This morning I woke early at 5 am. and arrive on the flats at 6 am. I was hoping to see some Permit tailing but it was a day without Permit. The wind was strong and my only advantage was the unclouded sky. The tide was low and I started my search for bonefish but the flat seemed like a lifeless desert. I saw two bones and missed them both after 2 hours of fly fishing. Then, I met Mr. Barracuda. Not a small Barracuda either, it must have been almost 20 lbs and then understand why the flat was like desert. I try to cast him a bonefish fly but it was a bonefish fly so he simply ignored the offering and passed over the fly. And, on a 12 lb leader I was dreaming. That Barracuda would have cut through 12lb line in a fraction of a second. So I moved to the opposite side of that bonefish killer and walked away. Now, the wind stronger and in my face. After a half an hour or so, I arrived at a deeper spot on the flat. I spotted a school of Bonefish cruising in my direction. So I prayed, made two false cast, let the fly sink, made three strips and then my reel began to sing. The Bone did what Bones do best and made a blistering run. I was in heaven but horror was on the horizon. The reef was not far beyond the flat and I did not want the Bonefish to get out into the reef. I applied the brakes and started to run after him with my my fly rod touching the sky. He rushed and ran and I rush and I ran after him telling him “sweets words” to not going into the reefs. And through careful navigation and pursuit I finally got him in my hands. He was not a huge Bonefish but he will be bigger next time. I ended up going through similar battles with three other of his bro’s before 12am. Another great day on the French West Indies flats. Oh yah, I almost forgot. A school of Permit did pass me but the were moving so fast that I could not even get a cast to them. Better luck next time.
Book
- Alaska
- Guide & Fisherman
- Guiding: Choosing Your Guide And Choosing Your Customer
- Guiding: Do It Yourself With A Guide
- Guiding: Evolution Of A Guide
- Guiding: Freshwater, More Than Meets The Eye
- Guiding: Friends For Life
- Guiding: Know Where You Are
- Guiding: More Than Just A Fisherman
- Guiding: Mystery Of The Fisherman
- Guiding: Payment
- Guiding: Saltwater, A Different World
- Rough Fish
- Fly Fishing For Rough Fish: Why Do It?
- Introduced Rough Fish: The Carps & Other Invasive Species
- Methodology: Gear & Tactics For Pursuing Roughfish On A Fly
- More Roughfish: Bullheads, Whitefish, Goldeye, Burbot & Drum
- Rough Fish Environments: Where To Look For Rough Fish?
- Rough Fish Species: The Suckers
- Rough fish: A Lifetime Of Learning
- Rough Fish: Fishing For Dinosaurs (Gars & Bowfin)
- Rough Fish: What Are They?
- The Hook: Some Common Rough Fish Fly Patterns
- Spey
- Spey: Applications, Where Can You Do It?
- Spey: Atlantic Salmon, A Significant Fish
- Spey: Defined And Demystified
- Spey: Gear, The Nuts And Bolts
- Spey: Lines, They Are That Important
- Spey: Steelhead, New Traditions & A Modern Movement
- Spey: The Energy
- Spey: The Flies
- Spey: The Swing
- Spey: Two Critical Casts
- Striped Bass
- Striped Bass: Fishing Rocky Shorelines
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Beaches
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Flats
- Striped Bass: Fishing The Reefs
- Striped Bass: Fishing Tidal Rivers
- Striped Bass: Flatwing Swing
- Striped Bass: Fly Line Options & Choices
- Striped Bass: Gear, The Nuts & Bolts
- Striped Bass: Migration Patterns
- Striped Bass: What They Eat
- The Art Of Escape
- Fly Fishing: A Natural Drug
- Fly Fishing: A Validation Of Freedom
- Fly Fishing: Don’t Fight The Current
- Fly Fishing: It Is What It Is
- Fly Fishing: Socialization For Asocial Individuals
- Fly Fishing: The Allure Of The Fish
- Fly Fishing: The Art Of Escape
- Fly Fishing: The Simplicity Of It All
- Fly Fishing: Time Flies
- Fly Fishing: Times You Remember & Try To Forget
hey alexis … well done! you absolutely made me green with envy .. here i sit getting ready for another work week in maine .. freezing cold, arctic winds and the last bit of leaves falling off the trees .. leaving my landscape with nothing but grey color for as far as they eye can see. all of the saltwater fish in maine have headed south and the flats in maine heaven in the summer but hell in the winter…. then there you are 2,000 or so miles away in the french west indies … off the beaten path, hot sun, crystal water and casting to bonefish and permit and barracuda that rarely see flies … that is what i love most about fly fishing … there is always someone doing something much cooler than me … and heck, if it can’t be me .. it mine as well be you … and if i can’t be there .. the next best thing is living vicariously through your fish tale and video .. nice work! looking forward to fly fishing with you in that part of the world .. save a few of those untrained bones for me … good luck witht he permit today.
Very nice Alexis, wish I was standing on that flat with you today. The arctic weather patterns have set up shop here in the norteast U.S. and the temps and wind chill are starting to get a bit out of hand. Well done. Hope to read and see more of your beautiful world as the grey skies will be hovering overhead here for the next 6 months.
Hi Guys, I’m glad you enjoy these little storys and movies, puting a lillte bit of sun in your cold winter 😉
hey brotha, whats the name of the song on that video, not eek-a-mouse’s, but the first one? thanks.
also, jeremy, i think remembering hearing you sing an OCMS song in one of your vids. you ever been to one of their shows?
i had the same question … i had a good friend from bermuda many years ago that i lost touch with who had given me a reggae tape (before the days of cd’s) and i recognize the first artist and at one time knew the name and it is driving me crazy who that is … … please let me know .. brought back some old and good memories .. had not heard that sound in many years…
trayplus — sorry dude, not so sharp today .. who is ocms ..
alexis .. a little bit of sun .. is .. a nice break from a lot of steel:) .. that is one thing that we got going for us that i doubt there is much of in the french west indies … STEELHEAD! …. so, if you ever get sick of that sun and the heat (which is very possible) .. consider coming steelheading in the USA … if you like bonefish .. you would love to hook into a hot silver steelhead
So I give up. How did you get videos with both hands showing. I admit that I have never seen you so I am only guessing that you have only 2 hands. But really, how do you get such extended video of your fly rod when you have no free hands? Weren’t you fishing alone? The underwater bone chase near the end was also pretty amazing! Great video and cool music, mon!
Hey alexis another great story. Glad to see the fishing is going well over there. those all looked nice nice bonefish and i liked how you edited the video. It must be pretty hard to fish and film at the same time…no?
The first song is form Lucky Dube, album Serious Reggea Biseness, songs is Together As One.
Yep, I was fishing alone, only have two hands and harms, And it’s quit difficult, not impossible.
For having free hands and filming the same times, I put my camera on a side of my chest pack and retrieve beyond it.
sweet Do It Yourself Footage and a great day on the water realizes. A true adventure I plan on sampling. Sweet!
A real mouth watering video and amazing trip. Your story was great to and I would sorely love to try West indies. Congrats.
Yep salwater flyfishing is my first love.
Flyfishing river the second one so for sure I would enjoy that too 🙂