[Pocono]

Well, we're back and it was fun. Everyone was right - there's a big difference between chasing trout with a 4-5 wt. on a narrow Pennsylvania freestone stream and casting on the flats against a stiff wind with an 8-9 wt. rod. But, I think that a lot of the things that we learned out of necessity on the flats 15 miles offshore amid the tiny islands that dot the middle of Ascension Bay will help make us better all around fly fishers.

Bonefish, also as everyone said, are a complete surprise when you first hook one. I thought I had the QE II on my reel when I got my first strike. Right out through the tip top and 20 yards into my backing on the first run! That was the first of 4 runs. When landed, it was a nice 20 inch fish. But I wouldn't have believed the fight in that fish if I hadn't experienced it firsthand.

So, just a short note of thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice. The rods and reels were great and, frankly, probably an order of magnitude better than we were as anglers. But, now that we know what it's about, we'll be back there again.

In retrospect, for us, it will probably never replace a good day on our favortie trout stream(s), but it is a great alternative and certainly, for us, it was a great and worthwhile challenge.

[shorthaul]

Glad that you and yours had a good time---Be careful--- Its addictive---Check out some albies in the fall if you like 15# fish smashing your topwater fly at 35 mph and running 300 yds too.---Gonna need a bigger reel!---lol