gear from Andros trip

[joshr]

Also meant to add some thoughts on some gear I tried for first time on this trip, so here goes:

Lines:

I used a few different lines--Sci Angler bonefish and saltwater tapers (have used those a lot in the past); Sage Equator; Royal Wulff Bermuda Triangle Taper. All handled well and shot well, but I really loved the Sage line. it's made by 3M, but is much more like the old SA Bonefish line than the newer one...stiff like the old one...really shot great...didn't coil up at all once stretched. Absolutely oved it. I also liked the Wulff line a lot...not as stiff as the Sage, felt a little heavier (although I didn't measure the grain weight to verify that). I had a couple Cortland 555 Flats lines with me as backups, but never used them so can't comment.

Rods:

I used Scott STS, Redington NTi, Redington DFR, Redington CPS (the new Redington top rod under Sage), TFO TiCR.

I like all these rods, but the one I had not previously thrown and that just blew me away is the Redington CPS. This rod feels just like a Sage XP at less than 1/2 the price...very light and VERY narrow profile so easy to cast all day...very fast..."crisp" is the word that kept coming to mind...totally unbelievable at $250! I had an 8 and a 9 CPS with me, and while I loved both, the 9 was just awesome. My Scott STS 8# has been my favorite rod for a long time, but my new 9# Redington CPS may be my new favorite.

Someone on this forum or one of the others asked about lumbar packs...I bought a new one for this trip b/c my old one was trashed...bought the Fishpond one with the water bottle that rides horizontal under the pack. Only did a little wading, but really liked this pack. It's got an incredible amount of storage while also being fairly streamlined...good solid zippers...very comfortable belt etc.

--Josh

[JGH]

Josh,

Can you give me some advice on the flies you used? I'm fishing with Charlie at the end of March. Thanks.

-- Jeff

[Hardtail Hunter]

My buddy and I fished with Charlie the first week of december. He is an awsome guide and you will have a great time fishing with him. As for flies bring lots of big gotchas, when I went I tied some big ones and little ones but never used the little ones. When I first showed him my flies he was really happy they were long because most people have the store bought ones that are cut right behind the hook and he said they didnt work. I think I tied them on #2 size hooks, but feel free to go a little bigger. Just make sure the tail extends way back and has lots of movement. It also should be flashy enough to get there attention. I tied a couple of the gotchas with Silly legs on top of the polar fiber and it added a little bit of extra movement and worked really well. Color seemed to be the most important and when we were there the light tan colored gotcha was the best, so I would tie most of them in that color. But the Pink, and camel color might also work then even tho they didn't work when I was there.
Also make sure you use good hooks, when I was there we were catching so many fish that we tightened our drag down to get them in faster and we bent a bunch of the hooks. Also they have very powerful mouths and can crush the hooks. I recomend tying them on the Mustad Tarpon hooks, they make them in small enough sizes and they are strong enough to bring in a SBFT.

Make sure to bring some crab flies for permit.
Tarpon flies, in blue (and yes he knows where to find tarpon)

Also Offshore flies like big flashy mushmouths or other big flies. I highly recomend taking the opportunity to go offshore if the weather is right. The weather cooperated only one of the days we were there for offshore and it was right after a cold front so the dolphin werent at the bouys and you could tell the weather had messed things up but we saw a bunch of 50-80lb yellowfin tuna busting we just never got the a great shot at them. But if it was happening out there it would be incredible.

Good luck
James

[rlbgfish173]

2nd the CPS, I tried one last year a friend had brought along as a back-up a 9 wt. and WOW, forget the numbers $$$. Not only is it the best for the money it might be the best of the best, or at very least one of them. :cool: