Third Annual MCFF Andros Island Trip - May 25-29








To view the report and more pictures scroll down...

Members on the 2006 trip, from left to right, top to bottom: Bill Lent, Tony Johnson, John Yurosko, Dennis Kowal, Jared Hermann, John Freeman, John Freeland, Dana Fogle, Bill Hopper, Preston Jones, Pete Greenan, Phillip Waquespack Melissa Littlewood, Jim Martin, Greg Huffman, and Tony Ryan.
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Andros Island, 2006
By John Yurosko

The third annual MCFF-Andros Island bonefish trip was a resounding success! Sixteen intrepid MCFF Anglers took on the ghost of the flats, the silver prince, the king of speed and all scored a victory. From seasoned guide, to traveled mediocre line mangler to the rookie piscatorion, all were successful in their quest. Andros will never be the same!

The Air Flight charter, up to their usual aim to please, arrived well before scheduled wheels up time and ferried a maxed out cargo of 14 bonefish-starved anglers in comfort the three hundred miles to the international bonefish capitol of the world, Andros Island. Arriving at Androstown, “Fresh Creek” to the locals, ahead of schedule, and enduring a 45 minute commute South to Behring Point, the eager fish seekers were on a mission. Deterred not at all by the wrong side of the road driving and silent policemen (speed bumps), they arrived at the haven for Albula vulpes, Tranquility Hill.

Air conditioners cranking out at full speed, the refrigerator full of semi-cold Kalik (Bahamian beer), and cool afternoon breezes wafting through the palms, nothing could keep them from their appointed goal of chasing bones.

The Sages, the Cabelas, the TFOs, and all the others were unpacked with care, rigged for pursuit, and the most delectable bits of animal remains and artificial goop, ever tied onto a bent piece of metal, and tied then again, feebly onto a thin plastic string, the adventurous stealthily waded into the soft, slimy muck, wondering “why in the heck did we come here?” Oops! Sorry, wrong story!

Well, we did arrive ahead of schedule, cleared customs, and delved onto the flats immediately to the South of the lodge. Lines stretched, casting arms limbered up, the
pursuit had begun. After a few hours of casting, refreshments beckoned at the old watering hole. Tales of the warm Bahamian waters and all the bones which escaped our best afternoon casts were soon replaced with the clang of Kalik bottles and the local hors’d ouvres, setting the mood for the evening meal. Specially designed MCFF Andros 2006 Tee shirts were donned by the group and a family portrait captured for eternity. Then a delectable dinner of local cuisine and lights out.

Coffee was on at 0600 and the anxious crew, rustled from their bunks, eagerly made their way to breakfast, packed their own lunches, gobbled down the bacon, eggs, cereal, and all the fixins, brushed their teeth, got their gear, and ambled the 143 paces to the dock, through a cadre of little, mini, and very hungry black mosquitos!

Met by the Androsian guides, gear stowed, and they were off to the hinterlands of the North and middle bights, and waters in between.

Chasing bones, casting to rocks which looked like bones, and fighting the winds, and clouds, and occasional rain, they braved the elements, only to be rewarded by the sound of...

“...bonefish, 11 o’clock, moving right, fifty feet,” then, with the stroke of a master caster, a pink-nosed gotcha slips into the water, a mere four feet in front of the hungry bone, and then, “long strip,” “long strip,” “gotcha!” And the fight is on.

Whirrrrrrr! Reel like a madman.
Whirrrrr! Reel again like a madman. And then, victory. The fish is released to roam, feed, and perhaps be caught again.

This scene, repeated for many, and desired by all, was the order of the day. And as with all fishing, some were rewarded beyond their abilities, and some not. Some saw fish all day, and others not. Some made fantastic casts and got a hook up and others didn’t. Some
made absolutely wretched casts and were rewarded with a hook up. Such is the way it is with fly anglers, and such is the way it should be. That is the challenge, and the same challenge was issued in a similar manner for three days straight!

All were lucky and released at least one bone; luckier ones released more. There were cudas, sharks, shad, turtles, and starfish. Stingrays, birds and crabs. Lots and lots of crabs. One angler watched as a sea gull picked up a crab, flew with it high in the sky and dropped it on a rock. The angler asked, in a most apologetic voice, “Did he do that to KILL the crab?”
Oh no, surily answered the guide, “He was teaching it to fly!”

And so it goes, we all go to Andros to catch bonefish and to learn and enjoy the beauty as well as the realities of nature. Great flats, great food, great guides, terrific fly fishing friends, a chance to practice our skills and enjoy a few days away from the rat race in bonefish heaven. A trip we will recall with very fond memories and relive in our dreams many times over.

Let’s do it again next year!

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See the CLUB CALENDAR page for other club events.

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Craig Smothers is our Outings coordinator, if you have ideas for future outing locations call Craig at 355-3352 or email him for more information at: csfishdvm@comcast.net

LET’S GO FLY FISHING TOGETHER SOON!