Hi,

I'm off to Bahamas in June (yeah!) for some bonefishing. Can I get some specific recommendations/tips for you think is the best clothing: flats boots, shirt, plants, etc. -in fact everything!

Do you use a hip/chest/lumbar pack or just leave everything in the skiff?

Thanks!

For me its a light weight pair of walking trousers,cheaper than fishing ones,
My columbian bonehead shirts.Those snowbee neoprene boots [£28] good hat,buff for them winds and a pair of stripping gloves.If going out of skiff and not to far you'll only need small fly box some tippet and nips which will fit in shirt pockets.If straying without skiff a hip/flats hip pack with water bottle holder will be fine.Lots to chose from,but for me William joseph packs work well and designed well and good quality.

I nearly ruined a trip by wearing neoprene boots. The water in them gets hotter and hotter throughout the day which tend to cook any coral cuts creating a nice infection.
I therefore recommend dropping some cash on a decent pair of wading boots that protect your feet. Also buy several pairs of 1000 Mile socks to wear with them. If you hurt your feet your trip is over!

As for bags, Simms did a brilliant Dry Creek hip pack that used a roll down opening instead of zips. Therefore there is nothing to rust or break. It's lasted over 3 years so far and I use it all the time in the UK. I see them on ebay sometimes for £25.

Not trendy I know but if I were going again I would take some sort stripping basket. I have fluffed loads of shots at fish by dragging line behind me that taggles or snags I think its silly not having one. Even when you carry line coiled up it often tangles as soon as you drop it.

Lastly sun gloves as the tops of your hands are always exposed and Ex Officio shirts.

Agree to everything JAT has said. Also, don't forget the infamous doctor fly in the Bahamas. The little b@ggers bite like you wouldn't believe. So on the skiff where a thin pair of socks. If you're like me, you won't want to wear boots in the skiff as it's easier to feel if you're standing on your fly line. But without socks those little guys will eat your feet by lunch time. For wading, I just wear Simms pursuit shoes (the ones I have are no longer made) and no socks. The sand just flushes out or around.

(I wouldn't worry about a fancy hip bag - a simple small backpack to take on the skiff is ok and if need be you can throw it on your back for long wading ventures.)

June will be getting stinking hot. So lightweight everything is best.

---------- Post added at 08:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 AM ----------

And a damn good pair of 580 copper lens sunglasses (and a backup pair)

And a light-coloured Buff




Have fun - I'm jealous!

Really jealous of your trip!!
Many good tips here.
Regarding clothing you need to consider if you get sunburned easily.. Some do and some don't. I usually only wear shorts, boots and P20 sunscreen.
I's recommend to always carry a sunblock stick for your nose and ears.
Regarding boots I agree on getting a proper pair, such as Simms or Patagonia. As JRT mentioned; If you f**k up your feet the trip is ruined, and I've seen a few guys do just that...
My best tip for wading is getting a pair of high quality neporene socks to wear inside your boots. Mares is a good brand.
The neoprene socks keeps sand and mud out, thay are easy to put on even when wet, and they are easy to rinse the sand and mud out of.
Regarding hip packs and what you put in it: Less is more! Especially when wading.. A couple of tippet spools, a flybox, clipper, forceps and a bottle of water is usually all you need. A waterproof camera is also good to have, so you can post pics of that Tenpounder here on FFF;-)
And as Steve mentioned; Backup sunglasses, preferably 580 Costas;-)

Tight lines!
Johan

Sun Cream, Sun Cream, Sun Cream
Hat Hat Hat
Stripping Gloves/Sun Gloves
Flat shoes - the cheap neoprene jobs they sell on eBay are great if you can find teh ones with a mesh panel on the side.
Buffs for face and neck and sunglasses!!!


Aside from that, take as much tackle as you can as it is rather costly over there.


Simon Bain is a good contact for a guide - I think he based in Nassau.


Nassua is a shi!te-hole itself but the rest of New Providence and the outer Islands are nice.


Have fun and best of luck.




Ben

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Here Patti is wearing an Ex-Officio shirt and lots of sunscreen.



Whilst Kati Reid displays an Ascension Bay permit, Sage 1090-4 Xi2 rod, Sage 3500D reel, Rio line, Simms footwear and Ex-Officio clothes.

__________________
Say 'NO' to canoe access on the river Usk and upper Wye.

As can be seen here everybody has different thoughts on what to wear.
For me I start at the bottom and work up. Shoes, inmho you Can't beat Simms Flats Sneakers. Expensive compaired to cheap neoprean booties but worth the extra, you only have one pair of feet and neoprene dosen't stand up to coral. Socks the best I've found is to wear a pair of Sealskin sockets under a pair of Simms Wet Wading Socks or on their own when on the skiff. Trousers Lightweight Regatta or Craghopper cheaper than flats either zip off legs or not. Shirts again lightweight designed for the tropics regatta are cheap and good. a hat for your head any with a peak ie baseball cap will do
Sunglasses get the best you can afford Costa, Action Optics, Haber to name 3.
Finally if like me you suffer from cold sores dont forget to take your Zovirax along with the sunblock lip barm the hot sun will affect your lips I talk from experance I had a trip to Cuba ruined because I forgot mine, along with what ever sun screen you want,
Have a good trip and enjoy.

In my opinion ex officio shorts/ trousers/ shirts take some beating.

Always wear socks inside your wading boots , I got some double skinned M&S anti blister socks several years ago that keep all the sand out. I always wear a big folded hankerchief around my neck and a hat with a large brim.

I have a Riverdance pack from Fishpond that has been to Andros several times that I am pleased with. I also always take some double strength lemon squash to mix and take to drink when out all day on the flats. Other things you will need , are sunblock , sunglasses, insect repellent , hook sharpener, forceps for crimping barbs, tapered leaders and 15lb fluorocarbon.

Not clothing, but ideally take a spare rod/reel. At a minimum, take a spare fly line.

No need for socks with a sandal setup



but definitely a must for boots when the sand has nowhere to go. What you don't want is to turn your sock or boot liner into sand paper. In the Turks & Caicos flats we just waded bare foot but I wouldn't want to do that around mangroves.