Mad River Outfitters annual Fall Bonefish Trip
Andros Island Bonefish Club
Novebmer 6th- 13th 2010
As the story goes, it was 1999 and Lefty Kreh was making an appearance at Mad River Outfitters. During that visit, Brian Flechsig asked Lefty a very important question: "Where should we take our folks to show them the best bonefishing on the planet?"
"That's easy!" Lefty said, "Call Rupert". Rupert Leadon owns the Andros Island Bonefish Club and is simply a bonefishing "icon".
May of 200 found Brian and Jim Teeny at the camp with a group of 14 folks....and the rest is history. A solid partnership/friendship was formed between Mad River Outfitters and the Andros Island Bonefish Club that continues today. We currently offer two hosted trips per year and can always put together a special package for you or your group at any time.
The Fall 2010 group was a small one..but a special one. All but 1 on the trip were Andros veterans, and all pretty great friends.
We had good weather, great fun, and the fishing was as good as we have seen it. No kidding!
We go in November looking for numbers. The fish are schooling in preparation for winter/spawning and there are chances to see thousands of fish during a week. We were not disappointed! Although February is known for "big fish", we did see plenty of those as well on this trip. Many 5-6 lb fish were taken from schools and double digit fish were hooked.
Jack Dildine has been a friend and customer since the beginning. He became addicted to bonefish right here at the club in 2004 or so and he keeps coming back for more! Looks like he'll be booking a spring trip then surely joining "the group" in November.
This year we were able to re-unite Jack with one of his favorite guides of all time...Eddie. He is back in the rotation at the club and it was cool to have them fish together again. It's the guides that can make or break a trip and one of the main reasons that we keep coming back.
Thanks Eddie!
Sandy Heinz is Jack's full-time fishing partner. She goes where he goes and she usually out fishes him. She is a great gal and it's been fun to watch her grow in the sport.
Steve Ford is everywhere! We are sending him back to El Pescador in Belize over the holidays and then he's headed to Brazil with us in January. He'll tell you though that his favorite spot is AIBC. Steve has taken virtually every trip that we have offered over the past five years and now visits the bonefish club twice a year.
He's a special guy and we are sure glad that he's addicted to fly fishing!!
A great shot of Steve demonstrating the BUFF. This is how bonefishers look these days! It is truly amazing how many of these things you see in the tropics. Every guide has 2 or 3 on the boat and everybody in camp has them. Probably one of the most important pieces of gear that you can have these days......if you want to keep coming back!
Check out our selection of BUFF products!
Dave Kitchen may be the class clown but he sure can fish! This was Dave's 5th Fall with us at the club and it's been great to watch him grow in the sport of bonefishing. One thing is for sure though, Dave enjoys the "afterparty" just as much as he does the bonefishing. He's a hoot!
What a great guy to be around and we are honored that he travels with us. Dave had a great trip this year and is already making payments on next Fall. He also bought the new Xi3 5wt so he has to go back......read about it below.
Ben Hunting is from Ada, Michigan and also joined us on the trip. Ben is our SAGE/Redington/Rio sales rep as well as Tibor, Action Optics and a few others. He was a great guy to have along and he's a fantastic angler. We have been doing a ton of business with him and he said that he wanted to return the favor so he signed up for the trip.
He's already making plans to return and we wouldn't be surprised if he was part of the November 2011 group.
Here is a shot of Ben with guide Brian Leadon. Brian is one of Rupert's sons and has been guiding our groups since the beginning. As we have said many times before, it's the guides that make the trip and the Bonefish Club features some of the best in the business. It's been fun to watch these guys grow up on the flats.
The trip was hosted by Brian Flechsig himself. It has been a while since Brian was able to spend a week on the island but he pulled it off this year. His bonefish addiction is as gripping as ever!!! Looks like he will be hosting the 2011 November group as well.
On Wednesday night, Brian had his hair done in "corn rows" and beads by our friend Keisha. It took two hours but he claims that it was well worth it. "I caught more fish on this trip than I have in years and I attribute it to the harido and the beads"
He may have changed his mind after the "full cavity search" on the flight home though. He's not saying much about it now.
As we have stated, the fishing was fantastic! Some folks had a few days of double digit hook-ups and a few folks over 20!
Countless doubles also- common in November!
As always, the "after fishing" part of the trip was nearly just as much fun as the fishing. Some very solid friendships have been formed while sitting at the "Andros Bar".
Ben Hunting happened to bring along the new SAGE Xi3 8'9" 5wt fly rod. SAGE's only 5wt outfitted for Saltwater fly fishing. The thing was fantastic! It casts like a dream, cuts right through the wind and had no problems handling 6-7 lb bonefish. Dave Kitchen was on the phone Monday morning after the trip and ordered his!
When the wind blows, which it normally does in the salt, most folks will opt for a heavier line weight. The thinking is that the more powerful rod will help "push" the line, leader and fly into the wind. Lefty says that this is backwards......they should go lighter!!!
The basic principle is this: The same amount of line speed is generated with a 2wt as with a 12wt. So therefore...which is easier to push into the wind, a thick 9wt line or a thin 5wt line? You just answered the question. The windier it gets, the lighter your fly rod should be!!!! This 5wt will certainly not be your "go to" bonefish rod but it is a great and much needed addition to the Xi3 family of fly rods.
Thanks for reading friends and if you ever wish to go bonefishing......we hope that you will think of Mad River Outfitters. We'd love to set you up!!!
Mad River Outfitters
Andros Island Bonefish Club
* February 19th- 26th, 2011
with host Andy Jensen
* November 5th- 12th, 2011
with host Brian Flechsig
Private/Individual bookings available any time!
Mad River Outfitters
813 Bethel Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614-451-0363
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