After all of the negative information coming out of the Bahamas thought it would be nice to post a trip report, reminding us how much fun it can be. So thanks for subscriber Mark Elliot and his wife for the following: “My wife and I recently vacationed on Abaco Island. We stayed at the Sand Dollar Cove Cottages on Casuarina Point. http://www.sanddollarcovecottages.com The beach is incredible, with a huge sand bar directly in front of the cottages. The owner, Chad Efinger, was extremely helpful on all matters. His cottages offer a boat to access some of the smaller islands on the perimeter of the cove. I spent the majority of my time fishing the low tide on the flats in front of our cottage. These fish are spooky…the slightest noise or splash will spook them away. It took me two days of changing flies and lengthening my leader, eventually to 18’ before I finally hooked one. I honestly don’t think the pattern matters that much, as long as it doesn’t make any noise “plop”, when it lands. The strip is crucial…slowly drag the fly across the bottom. The standard strip pace will spook them. The fish will tail with in casting distance from the beach during the low tide. There were always fish cruising the flats. The cruising fish require leading them by 40’ and hoping they continue on their path towards your fly, then SLOWLY retrieve your fly. The fish I caught on the beach were much larger than the ones I caught in the creeks of Cherokee Sound. I spent a half-day with guide Donnie Lowe. Donnie took me into the creeks and back- waters of Cherokee Sound. We had a good morning, catching 7 bonefish. Donnie is a life long resident of Abaco and his family is one of the original residents to move to the island after the Revolutionary War. He is quality guide and will keep you on the fish. Casuarina point was a perfect spot for my wife and I. She was able to run the beach every morning and sunbath while I fished. Every afternoon, during high tide, we drove into town for lunch. Our favorite was Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor, great atmosphere and good food. Hopefully the DIY fisherman will be able to continue to wade the crystal clear waters of Casuarina Point.” Thanks Mark I had a couple of reports from fisherman this week talking about “difficult” fish and what they needed to do to catch them. These are experienced fly fishers so they figured it out. But once again let me try to shorten the learning curve and tell you what I and the other members of my fishing “gang” do. First of all, if you can get away from the heavily fished areas, do. Get out my book, get on Google Earth, find flats and creeks that are a little more off the beaten track. Second, be prepared to go through one bottle of Scotch every two days…the pressured fish can drive you nuts. Third, lengthen the leader to as long as you can cast. If you can cast 18 feet, do it. Fourth, forget everything you have heard about tippet size. Go as small as you can. I have gone as low as six pounds. You have to get them to eat first. Most of the pressured places don’t have obstructions to worry about. Eight pound works just fine. Your fly cannot “plop”. No sound at all when it enters the water. If all you have is weighted flies, take your pliers and cut off the chain or barbells. Strip, strip is a no, no. They hate the standard retrieve. Either leave it or a very slow, steady pull until tight. For tailing fish use the “dry fly” technique. Long leader, no weight, no plop and land the “dry fly” right on his head. Just like spring creek fishing in Montana.
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