Black Fly Lodge Report

We just returned from our inaugural trip to Black Fly Lodge, Abaco, Bahamas on April 13. Some of you may have seen our review/report from our scouting trip last year in which we spoke very highly of Black Fly. However, it's always a better test when we have clients along to judge a lodge and fishery.

Black Fly Lodge

Vaughn and Jean Cochran, Clint Kemp, and Dave Byler (the owners of Black Fly Lodge) set out to do something different and special at Black Fly and have, without question, succeeded. The foundation of their operation lies in a very special fishery. A truly world class bonefishery exists here with Bonefish as big as you'll find anywhere. In addition, they have a very viable Permit fishery that not a lot of people talk much about, with some very large Permit. Add to this some Tarpon, a good bunch of tailing Mutton Snapper, and a massive amount of available real estate that they fish and you have something pretty unique.

Clint Kemp...he who keeps everything running smoothly.

Last year I stayed in their temporary lodge, which was great, but this year we stayed in the newly opened lodge. WOW! This place is truly amazing. Indicative of the classic sporting lodges of days gone by, you can almost picture Hemingway wandering the halls. A wonderful staff, managed by Clint Kemp, finishes everything off with a level of service you don't find just anywhere. The meals (even the skiff lunches) are simply amazing. Head Chef, Devon, is very talented with the rest of the staff (Samantha and Elizabeth) make sure your stay is as close to perfect as possible.
All ten in the group raved every night about the wonderful dinners and it's one of the only trips I have been on where I gained a few pounds.

The view from your room.

Full stocked pro shop. 

Dinner time.

An impressively stocked bar.

The specially designed East Cape skiffs turned out very well. Not only are they the most comfortable and dry skiff I have ever run in, they are awesome to fish from. They run very skinny, meaning we can fish pretty much anything we want, and they can pull away from a dead stop in very little water. The deck is a dream. Very clean with nothing to catch fly lines and BIG! Anglers also have the option of a clear deck, a combination brace/folding seat, or a raised standing platform. Fly line tamer buckets are one every skiff (which, as it turns out, I quite like, unlike the brace thingy). Clients do like the brace/seat option. Skiffs are kept in immaculate condition with a maintenance regime and cleaning performed every night.

Black Fly East Cape Skiffs

The guides, Paul, Derreck, Nick, Kirk are top-notch. These guys are as good as it gets! They are very dialed in, personable, professional, the whole package. Every single angler in our group loved them. They aren't just Bonefish guides either. They know their Permit fishery, the Tarpon, Mutton Snapper, etc. I would fish with any of these four, any day, any time...period. They rock!

Heading out in the morning.

We had non-anglers in our party and Black Fly was perfect for them. They had stuff to do every day, touring all over the place, and had a great time. This is one of the very few fishing lodges where you can safely take a non-fishing companion.

Clint is quickly developing a working knowledge of the bluewater fishery as well, so non-anglers can go give that a try on conventional tackle and those who are anglers can give Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, etc. a try on the fly. The have a 32 foot Yellowfin for this application which is a very nice setup.

Just in case you want to go bluewater.

32 foot Yellowfin.

Well, we could go on and on, but to sum things up....Black Fly is a top notch operation! And will we go back? Without question!