Luyen’s Reel-Time FLog

Day three brought little relief from the wind. The blow had shifted from NE to SSE, but continued to maintain its steady 20 knot pace. Duane was excited to hit some big fish spots. Alas, Kyle and I had one of those days when everything that could go wrong did. I broke off two fish — one snapped the mid-section of my leader in half (apparently due to fraying from the previous day’s adventures on the coral flat at the end of the day). Kyle bonked a ten pounder on the head with his fly. But the day’s crowning moment came when Kyle hooked a twelve pounder right by the boat. The beast felt the hook and took off, but Kyle stepped on his fly line, and the battle was over before it had begun. All three of us needed several minutes to recover from the unfortunate episode. "That was the biggest fish I’ve put anyone on in a month," confided Duane despondently as he sulked on the platform.

Well… not much more. But I would be remiss if I didn’t document some of the "off the water" activities at Tranquility Hill. There was an unlimited supply of Kaliks at the lodge’s honor bar. And Isabelle was always happy to make a "Hilltop" for anyone who stopped to chat.

Kyle and Jonathan fished with Frankie. Jonathan boated his first bonefish ever, and Kyle landed another seven pounder.
 

Unlike the first morning, we found fish on the very first flat we hit. Schools of smaller fish mingled with larger singles and doubles. Sumin broke two fish off before landing his first of the day. I landed a couple as well. The fish were happy, and so were we.

 

   
Sumin and I headed out on day two with Duane, Ivan Neymour’s son. The skies had brightened signficantly, and we enjoyed good visibility throughout the day, but the wind continued to blow a steady 20.

Almost everyone caught fish the first day out on the water, despite the wind and spotty visibility. Kyle and Sumin caught their first bonefish ever.

We hosed ‘em down when everyone returned to the lodge, and then it was time for some ‘tinis and dinner. A good first day of fishing for sure!

"Big flies boys" Joe said, scoffing at our Keys-style #4’s and #6’s, and pointing at the largest of our Gotchas — big furry size 2’s with bead chain eyes.  Joe struggled to put us on fish for the better part of the day.  There were few bonefish on the flats we hit, despite our guide’s persistence.  By mid morning, the winds picked up, and we worked hard just trying to find some relief from Mother Nature.  As the afternoon sun began to settle on the horizon, Joe parked the skiff and had us wade the edges of a large sandbar.  We finally began to find some fish in good numbers.  As I worked a small pod of fish, Joe headed to the skiff to pick Thorne up.  Suddenly he shouted back to me "Lu!" and gestured for me to join him.  As I approached, I saw what Joe was so excited about: a huge school of bones was finning on the surface in four feet of water.  Within seconds, I was tied fast to my first Andros bonedog.  I caught six before it was time to leave, and lost two more, thanks to a wind knot that wrapped around the barb of my hook, pulling the fly backwards.

I was awakened at 5:29AM by thunder and the discouraging pitter-pat of a tropical rainstorm.  The weather blew over by breakfast time, but the foreboding remained with clouds and strong gusts of wind greeting us as we headed to the dock with our tackle and provisions.  The first day pairings: Luyen and Thorne with Joe; Sumin and Alex with Frankie; Kyle and Jonathan with Duane.  By 8AM we were under way, headed deep into the Bight to find some lee.

…then it was a short (15 minute) puddle jump to San Andros airport (the Andros Town airport was shut down for repairs).

Jonathan, Kyle, Sumin and I arrived in Nassau around 1PM. Several Kaliks and a couple of trips to duty free later, Thorne and Alex finally showed up as well; amazingly all six of us finally made it — with rods, reels, and luggage intact.