Little Did I Know.

Headed to Kona for my brothers wedding and after that my family spent a week in Kauai. I was excited about this because I wanted to go bonefishing. I didn't get out on my honeymoon when I was there last year, so I was going to make up for it by fishing all week.

I called Rob and had the Monday of that week booked to go fishing a couple weeks before we left. Then after paying what I already thought was too much money for a guide for 4 hours I would make up for it by fishing all week and getting into larger than average bones. Little did I know....

We got there on Sunday and it was raining hard, Monday rain too. We arranged to go later in the week when it was better weather. I was thinking Tuesday or Wednesday, but we didn't get out until Friday, not because the weather, but for whatever reason. I think it had to do with him knowing I was planning on fishing all week, so he wanted me to go the last day I was there.

He called me at 10 at told me to meet me at the beach at 11. I thought it seemed a little late, but he's the guide right? I traveled from 2,000 miles away and accidently forgot my glasses. I thought oh he does this everyday he should have an extra pair, nope. Not an extra pair of sunglasses and he's a bonefishing guide. My fault, but still not an extra pair for clients? WTH?

So we went out I had the first cast on a good bone and it hit, but didn't take all the way and didn't get it. I had about 8 or 10 other shots but I couldn't see what I was casting at/or cast wasn't where it needed to be. After 3 hours of fishing guide called it quits, ya thats right $350 for 4 hours and he quit at 3 hours. NO drinks, no snacks, no glasses, no real advice given. Don't waste your $ on Rob in Kauai, he's the only guide there and I am wondering why now.

If your serious about going to Kauai don't book Rob for the insane price, We can work out a trade or something $50 or so and I will tell you how to catch a bone, even though I didn't catch one. I will even tie you the flies that he uses for the bones there and send them. If I was there one more day I would have, but guide strategically planned for my last day there.

Also, the reason he fishes late in the day I found out randomly enough is he is an artist on the island making shell necklaces that sell for a lot of money, so he spends the prime fishing hours in the morning on finding shells. Then hoses tourist on his insane prices for fishing. I wouldn't have found this out, but my family met him in the morning on the beach finding shells the same day we went fishing.

I was unprepared by not having glasses. Flies I knew I was going to buy some from guide when I was there, but when paying that much $ the little things should be taken care of, especially when you are a destination fishing guide.

This post will lead into my upcoming post about picking the right guide.

Never Know If You Don't Look

The Chucko was in true form last week. After Mike, Matt and I got skunked on the pond, we started looking around at the nearby stream that feeds the pond. In this concrete valve box we spotted a bass. After dropping three flies in to get it, it finally took it! Well kinda, but Matt hauled it in. I knew he wouldn't give me the pics off his camera because he is not proud of this, but I am. It was a good bass too, probably around 5lb's. So top 3 pictures are from phone. The bottom two are from another trip a few days before the epic canal fish.

The monster holder

Smile of a true Chucko

Chuckos doing there thing

Had a piece taken out of its back.

Mustache and all.

Silly Putty Spoon Flies

Fly Tyer magazine had a how to on spoon flies, so I gave it a shot and here are my results. I was really surprised at how easy it was to do. Using the silly putty as a mold is a great help and made it very easy. I intend to do some really creative spoon flies, but just wanted to see how it would work out at first. Now I have fingernail polish in an array of colors to add to the cluttered fly tying table. I hope the bass enjoy these little guys, but I do think they are intended for saltwater. I used silly putty for mold, and clear cure goo as the body. Use a toddler spoon to make shape fill with goo, put slightly bent threaded hook in goo, cure and then design. Next spoon fly will be a New York Jets Spoon Fly.