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Look for more trips to Acklins Island this fall - Details Coming Soon!

Download Fall 2008 Acklins Trip PDF Flyer

Something new...I just set up a Blog site for Yes Bay Lodge and will be giving the latest fishing reports from the Lodge.  I have also created one where you can follow my travels this summer to Alaska and Yes bay Lodge. Click the links below to access the sites:

Yes Bay Lodge Fishing Report Blog      Captain Jim Travel Blog

A word from Captain Jim

April
28, 2009 - St Petersburg, Florida

ANTICIPATION! -
Where has the winter gone? I leave for Alaska in just a little over a week! My travel plans are all finalized, I am heading up a little earlier this year, to help open the Lodge and transport boats and supplies out from town.

I am flying to Seattle on Thursday May 7th, taking a bus up to Vancouver BC, with an overnight, then board the Holland America cruise ship, the MS Ryndam departing on Friday May 8th. With stops in Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay then on down to Ketchikan where I will get off the boat early for my summer at Yes Bay Lodge.

There will be plenty of pictures of the trip posted here and on my travel Blog and of course my Smug Mug photo gallery, so stay tuned for details of my trip. I have signed up for 2 different "Photo Tours", so I suspect I should be able to get some nice shots of the Alaska scenery and wildlife. New camera, new lenses, I think I am ready to go!

Once the fishing season starts I will be posting regular pictures of all the fishing action to the Yes Bay Fishing Report Blog, see link above! It promises to be a great season, with a record catch predicted.

Stroke!

The winter was a little exciting for me this year as right before Christmas I suffered a mild stroke and spent 4 days in the hospital. I was very lucky, a couple friends noticed I was not speaking correctly and literally forced me to the emergency room. Once there they discovered I was in fact suffering a stroke. I had major blockage in my carotid artery on both sides - 1 side was 100% blocked and the other was 80% blocked. The miracle of modern medicine saved me. They did an angioplasty and cleared the blockage within an hour of me arriving at the ER. No residual effects, small speech problem, that quickly passed. So I am back to 100% and very happy to have friends who won't take NO for an answer. New diet, more medicine and having a whole new outlook on how fragile and fleeting life can be! Make a point of looking at these symptoms as I was fortunate that one of my friends knew about this and made me go to the hospital. Have the person speak and listen for slurred words, have them smile and look for a crooked smile, have them raise their arms above their head and look for one arm not as high as the other, and finally, have them stick out their tongue and see if it favors one side or the other. If any of these symptoms occur, get them to a hospital as quickly as possible. The faster they get there the less chance of permanent damage.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Carotid_Artery_Disease.html


Acklins Island Bonefishing Trip! 

In November, I went on a fantastic trip to Acklins Island, one of the premier and undiscovered bonefishing destinations in the world. I had been to Acklins years ago, clear back in the early 80's. I had vowed to someday return...it was well worth the wait!

We had planned to stay at Acklins Island Lodge, however some work was being done at the Lodge so the owner arranged for us to stay at his personal residence. Les Knowles, the manager of the Lodge was the perfect host. Fantastic food and great fishing. Our guide, Elvis Collie spent three days showing us some of the best flats for bonefish you will ever experience. We had some wind the first 2 days, but still managed to see large schools of fish and we landed plenty.

The third day was right out of the travel brochures, light winds, calm seas and beautiful Bahamian sunshine. The fishing was good the first 2 days, but this last day was a day to remember. In the morning during the high tide we went looking for bigger fish and managed to find a couple. After a wonderful boat lunch of fresh lobster salad, packed for us by the Lodge, we headed to one of the most beautiful flats for some extended wading. Elvis put us in front of some of the largest schools of bonefish I have ever seen. We worked the schools hard and were literally on fish all afternoon. Not the biggest fish, but there were plenty. The thrill of the run from bonefish, even small ones, is something every fisherman should experience at least once in their life.

Check out the pictures and some more details I have posted by following the link above, or just click here if you are in a hurry!

I am planning another group trip down in the early spring of 2009, or I can book individual trips anytime you might like to go and experience this wonderful place. Packages are available in ALL price ranges! Make plans to join me on my next adventure! Just send me an email for more information.

Have a great fall and winter fishing season and check back often for up to date information.

Email Capt. Jim    Capt Jim USCG License

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Yes Bay Lodge is one of the premier destinations in SE Alaska. I am proud to offer my services through this Lodge. Please visit the Yes Bay Lodge Website and plan on joining me and the rest of the crew for the fishing vacation of a lifetime.


Acklins Island Lodge is a new destination for 2008 and we look forward to a long term relationship. I have fished Acklins many times and can honestly say it offers some of the best bonefishing flats in the world. Plan on joining us for one of our group trips this year.  
 


I use Penn Formula Graphite 2 Speed Reels exclusively for Halibut fishing in Alaska. Tried and true, it is hard to beat a Penn Reel. 
 


Shimano TR Reels are my choice for salmon fishing in Alaska. I also feature Shimano spinning reels when fishing in Florida and the Bahamas. 
 
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