Bonefish Travel Series: The Black Fly Buff

The flat's are a hot place.  And when we get a chance to get out there and stalk a few bonefish, it's always fun to wear a buff and look like a bandit.  For my birthday earlier this year, I got a great new buff that will really help me to pull off that "stick um up, bonefish" look.

Vaughn Cochran's Black Fly design is super cool, and makes for a really cool buff.  Can't wait to sport this baby on the flats... or wherever I'm fishing.

The Black Fly Buff

  

The Fly Thought

It's almost go time on The Bonefish Flat.  I'm less than a week away from the sunny Bahamian waters of Long Island.  As I'm preparing for my trip, I was going through some notes earlier today and came across four fly thoughts that I had written down.  

What's a fly thought you ask? I got it from my old days playing golf where you try to boil down all the thoughts and components you might have on your golf swing into one takeaway thought when you are trying to hit the ball.  In saltwater fly fishing, there are lots of things to think about when you're casting to a fish.  Wind. Where is the fish? The backcast. The forward cast. The Double haul. And the list goes on.  Throw a bonefish in front of you and even the best angler can blow a cast with a case of buck fever.  The fly thought boils it all down into one thing to think about to avoid blowing your shot at the fish.

So the fly thoughts I came up with are:

1.  See the Fish -  Keep looking hard for that fish to appear and keep your eyes on him, what he's doing                and where he's going.

2.  Smooth and steady- Take your time and make the cast.

3. Lead the fish - Ask your guide how far to cast in front of the fish.  If you're fishing by yourself, start with about 5 feet.

4. Aim High - Shoot the fly above the water so that it drops softly 

I think for this trip, I'm going to keep it even more simple.  Be the fly, Danny...Na na na na na na na na na!!

Bonefish Travel Series: Fly Time

It's back, folks.  In about two weeks I'm headed to Long Island in the Bahamas to stalk, hunt, and catch my favorite fish, the bonefish.  That means it's time to bring back the bonefish travel series.  I'm going to take a few posts here to let you know how I get ready for a trip.  If you haven't checked out my travel checklist, take a look here.  This list is constantly evolving, so keep an eye on it for updates.  

I've never been to Long Island which is as far south as Cuba, so this will be quite an adventure.  I'm going to be fishing out of a new lodge with several other writers as we get together to fish, share tips, and take part of a new type of fishing adventure.  

Deadman's Cay is where the action will be.

So how am I getting ready for this epic journey?  I've been tying flies like crazy.  Crab's, gotchas, bunny gotchas, a few new inventions which I will reveal after the trip (let's see if they work, first), and variations of all of these are on the menu.  

Gotcha, with a few adjectives, as Brian O'Keefe would say.  

More to come on some of the essential's as I get ready to go fishing.  If you have a piece of gear that is a "must have," drop a comment below.  If you are a company and would like me to write a review, drop me an email at bonefishflat@gmail.com.

Capt. Drew Delashmit in This is Fly

My favorite Florida Keys Captain has an article in the latest issue of This is Fly.  It's all about winter Tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys and catching that first tarpon of the season.  It's good to know that your guide still gets excited about a day off fishing for Tarpon.

Several years ago, Drew guided me to my first (and only) permit on fly.  We haven't fished together in several years, but I'm looking to change that this year.  Hopefully he will put me on my first Tarpon later in the year, but more on that to come.

Me and Capt. Drew and a Marquesa Permit

First, the Bonefish Flat is gonna take a detour down south.  Way south.  To land a few bonefish and shake the shack nasties.

Crabs and Coffee

Worked at the vise last night and came up with a few Merkins and a few of Greg's Flats Flys, with my own twist.




This morning I'm just pondering crabs, bonefish, and my coffee.

Hells Bay at the Miami Boat Show

I saw that Hells Bay is going to have some super stars at their booth at the Miami Boat Show.  I sure wish I was going to be there.  I wish even more I was there buying a new Hells Bay Boat.

At any rate, here's the lineup and a cool pic of one of their boats.  If you stop by, be sure to tell them that The Bonefish Flat sent you.  What a treat to talk flats fishing with any of these guys.  They are all legends.

If you missed my interview with Hells Bay CEO Chris Peterson, check it out here.

Chico Fernandez 10am - 12pm Thursday & Friday 2/16 - 2/17

C.A. Richardson 12pm - 2pm Thursday - Sunday 2/16 - 2/19

Jose Wejebe 2pm - 4pm Thursday - Sunday 2/16 - 2/19

Andy Mill 11am - 3pm Friday 2/17

Check out this beauty.  Father's day is right around the corner.  

Dr. Aaron Adams and the Big Ugly

I had a great afternoon today.  Even though the weather was cold, I watched Phil Mickelson play Pebble Beach and really deliver a fantastic round.  The 18th at Pebble is my favorite hole in golf.  What's not to like?  The Pacific Ocean on your left.  Trees in the middle of the fairway, and the hole is daring you to go for the par 5 in two.  That's a golf hole.

All the while I was sitting at the vise tying up some gotcha's, blind gotchas, and some bunny gotchas.  I thought I had my fly box sufficiently overstocked for my upcoming trip.

And then, I see Dr. Aaron Adams post this fly, the Big Ugly.


Simple Flies: Big Ugly from Aaron Adams on Vimeo.


Gotta get the vise back out.