WHERE ARE YOU, BONIES?
THREE GUIDES WHO KNOW THEIR WAY AROUND THE CHRISTMAS ISLAND FLATS
The guides were the linchpins of our trip to Christmas Island. With faces weathered by wind and sea, they graciously shared their knowledge with a full measure of patience.
The daily dialogue went something like this:
“Cast 1 o’clock, 40 feet.”
“Pick up, move it to the right.” “Fish coming, short cast.” “Inches … strip in inches.” “Long, slow strip.”
And so on.
Elu, 52, who wore a black police hat and an infectious smile — but who does not own a fly rod — captured our hearts immediately. A father of four, he is small in stature and quiet in nature. He tended to wait for the bones to come in, although he would walk forever if need be. “Where are you, bonies?” he would ask in a soft voice while scanning the flats. He’d click and chuckle if a fish ignored the fly or popped off. It seemed to be his way of saying, “Oh well, there are other chances.”
Nario, 58, has been guiding since 1988. His wife ties his flies. Her Christmas Island Special is a killer. “Put it down” was his cue to let the cast stand. Nario eagerly listened to our Montana fishing stories and enjoyed photos of browns and cutthroats. He always ended his time by saying, “It was a pleasure fishing with you.”
Matt is 32 and raising two small children with the help of his widowed mother. He’s handsome, sometimes cocky and worked hard to make sure we got into fish. Jokes and laughter were part of his easygoing manner, but once we were on the hunt, he grew intense and short with his directions. “Lay it out” meant the cast was good; let it drop.