Water Cay Lodge

23/05/2019

Sidney Thomas has moved his lodge form Water Cay on Grand Bahama Island to Little Abaco Island. We have had a a busy spring at this new location and the reports are now coming in.

Chuck Ash filed this very complete trip report on Little Abaco Bonefish Lodge which covers all the details of this new operation. The lodge is on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. If you drive as far north as you can on Abaco, you end up at Crown Haven. The lodge is on the outskirts of this small settlement While not for everyone, LABL is receiving great reviews from the "fish first" crew.

Read this report carefully, then decide if it is for you. And thanks Chuck! This is a terrific asset for any angler contemplating a trip to Little Abaco Bonefish Lodge.
For the complete report and photos, go to FLY PAPER BLOG at:
https://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2019/05/little-abaco-lodge-summary-april-20-may.html

12/12/2017

Two Hosted Weeks by Chuck Ash to Water Cay Lodge on Grand Bahama Island: April 21 - 28 and April 28 - May 5
Angling Destinations is pleased to offer two prime weeks this spring hosted by Alaskan guide Chuck Ash. Chuck was inducted into the Freshwater Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, but he is also a very accomplished saltwater angler. Not only is Chuck an excellent fisherman, flycaster, fly tier and most importantly, instructor. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is a great guy to spend some time with. If you’re looking for a great saltwater trip this spring, this is an excellent opportunity to join a great group hosted by an accomplished and very affable host.

30/11/2017

Angling Destinations' Water Cay Trip Report from FLY PAPER October 21-28, 2017
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2017/11/water-cay-lodge-trip-report-oct-21-28.html

18/10/2017

09/10/2016

Bahamas: Hurricane Matthew Aftermath...
We just spoke with Ketta and Sidney Thomas from Water Cay Lodge on Grand Bahama Island. The lodge suffered some minor roof damage and the dock was significantly damaged.

Apparently the damage in Freeport was much more severe than out at Water Cay. All the staff are fine although they still do not have any power or water at this time.

We'll get further updates regarding the timeline for repairs as soon as we can.

08/06/2016

Edward Blocker and his son Riley just returned from Water Cay Lodge. I thank Ned for sending me his report and a few photos. Looks like they had a great time! Nothing better than taking your son or daughter fishing!
From FLY PAPER
scottsheywood.blogspot.com

Scott,

Riley and I had a great trip! Exactly what I was looking for. Rustic, but comfortable and good fishing.
Sidney was a great guide to us - very patient and a great instructor. There sure is a lot that has to happen in sequence to end up with a fish by the boat. We both made a lot of mistakes but mostly learned from them and came away better fishermen.
Riley caught his first bonefish on the first day, which was also his first fish on a fly. Every fish he caught felt like a catch to me.
My plan is for us to do more of these trips together. I'll find out his upcoming college schedule and get with you on the next trip.
Your flies worked great!
I had 2 other boxes but never used them.

Thanks again,

Ned

14/02/2016

WATER CAY LODGE
Spring 2016 Availability UPDATE!

March 12 - 19: 2 Rods
March 19 - 26: 2 Rods
April 16 - 23: 2 Rods
May 21 - 28: 2 Rods

You can learn more about Water Cay at Angling Destinations.com or Scott's Blog, FLY PAPER:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com

For more information or to book a date please call us at:
(800) 211 - 8530 or email us at the address below.

[email protected]

02/11/2015

Water Cay Lodge Trip Report: 10/17-24/15 PART TWO
My memory of the next four days is now a blur of stalking on the endless flats that surround Water Cay. We fished mangrove creeks carpeted in dark turtlegrass and sandy undulating shore flats. We fished lovely white sand bays and seeming endless Casaurina lined beaches. We covered many square miles and rarely saw another boat.
See FLY PAPER for the full report and more photos:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2015/11/water-cay-lodge-trip-report-1017-2415.html

29/10/2015

Water Cay Lodge Trip Report: 10/17-24/15 PART ONE
All of the members of this year’s trip to Water Cay Lodge had fished many times together on many. But somehow we had never fished together in this exact configuration. Somehow, my old friend Mike Schwartz had never met John and Anna Riggs, but he knew both Steve Peskoe and Scott Sawtelle from many trips including the Seychelles, the Yucatan, Los Roques and the Bahamas. In other words, we have all traveled together for many many years and even if some of us hadn’t met others, we knew their names. Now, we were finally on the same trip which was a repeat of last October’s sensational Water Cay trip. On Sunday morning, after a very enjoyable evening that included cocktails and a tasty home-cooked meal by our hostess Kay Cox, we were on the dock rigged and ready to fish!
But as dawn threw the first light of the day on the dock at Water Cay Lodge, we were certainly not enjoying the look of our first day’s weather. Dirty dark clouds, propelled by a constant 30 mph wind, scudded under a hazy high sky. White caps raced across the bay tossing white foam onto a messy, marl-stirred shore. It didn’t look good.
For the full report, go to FLY PAPER:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2015/10/water-cay-lodge-trip-report-1017-2415.html

28/10/2015

Just returned Saturday from our trip to Water Cay Lodge on Grand Bahama Island. Great trip and a wonderful group... we were all sorry to leave. Trip report and photos to follow soon.

04/04/2015

Just got this brief trip report from my old friend Bill Ellis. He and his friends do a bonefish trip every year! I think I've know these guys since the early 90's! I was thrilled to see yet another BIG permit caught at Water Cay!
see FLY PAPER:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2015/04/another-big-permit-caught-at-water-cay.html

16/03/2015

For all fans of the Bahama's Water Cay Bonefish Lodge, I just received this note from Ron Brandt circa 1995:

"Hi Scott, Here are some old pictures from Walker's Cay when Sidney and I both were much younger men. Sidney had to be in his 20's and I look about 25 pounds lighter in the photo. Like Sidney, I still have a passion for fishing. Haven't been out in years due to budgetary reasons, but I hope to someday again roam the Bahamas for that 10+ pound fish.
I wish I could be more specific about the date and the area we caught this fish. Maybe Sidney can tell exactly what year from the hat and shirt he wore…
we had run pretty far that morning. We saw a lot of fish, but I was always too late getting to the right place or just never saw the fish. On the way in, Sidney saw a small school with several big fish. They were rooting around in the sand litterally within a couple of steps of shore. I was using a spinning rig so Sidney got into position and had me launch up onto the beach. Without the line ever settling into the water I was able to pull the bait off the beach and right in front of their feeding pattern. As luck would have it, this brute picked up the shrimp and we were able to land the fish. Thanks to these pictures I'll never forget what a great guide and patient person Sidney was that day. I know that folks fish for years and spend thousands trying to hook a big bonefish like this. It's probably tough to tell from a photograph, but where would your best guesstimate on weight be. It's got a big gut that's for sure. I think Sidney and I decided 12 pounds would be fair.
Bloody Thumbs!
Ron

I answered,,
..very cool Ron, I 'd say that fish is in the 11-12 range. It's a big boy!
I'll make sure Sid sees this photo. Sid will get a kick out of this!

04/11/2014

Love this photo from my old friend Bill Ellis at Water Cay a few weeks ago. What a perfect morning!!

25/10/2014

Fishing at Water Cay is a learning experience for even the most seasoned of anglers. All three of the guides are analytical, good at communicating their methods and have some of the best bonefish eyes I have ever seen. But a warning, if you are the know-it-all type that doesn't want to try something new, don’t go to Water Cay. But if you want to get better and put some new arrows in your angling quiver, Water Cay should be near the top on your bucket list. If you can surrender your ego at the Water Cay dock, you will catch fish and more importantly, learn new methods to catch fish.

While every fish reacts differently and no single technique works all the time, I think the Water Cay Method definitely deserves your attention. Here, from FLY PAPER, is that method:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2014/10/bonefish-water-cay-method.html

23/10/2014

Water Cay Bonefish Lodge is a beloved destination… We now have anglers who are on their 10th trip to the lodge. Water Cay is not for everyone, but if you have a keen desire to learn and like to fish hard… Water Cay Lodge offers a rare opportunity in what seems to be an increasingly amenities-driven angling world.

Water Cay offers a clean room and home-cooked Bahamian meals (yes, conch fritters!), but more importantly truly great guides, Beavertail skiffs and a seamlessly organized day that gives you the best opportunity to pursue the island's big fish without the long runs to the flats. When visiting Water Cay, anglers are always amazed by the both the accessibility and vastness of this fishery.

Here is just one of the days from our Angling Destinations' hosted trip October 11-18, 2014…
see at FLY PAPER:
http://scottsheywood.blogspot.com/2014/10/water-cay-lodge-trip-report-october-2014.html

23/10/2014

Just back from Water Cay Lodge on Grand Bahama Island… Photos and trip report to follow. Here is the gang - great trip you guys!