Today’s the day it finally hit me: I’m sick of winter. With a foot of snow still on the ground and tomorrow’s high expected to be in the teens, fishing season still seems a long way off. Feeling sorry for myself this morning, I poured a cup of coffee and I opened up iPhoto on my home computer. Perhaps a little journey down memory lane would cheer me up, I thought.
And you know what? It worked. So I figured I’d share some images from a trip to Andros Island in the Bahamas I made with my friend and photographer Sandy Hays. Remembering the warmth of those tropical breezes took a bit of the chill off for me, and I hope it works for you, too.
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When you’re standing on the bow of a flats boat on the first day of a trip, scanning the water for tails or movement, the sense of anticipation is exhilarating.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Tropical flats are great places for optical illusions, as when the sea and sky seemto meld into one another
photo by Sandy Hays
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Torpedo-like bonefish are shaped for speed.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Rule #1: Always take the guide’s suggestions, even if he doesn’t choose the flies you spent so much time tying back home.
photo by Sandy Hays
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The tropics are hard on equipment. . . of all kinds.
photo by Sandy Hays
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When storm clouds, which you’ve been watching for hours, finally arrive overhead, it’s time to head for the boat, although it’s hard to leave a flat full of tailing bones.
photo by Sandy Hays
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“I thought it just wasn’t fighting very hard.”
photo by Sandy Hays
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The sun can be brutal, so it’s extremely important to cover up and stay hydrated.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Bonefish get a lot of press for being fast and strong, but they’re beautiful, too.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Up close, it’s easy to spot the fish against the bottom. Fifty yards away? Not so much.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Don’t forget to devote some time to chasing ‘cudas. They fight hard, and the guide enjoys arriving at the dock with dinner in hand.
photo by Sandy Hays
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Chasing bonefish across the flats will test your casting skills to the limit.
photo by Sandy Hays
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If you’re going to whip a big fish, you need the right rod.
photo by Sandy Hays
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A portrait of the photographer, the unsung hero of most fishing articles.
photo by Sandy Hays
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[Note: I originally posted this last Wednesday as a slide show, but the third-party slide-show program had some technical difficulties and wasn’t working on some computers.]
