HOLIDAYS ON ELEUTHERA, FAMILY ISLANDS
Fly Fishing for Bonefish


BfG (Bonefish Graham) will be hosting the following trips in 2008/9. Please book early to avoid disappointment...

PRICE LIST

**Although these weeks are showing as having "no vacancies" not all the bookings have been confirmed, so some availability may yet arise from cancellations due to non-payment of deposits.
Please talk to Graham if you would like to be considered should any vacancies occur.

All prices are in GB Pounds.

7 night holidays include........

   Transfers between Governor's Harbour Airport and Rainbow Inn
   7 nights Accommodation
   7 days Meals (breakfasts & dinners)
   7 days use of Rental Cars (2-3 share each vehicle)
   6+ days* fly fishing for bonefish including 2 days orientation & tuition (normally with Bonefish Graham)
   An un-edited copy of BfG’s "Rainbow Guide to Fly-fishing for Bonefish on Eleuthera"
   No surcharges for singles if willing to share.

14 night holidays include........

   Transfers between Governor's Harbour Airport and Rainbow Inn
   14 nights Accommodation
   14 days Meals (breakfasts & dinners)
   14 days use of Rental Cars (2-3 share each vehicle)
   13+ days* fly fishing for bonefish including at least 3 days orientation & tuition (normally with Bonefish Graham)
   An un-edited copy of BfG’s "Rainbow Guide to Fly-fishing for Bonefish on Eleuthera"
   No surcharges for singles if willing to share.

* You may also have time to fish on your arrival and departure days, depending on your flight schedules.

Prices do not include flights, travel insurance, fishing tackle, fuel for cars, drinks, lunch, snacks or tips (we recommend you allow $30 per day for fuel, snacks, drinks & tips). 

THE FISHING

With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other, the two shorelines of Eleuthera offer a variety of wadeable flats suited to fly fishing for bonefish, therefore we can virtually guarantee bonefish to cast to every day regardless of the conditions. Furthermore, all the places we fish are accessed by road without the additional expense of renting boats or hiring guides. However, if you would like to employ a local guide for one or more days we will be happy to arrange this.

When you arrive on Eleuthera, or on your first full day at Rainbow Inn, one of us will show you where to find bonefish and how to catch them (we don't just give you a car and a map!) In fact most anglers catch bones on their first day with us. We mainly wade the shallow flats, sight-casting flies to bonefish of up to 6lb (and often bigger) in warm crystal clear water less than knee deep. We are familiar with how and when the tides and weather conditions affect the different fishing locations on Eleuthera (which is around 100 miles long and averages 2 miles wide) and will suggest which areas to visit each day. Without this help you would probably not find the right location to suit the ever changing conditions!

Other species you can catch on fly include barracuda, pompano, blue runners, bar jacks, cowfish, grouper, mangrove snappers, mutton snappers, lemon sharks and occasional permit and tarpon. If you want to spin or fish with bait, we ask that you don’t do so anywhere near anglers who are fly fishing. For a special day, a local guide can be hired to take you to some less accessible bonefish flats. During our last 23 trips only one of our anglers has ever failed to catch a bonefish on fly, even though some had very little fly fishing experience. On average we catch well over 100 bonefish each trip, mainly in the 2lb to 6lb range best fish 9lb, and most of us come home with memories of the elusive "big one that got away".

You don’t have to be an expert but you should be a competent fly fisher. You also need to be over 18, able-bodied, and want to stalk and sight-cast to bonefish on the flats. All bonefishing is strictly catch & release and we insist that you only use barb-less or de-barbed flies/hooks.

ACCOMMODATION, MEALS & DRINKS

You will stay in a comfortable air-conditioned en-suite twin bedded room in a villa at Rainbow Inn. A double room may be available on request. Full breakfasts and dinners are included in our holiday packages. Breakfasts are served in our villa, dinners are either served in the villa, by the pool or in the famous Rainbow Inn restaurant, where twice a week (in season) you will be entertained by Eleuthera's famous "Dr Sea Breeze" and his guitar. A wide range of wine, mixed drinks, cocktails & beers are available at the Inn's "Nautical Bar". Beer, spirits, soft drinks & snacks can also be purchased locally and kept in our large fridge/freezer. Tea & coffee making facilities are also freely available in the villa. We usually take snack lunches and cold drinks to the flats each day in cooler boxes. Please be advised that smoking is not allowed in the accommodation or restaurant.

AMENITIES (ON SITE)

Eleuthera is a “Quiet Zone” - You won't find a phone or TV in your room! Other modern amenities you won't get are daily newspapers, room service, fast-food and jet-skis!

However, while staying with us, you will be free to enjoy the Rainbow Inn's facilities which include...

   freshwater swimming pool
   hammocks
   bicycles
   tennis courts
   snorkelling equipment
   and of course some beautiful Caribbean sunsets!  

STUFF YOU WILL NEED

PASSPORT: Please ensure that it is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your return flight.
CASH: around $200 (US Dollars) per person, per week to pay for fuel, snacks, drinks & tips. There are several ATMs on the island where you can get cash.
CREDIT CARD: for medical emergencies. A Debit Card is also useful in case you need extra cash (there are several banks and ATMs on the island).
DRIVING LICENCE: Because all the bonefish flats are accessed by road, it is preferable that most anglers in our group are prepared to drive one of the rented cars.
EQUIPMENT: 9ft #8 or #8/9 fly rod, disc-drag reel loaded with 200yds backing and a weight-forward floating fly line, bonefish flies (de-barbed), tapered leaders 10 to 15lb with stiff butts (fluorocarbon preferred), 10 or 12lb fluorocarbon tippet material, polarised glasses & disgorger or forceps.
CLOTHING & PROTECTION: Neoprene booties for wading, socks to wear in booties, short & long lightweight trousers, short & long-sleeve lightweight shirts, lightweight waterproof jacket, flats hat or cap with long peak, insect repellent and waterproof sunscreen (we use Boots Soltan or Avon Bronze sunscreen and after-sun lotions which contain insect repellent!).
FLIGHTS: You will need to arrive at Governor's Harbour International Airport (GHB) on the Saturday. If travelling from Europe this is best achieved by travelling to Nassau or the USA on the Friday and staying in a hotel overnight. We will be happy to advise.  
TRAVEL INSURANCE: It is a requirement of our Booking Terms & Conditions that you have adequate travel insurance including cover for medical emergencies and cancellations. We suggest that you arrange this at the same time as booking your flights, or as soon as possible afterwards.

STUFF YOU MAY NEED

Fly tying equipment?
Stripping gloves (also for sun protection)?
"Reefs" (sandals that won't fall apart if they get wet)?
Camera?
Tape measure?
Hook sharpener?
Compass?
Hand held GPS?
After-sun lotion?
Spinning tackle?
Car top rod carriers (either magnetic or suction)?
Torch (flashlight)?
Spare fly tackle (rod, reel, line etc)?
Ladies may also want to bring a 110V hairdryer and travel iron?
Casting lessons? Learn to double-haul? (see below)

CASTING

For most of the time you are with us you will not need to cast long distances. However, the ability to cast quickly and accurately is important and if you can cast 20 yds or more in windy conditions while wading knee-deep then you will have a big advantage! However, most of the time you will be stalking or ambushing fish in water less than 15" deep so stealth and accuracy are often as important as distance. Above all you need to be familiar with your equipment so that you can cast automatically while concentrating on the fish. Therefore, to get the best value out of your bonefishing holiday, we suggest you prepare for it by improving your fly casting technique...

Start off by casting into a stiff breeze without taking your eyes off a target 40ft away - then try again with the wind on your left shoulder, then your right shoulder, then with the wind directly behind you. Easy? Now kneel on the ground and start all over again! This will roughly simulate the mechanics of casting to a cruising bonefish while up to your knees in water on a windy flat (but without the adrenaline rush!) It's important that you can cast while keeping your eyes on the target because bonefish are hard enough to see at the best of times and are constantly changing direction, so if you take your eyes of the fish for just a second you may not locate them again. If you can't do the above quickly and efficiently then we advise you to invest in some lessons from a qualified** casting instructor, and then practice as often as you can before getting on the plane!   

Most days out on the water it will be breezy so you should always try to make the wind your friend! ...Ideally, you will want to position yourself with the wind on your left shoulder (or right shoulder if you cast left handed). Experienced fly-fishers will do this without thinking, but there will still be times when you cannot deliver your fly to the fish without casting into the wind. To do this you will need to generate sufficient line speed so that your line, leader & fly all turn over (straighten out) on the back cast as well as the forward cast. If the wind is very strong, it will even be difficult to cast with it on your back! (This is because a successful forward cast is dependant on having first made a successful back cast to load the rod.) Learning to double haul (or even single haul) will not only enable you to generate sufficient line speed to defeat the wind but also cast further, quicker and with less effort under all conditions. Other techniques such as side-casting, back-casting, roll-casting and left-handed casting (or right-handed casting if you are left-handed) are also very useful weapons in your armory, but are no substitute for the ability to double-haul.  

**We say qualified because very few good fly casters are also good teachers! Learning to cast properly is like learning to drive a car or play golf - you should have lessons from a qualified instructor otherwise you'll pick up bad habits that will be difficult to get rid of. Once you have mastered the basics you should practice until you can do it automatically - you will then be able to concentrate on out-witting the fish without having to think about the mechanics of casting. Once on holiday, Graham will help you to learn the watercraft and stalking techniques necessary to locate and catch bonefish, and will even give you some casting tips, but he will not have time to teach you the basics. However, if on Eleuthera you find the conditions too difficult some days, don't worry, there will be sheltered places that you can fish where the casting is less demanding and you'll still have a wonderful time!

OTHER INFORMATION

VISAS are not required for British citizens to visit the Bahamas. Other nationalities should check with their travel agents.
VACCINATIONS are not usually considered essential but you should check with your doctor.
CURRENCY CONVERTER: Click here
DRINKING WATER: The tap water at Rainbow Inn falls from the sky and is considered safe to drink but cheap bottled water can be purchased locally if preferred.
DRESS CODE: Shirts should always be worn in public (except on beaches) and particularly in shops & restaurants. "Smart casual" is customary in the evenings (T-shirts, shorts & sandals are OK)
SMOKING: We do not allow smoking inside the accommodation, restaurant or vehicles.
SNAKES & BUGS: We are assured that there are no dangerous snakes on Eleuthera. We get few problems with insects although "no-see-ums" (tiny sand flies) can be tiresome early morning or in the evening if there is no breeze. Some people are more susceptible than others so we recommend a good insect repellant such as herbal DEETfree, together with a sting-relief treatment just in case! We also use sun-screen and after-sun lotions containing insect repellant (by Avon or Boots). However, most sun-screens and insect repellents are thought also to be "bonefish repellents" so make sure you apply these well before going fishing and wash your hands before handling your flies! 
WEATHER: At the times of year that we run our trips it is generally warm and sunny with relatively low humidity and a pleasant breeze.
Hurricane season is officially June to November but more generally considered to be July to October.
For more information on weather please click the following links...
National Hurricane Center
Governor's Harbour Weather Forecast
Average Climate (Nassau)

subject to an additional charge to offset fees.