Hi everyone,
Going to the Bahamas in April. What flies do you recommend. I will be based out of Harbour Island fishing the North Eleuthra flats. Any help is greatly appreciated!!!
Tight Lines,
Acuna
Acuna, I’ll be there April 23rd-30th at Unique village. This will be my 1st trip and I’m pumped for it. I would recommend pink, tan, white, and brown for colors. Crazy charlies,Gotchas, JC’s Pink Puff, crab and shrimp patterns from Dick Browns Bonefish fly Patterns.
I’m tying shrimp in pink, white and tan with legs( Sand Bandit by terry baird)
Vary the wight for the different depths. Keep the flash to a minimum.
dO A SEARCH ON BAHAMAS or Eleuthera and you should get better info than ,mine.
My .02
I’m a rookie just trying to help.
Philip
[This message has been edited by old geezer (edited 07 February 2005).]
Thanks guys!
Yeah, I am down with the Crazy Charlies and Gotchas with different eyes for different situations. Does anyone have a recipe/instructions for the Sand Bandit? I cant find it on the internet…
Also, in talking with a friend of mine who went the last two years- one year the hot fly was an epoxy shrimp and the other year the hot fly was a bonefish slider…
Again, thanks for the help…
Another question I have- I am planning on bringing my portable fly tying kit with me to the Bahamas to whip up whatever is hot when I get there (if I don’t already have it). Is there anything I should worry about re:taking hackles out of the country and then trying to get them back in? Thanks- not that I am going to be taking some super nice dry fly necks, but I sure would hate to bring over some of my saddles only to have to give them to the customs people…
Tight lines,
Acuna
Sand Bandit is an easy tie.
Hooks: 1-8
thread: 2 lb Ande mono
Eyes: Med. bead chain or lead
Tail: Pink(or yellow,Chartreuse,or brown)Marabou
Body: 1/8" pearl Flashabou overrapped on shank
Wing: Two stacks superhair: bottom clear,top pink (or color to match tail)
Feelers: (optional) Two strands Krystal flash one and one times wing length, angled up and spalyed out on the sides:barred with red,black or other marker.
The key is to have the legs angled at the bottom, allowing constant movement when fished.
pge 145 Bonefish fly Patterns (Dick Brown)
Philip
[This message has been edited by old geezer (edited 08 February 2005).]
Hey Acuna,
I’ll be on Eleuthera in Govenor’s Harbour for just about all of April. A “Must” have fly would be a very boring Lt. Tan Crazy #6 & #8 Charlie with tiny beadchain eyes.
The most important advice I can give about fishing Eleuthera’s spooky bones is to keep your strips gentle. No sudden movements…just a slowww steady strip…strip…stop! You’ll find out what I mean when you give that first twitch with a bone nearby…it’ll take off like it was stung by a bee.
We’ll be paddling our inflatable kayak once or twice up into the N. Eleu flats behind the airport…So…If you see a grey SeaEagle inflatable with two guys just killing the bones…“That’s us!”
Later, and good fishing down there.
Henry
Henry,
When you tie your light tan crazy charlies are you making the body tan too, or just the wing? If you are doing the body too, what do you use for materials. Thanks!
Acuna
Henry, Bring a few extra of those awesome flies 
I’ll be looking for you.
Philip
Hey Acuna and Old Geezer,
I use tie the tan charlie out of tan craft fur 4 strands of pearl krystal flash material, body is underwrapped with 6/0 tan uni thread and overwrapped with clear medium vinyl rib. Wing extending only half or less the hook length beyond the hookbend.
Tie some blind ones too to toss on the heads of tailers in skinny water.
Hey Geezer, I’m bringing a good selection of baitfish imitations to Eleuthera to fish the Atlantic-side beaches/shorelines for big Jacks and Snappers…loads of fun and a great option between good bonefish tides.
Later guys,
Henry
I’ll be in Current, North Eluthera for the last 2 weeks of April. I’ll be fishing the flats in town, the Current Cut, various other flats in the north and my Brother-in-law who lives there and has a big 47’ boat wants to take me out on the Dutch bar and roust up some billfish. Should be fun. See ya on the flats. I’ll be the biker looking dude out there.
As for flies, I’m tying lots of Crazy Charlies in 4,6,8 and pink,white and tan, Gotchas, Bonefish Specials, lots of Deceivers and Clousers, Poppers and Cuda Needlefish.
Dave in Smithville, Ontario
I will be in Harbor Island the 8th through the 11th.
Are you guys on Eleuthra doing it yourself or going thru a lodge? Thanks!
Acuna
I will be on Andros April 19th through the 22nd. As a novice, I really would like to cast a line or two with you guys, but I’m sort of stuck there. Not a bad place to be stuck though!! You all are welcome to island hop on over. 
Hey Acuna,
I’ll be in Govenors Harbour Apr2-24th at the Duck Inn…strictly DIY for us. Wont be heading to Harbour Is though…perhaps once or twice to the N. Eleu flats above N. Eleu Airport.
Henry
Henry, if I end up stuck on Eleuthra I will look you up! I am on my own for a couple of days, I think it would be sweet to catch a bonefish sans guide… I could brag to my fishing buddies for life (and I would achieve part b of my lifetime fishing goal number 4 [catch bonefish on a fly rod]).
I am looking forward to some cold Kalik beers after a hard day of chasing the bonefish…
Hey guys,
Damn!, I almost forgot…tie up a couple small #8 white crab patterns with beige claws. The flats around eleuthera are just crawling with tiny off white fiddler crabs. A Turneffe crab would be suitable.
Henry
Hey Henry, where exactly are you staying? Maybe I’ll swing down island one evening to see you guys and swap stories. Give a phone number too if you’ll have one. I can email you privately with the number I’ll be at. It won’t be long now. Dave
Acuna, I’ll be doing things myself and I don’t know anything but I figure I’ll know a whole lot more by the end of 2 weeks. I dabbled in fishing last year when I was there but I’m serious this year. My sister in law and her husband live on Eluthera and we go there so my wife can visit with her sister. I figured why not make use of this world class bonefish fishing right on their doorstep. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to go to a place like this. If you’ve never been, you’ll love it. It’s the most laid back lifestyle there is.
As things turn out, my wife won’t be going this year because of last minute work commitments so it’s just me and I’ll have all the time in the world for fishing. And looks like I’ll have a Jeep as a set of wheels so the possibilitys might be endless.
Dave
Hey Dave,
Sort of late making a reply…sorry! We’re staying at the “Duck Inn” in Govenor’s harbour. [url=http://www.Duckinncottages.com:a567f]www.Duckinncottages.com[/url:a567f] …you can get the ph.# from that site.
Sure…call ahead and swing by for a visit…a Friday evening would be perfect as there is the “Friday Night Fish Fry” at Cupid’s Cay then. We always attend and have a blast. Lot’s of loud music…fried fish…BBQ chicken…pea’s n rice…conch fritters and salad…copious amounts of Kalik and Rum Bubba’s. If you drink too much…you can crash on the floor at our place.
You gonna be using the 22ft Mako on your own? Seems to me you might need a couple extra pairs of hands to bait lines or steer the boat when going after the big-boyz…hint…hint…!!!
Good to hear from you buddy!
We need to keep in touch after this trip is over. Compare notes blah blah blah…you know what I mean. Just not many folks up here to talk about L’utra wid.
Talk soon,
Henry
Henry, sounds good. Maybe I can talk the Sister in law and brother in law into coming down for the fish fry too. You’ll like them, they love to party. As for the Mako, I won’t be using it by myself. It’s just been totally refitted and looks like new so I’m told. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for something happening to it. I would think that if Dave (brotherinlaw) was going after the big stuff he would take the big boat although I’d have no problem going out into the real ocean in a Mako. As for keeping in touch… for sure. We go down every year and hopefully that will continue to be the case. Talk to ya later, DAve