Eleuthera Feb

[catspaw]

I'm headed to Eleuthera for 10 day Feb. 10-19. I'm a diy flyguy. I'll be staying mid island with a car. Any help as to which direction to head, north-south ocean-leeward would be of help. Damn it's cold here, I need some palm trees and white sand.

[peanuts]

Are you staying at either Rainbow In or Duck Inn if not where are you staying so I can send further details.

[AbFlyFish]

I will also be heading there in late February. Thinking of staying at the Rainbow Inn. Is it a nice enough place to bring my wife. Also thinking of staying on Harbour Island. Any suggestions? Harbour Island looks to be pretty expensive. Is the best bone fishing off of Harbour Island? Less people?

[Marshrunner]

On Eleuthera there is good diy fishing in Savannah Sound, at the southern tip of Eleuthera, behind Rock Sound Airport, and in Governor's Harbour all reachable by car. Also to the north, the Corrie Sound area holds nice fish but you will need a boat to access it.

On Harbour Is there is limited diy fishing as most flats are acessible only by boat. There are several very good guides however if you want a good day or half day of guided fishing on a skiff. Among them, Joe Cleare, Stanley Johnson, Stuart Cleare, and Patrick. HI is more expensive than Eleuthera but a nice place for a non fishing spouse with a gorgeous beach, snorkling, shopping, and nice restaurants.

One caution: February fishing is always a bit risky--a cold front can shut you down for days, but Feb, March, April see big fish in this whole area. (I have fished this area in March for 25 years).

As for Eleuthera vs HI, the Eleuthera fish are less pressured and easier, the harbour Is fish see a lot of anglers. But both areas hold many schools of smaller fish as well as many singles, doubles and small pods of larger fish.

[peanuts]

Rainbow Inn is a good place to take the wife or if she can't make it the girlfriend. but beware Eleuthera is a quite zone no nightlife everything shuts down @10 including rainbow inn. the bungalow is clean and tidy and well maintained the food is great try their conch chowder.
The fishing on Eleuthera is challanging as most of the flats are accessable from the road and as Eleuthera is know as the DIY capital of the Bahamas the fish get to see a lot of flies. Rainbow Inn will supply a guide leaflet and map of 15 spots to fish. just ask Charlie. e-mail me if you want more.

[Quicksilver]

Hello Marshrunner!!! Welcome aboard, and thanks in advance for any advice you may wish to offer!

[catspaw]

Are you staying at either Rainbow In or Duck Inn if not where are you staying so I can send further details.

I'm staying near Rock Island, I've rented a house and a car. I've fished other areas in the Bahamas so I'll just poke around and see what I can find. Maybe I'll rent a boat for a few days.

[vishon]

i'm headed there as well -- though a bit later

please let me know how you do as I could use any advice myself!

I'm headed to Eleuthera for 10 day Feb. 10-19. I'm a diy flyguy. I'll be staying mid island with a car. Any help as to which direction to head, north-south ocean-leeward would be of help. Damn it's cold here, I need some palm trees and white sand.

[peanuts]

Hi Catspaw : I Haven't heard of Rock Island do you mean Rock Sound. I normanilly stay at Rainbow Inn so fish the middle to top end of the island.
Having said that i have been down to the southern end a few times.
So try these places Half Sound, Winding Bay & Savannah Sound all on the Alantic side which is on your right as you head north.
If the wind is wrong try Starved Creek which is below Rock Sound on the Caribbean side or for a further drive go to Ten Bay again on the Caribbean side, head up towards Goveners Harbour you will come across a long straight streach of the road about two miles down this road there is a derelict house on your left, quite tall distroyed by Hurriacan Andrew, take a left and go down the track as far as you can go you will see the beach by a house. Probable the best beach in the carribean.

[catspaw]

Hi Catspaw : I Haven't heard of Rock Island do you mean Rock Sound. I normanilly stay at Rainbow Inn so fish the middle to top end of the island.
Having said that i have been down to the southern end a few times.
So try these places Half Sound, Winding Bay & Savannah Sound all on the Alantic side which is on your right as you head north.
If the wind is wrong try Starved Creek which is below Rock Sound on the Caribbean side or for a further drive go to Ten Bay again on the Caribbean side, head up towards Goveners Harbour you will come across a long straight streach of the road about two miles down this road there is a derelict house on your left, quite tall distroyed by Hurriacan Andrew, take a left and go down the track as far as you can go you will see the beach by a house. Probable the best beach in the carribean.

Peanuts,
Thanks for the info- yes I am in the Rock Sound area. Are there any special flies or types of flies that the bones respond to or is it the typical Gotcha-Charlie types. One more question, which colors work best.
Thanks in advance. If you want to e-mail me direct it's
albacore9@earthlink.net.

[Marshrunner]

Peanuts,
Because Eleuthera has not had bonefish camps fishing 100s of anglers over the same flats, you'll find most of the basic Charlies and Gotchas fish well there. Specifically, I've found the std blond Gotcha in sizes 4 and 6 work well. Also the same version tied with a bright orange wing (orange craft fur or goldfish Fish Fuzz). Cream, rootbeer, and apricot Charlies also work well. And for days when bright sun makes the bones spooky, take some non-reflective flies like pink or yellow Mini Puffs. There is a fluorescent orange chenille pattern called the Dr. Taylor Special (after my old friend, the late Phil Taylor that works well here also. It's very similar to a new pattern in the Orvis catalog from Steve Huff with a fluorescent orange chenille head and tan craft fur tail-- can't remember the name at the moment). For deeper water take a few Simrams and you should be well armed.

[catspaw]

Peanuts,
Because Eleuthera has not had bonefish camps fishing 100s of anglers over the same flats, you'll find most of the basic Charlies and Gotchas fish well there. Specifically, I've found the std blond Gotcha in sizes 4 and 6 work well. Also the same version tied with a bright orange wing (orange craft fur or goldfish Fish Fuzz). Cream, rootbeer, and apricot Charlies also work well. And for days when bright sun makes the bones spooky, take some non-reflective flies like pink or yellow Mini Puffs. There is a fluorescent orange chenille pattern called the Dr. Taylor Special (after my old friend, the late Phil Taylor that works well here also. It's very similar to a new pattern in the Orvis catalog from Steve Huff with a fluorescent orange chenille head and tan craft fur tail-- can't remember the name at the moment). For deeper water take a few Simrams and you should be well armed.
Thanks Marshrunner,
I'll post a full report upon my return.

[LOGICDAVE]

Hi Catspaw : I Haven't heard of Rock Island do you mean Rock Sound. I normanilly stay at Rainbow Inn so fish the middle to top end of the island.
Having said that i have been down to the southern end a few times.
So try these places Half Sound, Winding Bay & Savannah Sound all on the Alantic side which is on your right as you head north.
If the wind is wrong try Starved Creek which is below Rock Sound on the Caribbean side or for a further drive go to Ten Bay again on the Caribbean side, head up towards Goveners Harbour you will come across a long straight streach of the road about two miles down this road there is a derelict house on your left, quite tall distroyed by Hurriacan Andrew, take a left and go down the track as far as you can go you will see the beach by a house. Probable the best beach in the carribean.

Peanuts.....
I'm familiar with all the usual places on Eleuthera. I see Starved Creek on the map but.....how do you get there?
Dave

[peanuts]

Hi Dave. From Rock Sound take the The Queens Highway (that's the Main road) it follows the coast down to Well Bay where it swings left inland look for a small road on your right this follows the coast down to Starved Creek where it swings left to rejoin the Queens Highway.Hope this helps

[LOGICDAVE]

Hi Dave. From Rock Sound take the The Queens Highway (that's the Main road) it follows the coast down to Well Bay where it swings left inland look for a small road on your right this follows the coast down to Starved Creek where it swings left to rejoin the Queens Highway.Hope this helps
Hey Peanuts. As you know any help on Eleuthera is welcome. We will be headed down March 2-16. Always try to explore a bit. I am curious about the posts regarding creeks on other Bahamian Islands (Cat Island). But......there is no lack of sandy flats on Eleuthera.
Dave