New to this Forum...Hi folks! (Eleuthera...more...)

[Henry]

With so many saltwater flyfishing sites out there, it's a tough deciding which ones to keep tabs on. I've been impressed with the quality and number of posts on Reel-Time forums so I decided to join up.

Now down to the nitty gritty. I'm headed back to Eleuthera for 16 days March 20 to April 4. We were there for a week early last March and had a great time picking through the finnicky bones...best fish (of 9 on a fly) was 25 1/2 inches from Savannah Sound.

My question, This trip my buddy and I are bringing our inflatable Sea Eagle 380 Kayak with hopes of accessing some of the tough to get to areas in Savannah Sound (for shorebound anglers). Can any of you folks out there tell me what to expect as far as additional wade-able flats. Mabey some of you have fished out of a boat with Denny (a local guide we met there).

If it worked, I've attached a rather grainy aerial photo of the southern part of the sound...looks quite interesting.

Thanks,

Henry

[David Churbuck]

Henry,

Welcome to Reel-Time.
I'm a major fan of Savannah Sound and love the aerial photo. I've only waded it at the northern end, and have always wondered what lay to the south. That photo shows a whole new world down there.

I haven't fished with a guide, preferring to DIY. The idea of an inflatable is an intriguing one though. Please share some more info. Is this compact enough that you're comfortable lugging it along when you travel?

DC
With so many saltwater flyfishing sites out there, it's a tough deciding which ones to keep tabs on. I've been impressed with the quality and number of posts on Reel-Time forums so I decided to join up.

Now down to the nitty gritty. I'm headed back to Eleuthera for 16 days March 20 to April 4. We were there for a week early last March and had a great time picking through the finnicky bones...best fish (of 9 on a fly) was 25 1/2 inches from Savannah Sound.

My question, This trip my buddy and I are bringing our inflatable Sea Eagle 380 Kayak with hopes of accessing some of the tough to get to areas in Savannah Sound (for shorebound anglers). Can any of you folks out there tell me what to expect as far as additional wade-able flats. Mabey some of you have fished out of a boat with Denny (a local guide we met there).

If it worked, I've attached a rather grainy aerial photo of the southern part of the sound...looks quite interesting.

Thanks,

Henry

[BobG]

Henry,

I totally concur with Dave, and like Dave, I'm also a big fan of Savannah Sound.
All my success there was fishing from the northern areas also.
However, on two occasions I did attempt to wade to the south, heading towards that ultra private resort area (it's name escapes me at the moment). The wading was like boot camp, but I did see some exceptionally large bonefish. Mind you, I was only able to scratch the surface b/c the muck, coral, and shells became brutal. Even with flats boots on, I was sinking in much almost to my knees, and I cut both my legs pretty good on sharp coral and shells.
But, I've got no doubt at all, there are likely several large families of bonefish inhabiting the upper regions of the creek system.

Also, there's another large creek system on the southern end of Eleuthera. Once again the name escapes me at the moment, but I'll post it when I check my notes. I've reading on more than one occasion that this is a prime area. However, access is limited, or non-exsistant :confused: . One day, I spent the better part of a morning trying to figure out how to get in there.
It was another one of the Bahamian wild goose chases. I walked through slick, stinking mucky mangroves for about a half mile just to reach the creek area.
From there, I could see the likely channels were some 200-300 yards straight out to my west. I slogged 45 minutes trying to get out there, often sinking in black sticky mud almost to my knees. Once I got out there, it looked very promising. But, the incoming tide had risen so rapidly (and came in behind me) I literally had to run the half mile back from which I had just came so as not to get trapped! :eek: Buy the time I reached the mangroves, I was in waist deep water.
By then, the tide was up about a foot in the mangroves along with every flesh biting, blood sucking insect on Eleuthera. When I got back to our car, I was a mess.
Now here where your ocean kayak would have worked... ;)

[Henry]

Yeah, that northern flat on Savannah is sure sweet. Nice a firm with good numbers of fish tailing when the tide is runnning. I'm sure we'll find some other flats further south in the sound once we launch the kayak. It'll be nice to head over to the opposite shore and get the wind and morning sun to our backs too.

To answer your question Dave, the kayak we got is the Sea Eagle 380 inflatable (can be seen at http://www.seaeagle.com) It's built for two people and has loads of storage. Fortunately, it also fits (with accessories) in a large 30inch suitcase (total 70lbs). It'll be nice to wade along never being too far from it. I plan on keeping a spare 10wt rigged and ready for large Cudas in the kayak. That's not really an option when just wading. We plan on packing our lunches and drinking water in it too (plus a few Kaliks). It'll be nice to sit on the side of the kayak and take a load off the feet while having a cold beer.

I'm even looking forward to heading out to a little deeper water along the reefs and fishing for snappers. Nothing like a good fish meal in the evening over a bottle of premium rum.

I'll let you folks know how it turns out.

Later,

Henry

[jjonas]

Henry,
Sweet! It would be nice if you can bully the guard at the Windemere Island shack and put in there. I think that it’s a private road over to Windemere, starting at the main road.

Two places that I had good fishing off the beaten path.

The creek south of Rock Sound on the Caribbean side. I did a guided day with Paul Petty to get there. Couldn’t find a way to bush wack on my own. Looks like a lot of paddling but good fish there.

Area north of Deep Creek. I wondered around Deep Creek quite a few hours and didn’t see any fish nor really many signs of fish. I did find some good fish across the arm. I bush wacked into it so I am not really sure where you would launch.

Another place that look fishy would be Winding Bay. I saw it only at high tide, but there would be a lot to explore there with a kayak.

Jason

I have attached some maps…, hopefully I did it right.

[gonzo]

Not been to Eluthera, but you guys are really whetting my appetite.
One of Henry's questions was the weather in August... Just how hot does it get then?

[Henry]

Checking out those two spots you pointed out are definitely on our "To Do" list. We've got a full 16 days fishing so I'm sure we'll have the time and opportunity to paddle into them. As with the lower parts of Savannah Sound, I expect these places will have slightly more co-operative bones than the hard hit DIY flats most folks fish.

Good fishing,

Henry

[Henry]

I've not been anywhere south in August but I'm sure that time of year is really hot and sticky. I expect the best fishing would be mornings and evenings.

Regards,

Henry

[Fishon1]

I've not been anywhere south in August but I'm sure that time of year is really hot and sticky. I expect the best fishing would be mornings and evenings.

Regards,

Henry

I will also be in eleuthera may 1st-7th and we are thinking of renting kayaks for the week. Has anyone had any success doing such? The inflatable boat really sounds like a good idea, and convenient. I happened to check the website and that SE looks amazing.

dc.