Check Out some killer pics from past Chardy Bonefish Schools below. Just click on the You Tube pics below to watch!
Learn the many tactics of fly fishing for bonefish in a beautiful, casual, and totally relaxed environment!
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Students of the Ultimate Bonefish School can expect to learn about:
TACKLE
REELS
- What reels are best for bone fishing and why
- Weight of the reel
- Drag of reel, cork Vs synthetic, and design of drag system
- Large arbor advantages
- Size of reel
FLY RODS
- Best action fly rods for bone fishing and why
- Which size rod is best for the type of bone fishing you could encounter
- A complete breakdown on how Fly Rods are made and the graphite they are made of, and how that makes a difference in bone fishing
- How to best travel with your fly rods
- Which rods to bring on your saltwater flats trip and why
FLY LINES
- Which fly lines are best for bone fishing
- Learn about how much tapers of fly lines effect your ability to bonefish
- Learn about the many different makers of fly lines and there differences
- What kind of thoughts go into designing a bonefish fly line
- Cores of fly lines and there differences
- Complete break down of every section of the fly line and its individual contribution to the cast, presentation, and fishability of the line
BACKING
- What size of backing is best
- Colors of backing
- Different kinds of backing and which is best
LEADERS
- Types of mono that’s best for bone fishing vs other types of fishing
- Length and tapers of leaders for bone fishing
- Why correctly constructed leaders are SO important to successful bone fishing
- Learn the importance of leader length, and stiffness vs type of fly line you use, and length of front taper of fly line
- Learn how to construct the best bonefish leader for all possible bonefishing situations
KNOTS
- Complete breakdown of all the best knots for bone fishing
- Learn to tie all the best knots yourself
- Learn the best line to line knots
- Learn the best loop knots (for tying on the fly)
- What extra things you can do that helps prevent knot breakage
- What knots are best for fly line to backing, backing to reel, and fly line to leader
FLYS
- Extensive outlook on the action of a good bonefish fly
- Learn the most important features and what to look for in good bonefish fly
- Learn how important the design of a bonefish fly is and why
- Learn how to tie some of the best proven bonefish patterns in the world (you will be able to tie them your self if you wish)
- Learn the many different materials and ideas on the market to help you design you own favorite bonefish fly that will work best for you
CASTING
- Complete basic to advanced level casting instruction
- Hints and tricks on casting from a boat and wading
- How to correctly cast and do battle with the wind from all angles
- Techniques on distance and short range casting
- Effective fishing casts to help catch more bonefish
- The importance of accuracy and loop control in presentations to boenfish
- Effective techniques to accuracy casting
FLY PRESENTATION
- Learn how and when to present the fly to bonefish in all weather conditions
- How to chose the correct fly for the conditions that you have
- Understand the difference in water depth and current when you present the fly
HABITAT
- Food that Bonefish eat and when
- Territory that bonefish live in and why
- Tides and how water depth effects bone fishing
- Learn about the anatomy of the Bonefish and why this makes a difference in catching them
Huge Barracudas roam the flats of South Andros! Cudas will take a well presented sparkly baitfish fly right away! SWEET!
PERMIT- TARPON - BARACUDAS - SHARKS
Andros South offers fishing for all flats fish!
- Permit are present on the flats in South Andros in sizes ranging from 5-25 pounds or even bigger at times. There is a fair chance to see some permit during your day of bonefishing, but a permit specific trip could produce a possible 4-7 shots per day. Bring A 10wt rod with a floating line and a leader of atleast 12ft in lenght with you and keep it rigged for permit (if you care to) with a tan or white heavy crab fly. For more details on the permit fishing there please feel free to ask.
- Tarpon at Andros South are few but there are possibilties at times to catch a smaller tarpon (under 50 pounds). A 9wt-10wt for these fish will work just fine. Floating line are great along with some flies in yellow, and blue, and black will work great!
- Barracuda are very prevelent on the flats in South Andros. These fish will attack a well presented flashy fly of almost any color. A 10wt rod with a floating line equiped with a leader that has a wire bit tippit is best for casting the larger long streamer patterns that work good for cudas on the flats. Get ready to strip fast and receive a rippin stike. These fish are a blast. There are a couple of guides at Andros South that love to take a day to go to some different flats just for cudas and sharks. So if its toothy critters you like, this trip is a great one!
- Sharks are all over the flats in South Andros. You can have a 9wt-10wt rod with a floating line rigged with you on the skiff to take advantage of the many possible shark shots you will get. Most of the sharks that you will run into are lemon sharks.These sharks are great fun. They take line, thrash ont he surface, and fight very hard. A wire bit tippit leader is a must to ensure a landed fish. A longer heavy butt section will help agains the abrasion of the tail of the shark cutting through your leader.
IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE FISH PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
SCHOOL INCLUDES!
Pricing for the School includes - - 7 nights, arrive Saturday, leave Saturday
- Your own fly box stuffed with the best custom hand tied flies for Bahama Bonefish
- Your own Capt Bruce Chard Teeny Professional Series Bonefish Fly line (Available in sizes 7wt, 8wt and 9 wt)
- Your own leader and tippit material to construct you own KILLER bonefish leaders
- All day Sunday classroom Instructions with some of the top Fly Fishing Instuctors in the industry
- Monday - Friday guided fishing with evening discussion and fish bragging stories (1 day of class room and 5 days of fishing)
- Fishing two per boat, single occupancy lodging, full open bar, transfer to/from the airport in Congo Town.
- Guests tip the fishing guides daily with cash preferably (approx $50-$80 a day) You also have the option to tip at the end of the week on your credit card. You can also tip at the end of the week for the lodge help and cooks.
LEADER MATERIAL- Leader Material will be provided for all students of The Ultimate Bonefish School. You will learn how to tie your own leaders and knots so you dont have to rely on any one else to do it for you.
FLIES - The Ultimate Bonefish School also includes your own fly box with some of the most slammin Bahama bonefish flies around! You can't buy these bad boys! But you can pick some flies up before you come as back ups that would be great. This works for you guys that are coming but not taking the school as well. I like some size 2-4-6 tan and white clousers, Gotchas, Pink Puff, Petersons Spawning Shrimp, Fly Tail Shrimp, Big Bone Andros, Big Bone Atol, Ragin Craven, Chard's Gnarly Bandit Snapping Shrimp orange head and chartreuse head. You can find these at almost any fly shop anywhere. Here are some links to some great bonefish flies for the Bahamas! Check it out !
Captain Bruce Chard Professional Series Bonefish Fly Line - School also includes your choice of aa 8wt or 9wt Chardy Bonefish fly line. More information on the specs of this great bonefishing line click here -
Along with the items discribed below - here is a great post from the Deneki Outdoors famous fly fishing blog that I have pasted here for you to read. Its more great info for your bonefish trip. There are a number of links though out the post that will bring you to Deneki's Blog and Web site. Enjoy!
Today's post relates to packing and bonefishing, but it's not about loading your big bag before you leave your house - you already know how to do that.
Today we're talking about your typical day on a bonefishing trip - it's the first morning of your week at Andros South, and you're trying to decide what goes in your pocket, what goes in your hip pack, what goes in your boat bag, and what stays at the lodge.
In all packing-related conversations, opinions range from 'less is more' to 'bring anything you might need'. We like to strike a happy balance - well-prepared, but not too weighed-down.
At a fishery like ours on South Andros, you're probably going to do a combination of wading away from the boat and fishing from the boat. If you're in the boat, we still think you should keep the 'On Your Person' items on your person. If you're wading, the 'Hip Pack' items will be in your hip pack; if you're fishing from the boat they're probably still in your hip pack but that pack will be in your boat...that's OK.
Here's what we think you should bring along, and where we think you should bring it.
On Your Person
No matter how or where you're bonefishing, you should always have these items on your person. If you're a hip pack type of angler, they could be in your hip pack, but make sure they're easily accessible, regardless.
Pliers or hemostats, including nippers or scissors. You need to be able to cut leader material (no, not with your teeth), and you need to be able to remove flies that are deeply and/or strangely hooked.
Tippet. Obvious, right? You might lengthen your tippet on a calm day, and you might lose some tippet when a giant bonefish breaks you off and you need to re-tie.
Flies. They might be in a really nice box and they might be in a crappy little Ziplock, but you need at least a handful of flies to be prepared for light and dark bottoms (light and dark flies), shallow and deep flats (light and heavy flies), and for those cases when you get broken off and need to re-tie.
If you're out on a long walk on an enormous flat, you're going to want to bring along a little more than the absolute bare essentials that are on your person already. We think hip packs are the way to go, and yes, we like the Simms Dry Creek Flats Pack.
Throw in your...
Water. Be smart.
Expanded fly selection. Maybe some unweighted flies, maybe some permit flies, maybe that double-secret fly tied by your Uncle Merlin.
Sunscreen and lip balm. You might be out there for a while, and you need to reapply this stuff.
Spare leaders or material for tying more leaders. Sometimes a big fish swims around a mangrove and you lose the whole shootin' match - you need to be prepared to re-rig.
Buff, if you're not wearing it already. It's a good idea to stay out of the sun, and Buffs help.
Lens Cloth. It's teensy and light, and you'll see a lot better, which matters when you're chasing bonefish.
In Your Boat Bag
Your flats skiff is your home base for the day, whether or not you're fishing out of it. This is where everything else important lives.
Raincoat. In tropical environments, heavy squalls can blow through unexpectedly and you don't want to get soaked. Boat spray happens too. On the flats we like simple, lightweight raincoats like the Simms Paclite Jacket.
Wire Leader and Barracuda Flies. If you don't have a rod already rigged to target 'cudas, you should at least have some wire leader and flies ready, so you're ready.
More Water. A couple of liters a day is a good idea.
Flats Boots and Socks. Even if you think you're going to be fishing from the boat most of the day, bring your boots along. You never know when you're going to need to hop out to pursue that tailing fish on foot.
Bug Spray. It's really not too often that bugs are a problem on the flats, but when they're getting annoying you're going to be glad you can slap on some DEET.
Cash for Beer. You're probably going to want to hang out and play some dominoes at the end of the day, so a few bucks for beer wouldn't hurt.
If you want to be really prepared, you could also throw into your boat bag...
Sunglasses with different tints. Yes, it's getting a little technical, but darker lenses are better when the sun is raging, and yellow or rose lenses are better when it's cloudy.
Extra fly line. Sometimes things go really wrong, and your fly line falls victim to a coral head or a nasty mangrove or a giant bonefish. It's pretty easy to pack an extra line along, just in case.
Multitool. It never hurts to have a Leathermanalong to help out with opening bottles, repairing reels, or dealing with any number of unforeseen chores during your day on the water.
FLY RODS- Bring any 7wt, 8wt, or 9wt medium to fast action fly rod. A good rod is the 4 peice easy to travel with Ross World Wide Essence series fly rods. Check out the Ross World Wide site for the closest dealer near you. http://www.thomasandthomas.com/
FLY LINES - All lines should be floating WF (weight forward) Salt Water Bonefish or Saltwater Tapers( you can order the best Floating Bonefish line for the School and for Bonefishing in all sizes right here and now no problem. The Bruce Chard Professional Sereies Bonefish Fly Line can be malied to you ASAP. Price is $65 including shipping per line. To order now email your request and shipping address to Capt Bruce himself at captpermit@aol.comorWWW.BRUCECHARD.COM
FLY REELS- Most Slatwater reels will work fine! The best are the Ross Reels! Find all price levels available to you though Ross Reels. I love the BG Canyons size 4 for Bonefishing! Excellent! Check out Ross Reels website for a dealer near you! http://www.rossreels.com/
SUNGLASSES - Make sure that you ahve a good pair of POLERIZED sunglasses. (Action - Smith) Get a pair with a light colored lens as to let in as much light as possible to help with the contrast of colors between the fish and the bottom of the flat. I like the Passage design from Action Smith Optics - They Rock!
FOOT WEAR - you need to bring a pair of wading booties for wading the flats. You can fins all kind of them on line or at your local fly shop. There is alot to chose from and they all work fairley well. No laced up ones though. You want some neoprene one that slip on like a sock and have a zipper on them.
SUN TAN LOTION - Be sure tha tyou bring lots of stron sun lotion to protect you from the harsh rays of the sun. A high SPF of atleast 30 is recommended. I like the baby faces 60 SPF or the Neutrageana 45 SPF with Parsal 1785. If you need complete coverage from the Sun my dermatologist recommends a cheap tube of Desitin that you can find at any Drug store. Make sure it has 40 % ZINC OXOIDE in it. Total sun protection.
FLATS WEAR - You can get some cool long pants that have zip off legs on them. Then you have a pair of long pants and a pair of shorts all in one. then when you get hot on the skiff can cover up form the sun by zipping on you legs again. Really cool and practicle! Also some long sleeve fishing shirts. I personally love the Patagonia silk weight crew to fish in. It light in weight and breathes great and has great protection from the suns rays. Hats or visors with a black under body are also a great idea. The black under body helps to break down the glare under you hat brim. Always travel with rain gear as well. I would also bring some warm clothes just in case a cold front comes through.
FLATS GEAR
- A good comfortable fanny hip or chest pack for wading the flats are a must. These small light weight bags are great for holding all of your flies, water bottles, pliers, camera, and anythig else you want to bring withyou when you leave the skiff to go wading the flats. Also some good wading booties are important. I like light weight ones that have a thick hard sole. There are many on the market to chose from. -
An arial shot of the famous Andros South Bonefishing Lodge - South Andros Bahamas! http://www.deneki.com/
ISLAND INFO
The Ultimate Bonefish School at Andros South Bonefish Lodge in South Andros Island In the Bahamas is only a short 1 hour flight from Ft Lauderdale Florida landing you right in Congo Town South Andros. Andros is the largest Bahamian island in the Bahamas and supplys much of the fresh water to the island of Nassau ( The Bahamian National Island). Andros is split into 2 major halfs. North and South Andros. South Andros has a very small population which in turn equals NO pressure from anglers at all, making the endless miles of wadable bonefish flats ideal for ample shots at bonefish all day long. This makes PRIME habitat for the best possible location for the Ultimate Bonefish School to take place. An unfathonalble amount of flats as far as the eye can see, offers students multiple shots at fish all day long, with out ever fishing the same flat twice the entier duration of the School. You cant beat this set up. Close to the United States, endless flats to fish with loads of Bonefish to see and catch, GREAT food and very comfortable accommadations, and of course the some of the best possible instructors the Fly Fishing indutry has to offer.
INSTRUCTORS!
All instructors at the Ultimate Bonefish School are Federation of Fly Fishing Certified Fly Casting Instructors. Master Casting Instructor Capt Bruce Chard will be your head Instructor. Assisting Bruce will be any number of highly qualified casting instructors depending on the size of the School. In addition to the School, the instructors will be available to fish with you on the skiffs (which is an unbeleivable way to learn quickly). Also the instuructors will be open to any questions or discussions that any student may have at any time day or night. That is invaluable to to the student to have a professional there every morning and night to help answer any questions that they might have at any time. Try to take full advantage of having professional instructors with you for an eintire week. The amount that you can learn quickly is UNBELEIVABLE! With over a dozen years of professionaly guiding fly fisherman on the Salt Water flats of the Florida Keys and Instructing Salt Water Fly Fishing Schools Capt Bruce Chard, and his staff of instructors are a resource of knowledge that should be takin advantage of.
GENERAL INFO
You will land in Congo Town South Andros where you will take a quick 15 minute drive to the south end of South Andros and Andros South bonefish Lodge.
The School can accommodate up to 10 anglers very comfortably. A big beautiful white sand beach (to which the Lodge is located) provides plenty of room for the casting part of the school while class room section of the school can be held either indoors with plesent air conditioning or out side along the beach under the Tiki Hut!
You will arive on Saturday on one of the only commercial flights available to Congo Town South Andros. After a slammin breakfast Sunday Morning we will start to conduct the The Ultimate Bonefish School (topics covered are listed above). After a hardy lunch we will then spend time out on the beach out front casting and preparing our selfs for the next day of fishing. Then we fish every day for the rest of the School with possible extra class time every evening after a yummy dinner.
TIPPING
Tipping for the guides and shore staff can be left on a credit card or paid with cash of course (U.S. cash is great) after the trip if you like. The guides do prefer a cash tip at the end of each day if possible. You will be fishing with different guides everyday most likely. If you prefer to leave a tip for the guides on a credit card then you will have to let each guide know that when you get back to the dock everyday. You will get a breakdown sheet at the end of the trip to fill out with all the guides names, and shore staff on it for tipping purposes.
Andros South is a 20-minute drive from the airport in Congo Town on South Andros. There are several options for flying in to Congo Town.
You can fly commercialy if you like from Charlotte or Atlanta direct into Nassau. You can then fly from Nassau to Congo Town from Western air. Info Below.
Another option, two flights each day arrive from nearby Nassau with Western Air. Click here: Western Air -air charters bahamas - travel Bahamas These flights depart Nassau at 7:00 am and 3:15 pm, and take 20 minutes. The flights return back to Nassau at 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Reservations can be made with Western Air at 242-377-2222. See the following section for some recommendations on where to stay in Nassau. Flying to Nassua daily from both Miami and Ft Lauderdale Florida are American Airlines www.AA.com , or Bahamas Air out of Ft Lauderdale Florida http://www.bahamasair.com/ss/
IMPORTANT NOTE: Western Air accepts only cash for payment. When checking in with Western Air in Nassau, you will need $120 in cash, either US or Bahamian ($1 US = $1 Bahamian), to pay for your round-trip ticket. You will also need $15 in cash for a Bahamian departure tax.
Once you arrive in Congo Town, a representative of our facility will meet you at the airport for the short drive to our lodge.
As of January 1, 2006, it will be mandatory to have a valid passport to enter the Bahamas.Birth certificates will no longer be accepted for entry.
AIR FLIGHT CHATERS - THE BEST WAY TO GET TO CONGO TOWN!
Putting a group together to fly on a private charter with Air Flight Charters is simple and very
convenient. The cost is not much more and there is no cancelled flights, late flights, lost luggage, or security that you ave to deal with. Its the best. The Charter flight leaves out of a separate terminal called Shelt Air Terminal located on the Ft Lauderdale International Airport grounds. There is a shuttle that can pick you up from the main terminal and take you over to the private charter terminal, and back over to the main terminal when we get back if you need. Although the terminal is very nice and comfortable with many different sitting areas with tvs and such there is NO FOOD at the charter terminal so plan accordingly.
If we have enough for the trip to take 2 planes we will do so. Each plane can handle up to 7 people. Or if we have a group of 12 then we can take 2 smaller planes with 6 each no problem. Please feel free to check out the Air Flight web site below for directions if you need them.
For a ride to the Shelt Air counter where the Air Flight Charter leaves from the Ft Lauderdale main terminal you can call the Shelt Air terminal counter and tell them that you are chartering with Air Flight and that you would like to have the shuttle to come pick you up and give you a ride to the Charter Terminal. The Shuttle number is 954-359-3200. You can set it up for the return ride back to the terminal as well.
The flight leaves Ft Lauderdale as soon as everyone arrives but usually is scheduled for a 3pm departure to Congo Town. The return flight from Congo Town usually leaves around 9:15am or so and then usually is back to Ft Lauderdale by noon. Please plan for a couple hours at least if you can to allow yourself to fly in on time or fly out on time with your other carrier at the main terminal. If you have any other question please feel free to ask.
Here is a link to some Lodging in Ft Lauderdale if you need to stay over night on either side of your flight in our out of the Bahamas. This Courtyard Marriot is a great place to stay for its right next to the largest fishing store on earth - Outdoor World. Inside Outdoor World is a great place to eat called the Islamorada FIsh Company, and next door is the International Gamefish Association Museum. You can walk across the parking lot to all of this from the Marriot! SWEET!
You might find yourself having to stay over night in Nassua depending on your own personal travel times. If you find yourself having to stay over in Nassua here are a couple of hotels near the airport in Nassua - Bahamas
LODGE PHONE NUMBER - 242-369-1406 ANDROS SOUTH EMAIL - info@androssouth.com DENEKI OUTDOORS - 800-344-3628 DENEKI OUTDOORS - info@deneki.com
INTERNET
THE LODGE HAS WIRELESS INTERNET CONECTION FOR YOUR LAPTOPS AND A COMMUNITY COMPUTER FOR ALL GUESTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO WHILE THEY ARE THERE.
ANDROS SOUTH DOES HAVE A PHONE AVAILABLE FOR GUEST USE. THIS IS BEST UTILIZED WITH A LONG DISTANCE PHONE CARD THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING WITH YOU. IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A VERY SHORT OR AN EMERGENCY CALL THEN THE LODGE PHONE IS OPEN FOR USE.
SKYPE - INTERNET COMUNNITCATION
For the best communication from the lodge, I would recommend the use of SKYPE. This VOIP (voice over internet protocall) website allows you to call home on your laptop through the internet line for less then a penny a minute. It is very easy, and cheap to use. You will have to get a cheap small ear peace that plugs into your computer to do it but its well worth it. Please check out this link to get more info if your not one of the MILLIONS of Skype users already to learn more about it. http://www.skype.com/
For further information on Andros South Bonefish Lodge check out there website -
Cost is per angler from Congotown, with single occupancy lodging, two anglers per boat, arive Saturday leave next Saturday.
Andros South Bonefish Lodge Deposit requirements are as follows - If making a reservation more then 6 months in advance from your arrival date then the deposit is only $500 to reserve your spot. If your making a reservation within 6 months of your arrival date then 50% is required to save your spot. If making the reservation with in 30 days of your arrival date then full payment is required to save your spot. This is also the deposit schedule that the lodge charges by. The Lodge will charge your card at the 6 month time frame for 50% of the total cost of the trip (minus the $500 deposit if you already paid that) then they will charge the rest of the total cost of the trip 30 days prior to the trip date.
Leave a Deposit or payment yourself via paypal safe and secure through the Deneki Webiste. Pick the lodge tab above. Then click the tab on the left that says Rates and Bookings. Follow directions to pay via paypal and when you make your payment simply leave a note in the message box. State what week and what lodge you are leaving deposit for and mention my name as well. You will then get a invoice via email on the following required payment amounts and payment times.
To make your reservation, we reccomend that you use your Credit Card. This will help simplify all future deposits and payments. Andros South Bonefish Lodge will simply charge your credit card for the deposit and keep the credit card info on file. Then Andros South Bonefish Lodge will charge your card again (with your permission) on the 30 day prior pay off date. This will save you mailing checksmultiple times. If you prefer to pay via check please mail payment with your contact information to the address below and let them know the dates of the trip that your booking for.
After Andros South Lodge has applied your deposit they will then send you an email invoice breaking down the deposits/payments you have already made and when your future deposits/payments are due or will be charged to your card automatically.
Please feel free to email me your credit card information which I will then forward to Andros South Lodge to make your reservation. captpermit@aol.com
Deneki Outdoors is the mother company for the Andros South Bonefish Lodge. They also have a number of other Lodges from Alaska to British Columbia.
If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask. Thanks!
Mailing Address for Payments Deneki Outdoors 200 W 34th Ave PMB 1170 Anchorage, AK 99503
Dates can be arranged by contacting Capt Bruce Chard personally!Captpermit@aol.comor Andros South Bonefish Lodge at johnt@deneki.comThanks!
along to help out with opening bottles, repairing reels, or dealing with any number of unforeseen chores during your day on the water.
