In today’s audio story, we scan the flats of Grand Bahama in search of a single species: Bonefish. Sit back and enjoy the sounds of veteran East End Lodge guide Cecil Leathan poling Bjorn Stromsness (of the Bonefish on the Brain blog) and listen as they tell the tales of their first bonefishes and find many more.
This episode of the DrakeCast is made possible by our longtime sponsors Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, Deli Fresh Design, and Scott Fly Rods. We couldn’t do this without them, so if you enjoy the podcast, make sure to support our supporters.
The word “Bahama” comes from the spanish phrase, baja mar, meaning low sea or shallow water. This is an apt name for the country because so much of the water surrounding the Bahamas is indeed shallow. And its in these shallow areas, also known as flats, that the bonefish tend to feed. This is also where anglers have the best shot of enticing these fish with a fly. Follow along as we attempt to do just that. Along the way, we’ll hear stories from the guide’s time on the water, blow a few shots at tail fish, and maybe even make a connection or two.
During the recording of this episode, we stayed at East End Lodge, located on the eastern tip of Grand Bahama Island. Poet author Chris Dombrowski wrote the history of this area and the surrounding fishery in his 2017 book Body of Water. While Dombrowski focused on the nearby Deep Water Cay, East End Lodge is just a cross the straight. Our experiences with the guides, staff, and accomodations were all excellent. We recommend the cracked conch. And the owner, Rob, knows how to pour a stiff drink.
