Big Hole River Journal

Dolphin (Dorado)

Blue Water Fly Fishing

Current Temp: 68  WindN0

An exciting change to flats  fishing is to experience some blue water  fly fishing. A dolphin (dorado) on a fly is quite an experience. Best fishing for these is out by the tongue of the ocean near one of the buoys. Technique is to use chum to get them in the area  and then it is usually a no brainer. When they are on the feed they will hit almost  anything. If you  get a big one be prepared for a lengthy fight. An 11 or 12 wt.  rod is  best.

Many of the  area guides and Hank will take fly  fisherman out to these  areas. If the wind is over 15 I would not suggest going out in a flats skiff but rather  an  offshore boat. If  you tend to  get sea sick  you better stick to  the  flats. Also if  you go  with Hank there  is no  turning back  and he does  not come  back until  the  cooler is full.

Caught In The Act

How about this pic of me  catching Hank  teefing stuff off  the back of my truck. Do  you think his hands full? What you can’t see is he also has his mouth stuffed full of my strawberries.

I found a couple tarpon today and they were very close to here. I pulled  up on this  popular flat and they were on the  edge of it where  it drops in deeper water. Lots of sun and good conditions tomorrow so you know where  I will be.

Pretty cool yet today but found lots of bones. Didn’t catch many but found a  lot. One school had to be  close  to a hundred.

This cool front is on the way out and temps to be in  low 80′s by end of the week.

Current temp: 65  Wind NE8

Tide dropping. Should be good conditions with falling tide next couple days just after dark to  find tarpon by the government dock.

Kitchen, Dining Area

Cottage By The Sea

Steve Hanna

North Channel, Fresh Creek

Current temp: 73 partly cloudy, wind N8

I met Steve about four or five years ago when he was just starting this project. We happened to be exploring new areas to fish on the north channel when I noticed the start of construction way up there. I pulled the boat to the  shore and introduced myself. This is a really remote area and the furtherst west you can get to by road along Fresh Creek channel. I kind of wondered if this was a good idea or not. Well Steve called me the other day and invited me out to see the cottage. WOW, has he ever done a good job. He worked on it when he had time and could afford materials. All the furniture inside was hand made by him. It is totally solar powered. The walk way to the dock  is lit up at night by solar  powered green lights.

It is about two miles to Captain Bill’s blue hole and there is another big blue hole just to the north through the bush but no path to it. He will have bikes available as well as kayaks and a boat to rent if you want to go  fishing. Bonefishing in that  area  is excellent and gets very little pressure.

He rents it with a three day minimum and a weekly rate.

You can contact Steve at 242-368-6122 or  e-mail at: shorrscarrental1@hotmail.com  I will say again, this place is really cool. Oh and I forgot, it’s two bedrooms with two beds and private bath for each room.

Mostly cloudy today and the  wind was pretty stiff  along  the shore. However after I got to Steve’s cottage I was wishing I had the boat as you can see the water was dead calm back there. Perfect for spotting  tailing fish. Next two days look great with very light wind and lots  of sun.

I now have all my gear together and just waiting for a good weather and tide forecast and it’s back to the west  side and Williams Island—can’t wait.

black tip shark

Temp: 75, Wind E6

I think labowski flat  is getting way too much fishing pressure. Not from  people but there are three ospreys who have  taken up residence on that little  island at the  east end of the flat. As soon  as I stepped out  of the  boat and  started to wade it they all three took wing and made  it clear this was  their flat. They kept  swooping the water in front of me definitely putting  the run on any bones that may have been there. Then they would dive  bomb me stopping about ten feet above me. I finally gave up and said “fine, it’s your flat”. They literally chased me all the way back to the boat. The only fish I saw was that black tip shark in the photo. He was fair sized and  was getting a might  too close at times. I finally poked my rod toward his eye  and slowly turned and left.

Partly cloudy with lightwinds forecast for next  couple days.

Never touched a bonefish today. Some days dats da way it is.

Henry Wallace and son

Current temp: 73   Wind N10

Audrey and I took a trip to the north end of the island the other day. We were on a mission to find water melons, grapefruit, tangerines and any kind of produce and veggies we could get our  hands on. I will  have to say we made a pretty good haul.

I figured  as long as  we  were in the  area we would  take a little side trip  to Red Bays  and see  if some of my old friends were around. Went to see master carver Henry Wallace as I ordered  another sculpture from  him. Last year I  had the pipe man and this time it should be even better. Can’t say what it  is yet. You can see some  of his work in the pic. That bonefish is carved out of mahogany and can be yours for $450.

As we  were leaving the settlement I heard a guy yelling and it  was my friend Carlton. It was good to see him and he said he just got another boat  and was heading back to sea to make his living. He  and Gerald both  lost their boats last year in what they called “a perfect storm”. It was these two guys who told me where to camp on the west side  and gave me the  directions to the only source of  fresh water over there. It only took me two years to find it and numerous maps from these guys who probably thought I was an idiot but never gave up on me.

All in all it was  a fun trip.

hot fly

Bottle flat, 10 foot cast

 

Take these all day

Current temp: 76  Wind E13

Walked all along the shoreline of  bottle flat today. This is the area  we had the big clean up last year. That shore was littered with bottles, cans and you  name  it. I think we  took about 30 big trash bags full  out last year. Well I’m glad to  say there is very little  new  debris along there and  the  fishing  is  good as was proven  today.

I anchored the boat and started walking east. I was going right into the wind but that was the plan with the sun at my back. About ten minutes into the walk I saw this lemon shark coming at me . When he got about ten feet I figured that was close enough and was just about to poke at him with my rod when I noticed two big  bonefish right behind him. It seemed  like  they  were  following him just to keep an eye on him. I crouched down and stripped  in all  the line  I was dragging. They were now  really  close like 10 to 12 feet  away. I did a little  flip-roll cast and dropped the  fly about 5 feet in  front of  them. I didn’t even strip  as one charged the fly as  soon  as  it  hit  the  water and had  it. It was  just  a couple  seconds  before he was  in my backing. Then I noticed  the shark  had turned around and sensed something going on. I cranked the drag all the way down to the point of breaking him off. Landed the  fish asap while the shark was going in circles looking for his  meal. I threw a conch shell at him and he  was gone.

Well so much for having to double haul an eighty cast  in order to catch a bonefish. These fish were basically right off  the tip of my rod. A couple reasons they did not spot me and spook off. One, I was in the chop from  the wind, crouched down and I was wearing clothes the same color as the bottom.

Last few days I have been using a rust colored fly I found in my bag and decided to try it. I had never used it before. Man has it been hot. Since I tied  it on I  have  had not one refusal. Showing you a pic of it. I have been told not  to  show that fly as  now it’s supposed to be  a secret pattern. Screw that crap. Just like back on the Big Hole River, it may be working  great  today and tomorrow they might not even look at it. As hard as  they have been hitting it, I  tink it still work tomorrow.

Current temp: 80

Wind ENE16

With these windy condtions I have been catching  fish in places where they are  normally  really spooky. Yesterday I  caught two big ones in ankle deep water on shark  flat. I took several shots of  the biggest one while holding the  rod and trying not to drop the camera in the water. When I got back I checked the camera to see how  the pics came out.  Well on every one I had my finger across the lens. This one posted is the  only shot that came out. Oh well.

Forecast is for more of the same with lots of sun and lots of wind.

Tommy Kee stopped by last night and he  had been guiding on the North Bight. His  report was about the same  with windy conditions but good visibility.

These are the conditions where a strong 9wt. comes handy. Another trick to casting in the wind is to  side arm and keep the line low.