About as remote as it gets right here. Photo by Clay Nowak
Getting to Christmas Island requires a night's layover in Honolulu because of the early departure time in the morning. The layover was much welcomed, due to the fact I live in Seattle and my legs could use a little beach time. After an afternoon on the beach and one too many Mai Tais, the group was excited to spend the next week fishing the flats. The trip didn't feel real until after we made our way through customs and watched the aircraft we came in on take-off, continuing on its way to its final destination. Christmas Island only has one flight per week, so at that point, we were committed to at least a week there for better or for worse. We loaded up into the back of a pickup on wooden bench seats and headed off to the Christmas Island Outfitters/Sunset Lodge which was arranged for us by our friends over at Fly Water Travel. After a quick introduction, we settled into our rooms and begun to rig our rods in preparation of the week of fishing that awaited us. Christmas Island has such a diverse fishery, you can easily find yourself wanting to fish a wide array of rods. Anything from a fiberglass rod, like the BUTTER STICK to a 16wt PREDATOR for bluewater fishing, and everything in-between. Most of the group settled on 7wts from bones and triggers, and a 11wts for GT's. The rods were Just the first part of the equation in our preparation, as we had also begun to organize the remainder of our gear, sitting on the beach as we watch the sunset in the horizon.
Standing out on one of the many pancakes flats. Photo by Clay Nowak
Tailing bonefish will get anyone excited.
crux
790-4
The 790-4 CRUX is the perfect combination of power and control for stalking bonefish on one of the many flats at Christmas Island. The 7wt makes fishing for the average size bonefish at Christmas Island enjoyable but still had enough power to combat the wind.
Lean MoreBeing practically on the equator, the sun is very intense at Christmas Island. Nicole so covered up from the sun, she looks like she is ready to rob the place. Photo by Clay Nowak
One of the guides directing the driver on to a flat.
Not everyone in the group gave up on triggers. Nicole with a nice trigger. Photo by Clay Nowak
Releasing one of the many bonefish of the trip.
John with a nice GT.
The BUTTER STICK bent over on a bonefish. Photo by Clay Nowak
Redington's CXI Tips
The Christmas Island Special is obviously the goto fly for guides. Photo by Clay Nowak
John with big bluefin trevally. Photo by Clay Nowak
Enjoying the ride. Photo by Clay Nowak
John working the bank in the backcountry. Photo by Clay Nowak
Sharing the flat with life long friends. Photo by Clay Nowak
I wanted to end with this photo of Clay taking a break from taking amazing photos to get some fishing in.
