm are 3 fans away from hitting 30 on Facebook so please sign up and follow the Flat there if you haven't already.  We are also on Twitter, which originally I thought was the dumbest thing ever, but now I kinda like it.  Follow the Flat there as well for some tweets.  

Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Tibor Signature

File this under I gotta get one of these.  Tibor has announced a new fly reel called Tibor Signature.


The most important feature of Tibors has always been the drag.  They use cork which is the best material out there for stopping big runs.  The start up when a fish begins the pull is smoother this way and less chance of breaking a tippet.  

The new signature seems like it won't disappoint. It features a new sealed cork drag system that is sealed requiring minimal maintenance.  Just wash it off in fresh water after use.  

The signature comes in two sizes which are 7-8 and 9-10.  The 7-8 holds 200 yards of backing for a 7 or 8 weight rod.  This should pretty much cover the big 3 on the flats or a big bull red in New Orleans.  

The 7-8 weighs 8.5 ounces and the 9-10 weighs 9.5 ounces. 

The new reels are available on December 1 just in time for Christmas.  I'm guessing guys who are headed to the International Fly Tackle Dealer's Show will get a chance to check these out.  Maybe our friend Cam over at The Fiberglass Manifesto will give us a full report.  

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Uptown Angler New Orleans

I'm going to start a new series on The Bonefish Flat called "Fly Shops I Dig."  Most fly shops are geared toward fresh water fishing because most fly fishing is done on the trout streams.  There is nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I love drifting a dry fly to a sipping trout or swinging a nymph to a big brown, but for us salty fanatics, we sometimes have "special needs."

Enter the Uptown Angler in downtown New Orleans.  They're geared toward fishing the bayou's of New Orleans or chasing poon's on the gulf coast.  They had the latest and greatest in flats gear.  They also had the new freedom hawk kayaks which are designed for standing up so you can sight-cast to fish.

Most importantly, they have a great group of guides who will take you out fishing for a monster red.  I highly recommend Greg so if you give them a call, be sure to tell him J.T. sent you.

To top it all off, they have a kick ass logo designed by Tim Borski.

New sticker for the fish truck.

The Uptown Angler also had tons of books and DVD's on saltwater flyfishing.  The selection of fly tying materials for the salt is unmatched.  They had a super cool set of "designer" spoon flies complete with the Saints logo to commemorate the Who Dat Super Bowl victory.  If your in New Orleans, be sure to stop in and say hello.  If you need to pick up some gear, or you need a cool hat or cool t-shirt, check out their web site here or give them a call at 504-529-3597.  

 
Of course I had to score a hat. 

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Bonefish Flat is Back

Hey folks, I'm back from New Orleans and unfortunately, the fishing trip fell through but I did have a chance to check out the city which maybe should be the priority anyway before hitting the water.  What a great city.  Music, food, and drinks.  What more can we really ask for.  (Ok, how about redfish, but all in good time)

I'm working on a modified trip report (modified b/c trip reports here are usually fishing reports) and I'll have that to folks this week.  I'll also download a few pics and get them up as well.

I'm also working on some new content ideas so you can expect a few new things coming on the flat.

Hope everyone's week has started off well.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

N'Owleans Here I Come

It's been a fun week here at the beach but an ocean without fish may be the ultimate tease. For one, I'm on kid duty 24/7 and two, there isn't much running this time of year in the Deleware beaches.

Good scenery though.




The good news is that after my family vacation, I need a vacation!

I'm headed out for work to New Orleans and if I'm lucky I'll get in a little red fishing. Apparently the waters are open so I'm going to try and go.

I've looked forward to this trip for a while and when the whole BP debacle hit, it was a real bummer on lots of levels.

Now, things seem to be improving so everyone keep their fingers crossed for me.

Monday, August 2, 2010

View From the Beach

On family vacation this week and here's the morning view.

Not much fishing going on, just lots of play time with the kiddies.