Halloween | Birding | Fly fishing Clinic 1 | Fly fishing Clinic 2

Calendar of Events and Special Programs

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• Jan 5-12, 2008 Birding and Ecology Adventure with Dr.Mike Baltz
• October 27-30, 2006 Halloween Party at Small Hope Bay Lodge
• November 5 - 10, 2006 Al Caucci Fly Fishing Clinic
• November 2006 Al Caucci Fly Fishing Clinic (2nd week's 2006 dates to be determined)
• Events on Andros: April - September, 2006
• Archives of Past Events

Two Al Caucci Fly Fishing Clinics Slated for Small Hope Bay Lodge
Two events are planned--
November 5 - 10, 2006
November 2006 (to be determined)

Saltwater Flyfishermen can hone their skills on Andros and team up with kindred anglers and a world-renowed expert this spring, when Al Caucci brings his Fly Fishing Clinics to Small Hope Bay Lodge for two five-day events. This is the eleventh year in a row that Small Hope Bay Lodge has hosted these popular fishing workshops.

Al Caucci is a fly fisherman of the highest order, bringing over three decades of experience to his teaching skills. He is co-owner of the Delaware River Club Flyfishing Resort, and owner and director of the Al Caucci Flyfishing Schools including the Al Caucci Bahamas Bonesfish Schools, which he has been running since 1985.

Al is co-author (with Bob Nastasi) of Comparahatch, Flytyers Color Guide, Instant Mayfly ID Guide, Hatches, and Hatches II. Catskill legend Art Flick said of Hatches that "it has so much more than all the others that is should be the last word on the subject." (Trout magazine recently honored Hatches II as one of the 15 most important books of the last 30 years.) Caucci is the creator of the famous "Comparadun" and developer of the comparafly series of patterns with Bob Nastasi.

In his Andros clinics, Al offers hands-on instruction to both novices and experienced fishermen alike. The prey is bonefish, one of the most exciting light tackle game fish in the world. They are hard to spot, easy to spook, and very powerful once hooked. Catching them on a fly is an art. Learning how with Al is easy.

These clinics do not have lengthy seminars or numerous casting clinics. Rather, after one day of critical clinics, fishermen head out to the flats, with instructors by their side. Andros Island has some of the best and most extensive bonefishing flats in the world. The island is literally laced with inland waterways, some of them slicing the island straight through, from east to west.

Small Hope Bay Lodge offers the perfect venue for fishermen wanting something more than a fishing camp. Non-fishing companions can enjoy myriad activities, including scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, biking, sailing, nature trails and hot tubbing. Program I runs November 5 - 10, 2006. All programs are open to both the anglers and non-fishing spouses, please check with Al Caucci at ancfbn@1acc.com for rate information.

Trip includes everything: ground transportation, 5 nights and 6 days in oceanfront cottages, 3 gourmet American and Bahamian meals per day, 1 day of fishing clinics, 3 days of guided tutored fishing from modern bonefish skiffs. Advanced fishers have 4 days of guided bonefishing. There's a FREE open bar, FREE self-guided snorkel trips and much more.

For more information, contact Al Caucci at ancfbn@1acc.com or visit www.mayfly.com For information about Small Hope and reservations, contact Small Hope Bay Lodge, SHBmkt@SmallHope.com.

Small Hope's Annual Halloween Party
October 27-30, 2006

This annual event is a scream!

Bodies rising up from the ground, monsters jumping out from behind bushes, spiders and bats flying out in the dark. That's some of what's in store for guests visiting Small Hope Bay Lodge on All Hallow's Eve this year. For the sixth year in a row, the staff and family of Small Hope host a wild and wicked Halloween Party. The date is October 28-30, 2006. The festivities begin with an afternoon Halloween party for kids, with candy, games and magic. Then, after a day of diving and snorkeling and fishing and relaxing, all guests are invited to don a costume and join in the evening Halloween fun.

Inside the Lodge, the atmosphere is pure party, with witches, goblins and mummies drinking "spirits of the night". Outside the Lodge is shear terror. The pine grove to the north of the Lodge may be turned into a haunted forest. Just follow the howls and the shrieks, and the lightning effect of the strobe lights, or who knows, maybe we will do haunted night dives ...

If you love Halloween as much as the people at Small Hope, come join the witches and warlocks on Andros. There are direct flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida or Nassau into Andros Town airport (ASD). Dive package rates for this long weekend (3 nights/3 dives a day for 2 days + 1 night dive - weather permitting) are $727 per person. Non-Diver rates for this weekend (3 nights) are $567 per person. As always, Small Hope is all inclusive. For reservations or more information on the flights or accommodations at the Lodge, call (800) 223-6961 in the U.S. or Canada, (242) 368-2014 elsewhere, or email: SHBinfo@SmallHope.com

Birding and Ecology Adventure with Dr. Mike Baltz
One event is currently planned--
January 5-12, 2008 - 7 night package

Ornithologist and one-time Andros resident Dr. Mike Baltz once again will offer his Birding and Ecology tours on Andros, using Small Hope Bay Lodge as base camp. This is the tenth year in a row that Dr. Baltz brings his knowledge and experience of the Andros ecology and environment to Small Hope Bay Lodge guests. We need a minimum of 6 confirmed birders by December 1, 2007 for the January trip in order to run these special events -- so book early!

The week-long event, entitled Birding, Mist Netting & Ecology Exploration, offers even fledgling birders and nature lovers a chance to learn about West Indian birds and the ecology of a tropical Atlantic island. The program is designed to give participants an experience of the complete ecology of Andros Island--including not just the birdlife, but the land, the waters that surround it, and the people who live there. In addition to daily birding outings in search of Bahamian specialties and Neotropical migrants, the week will offer opportunities to see some of the famous Andros blue holes, take boat rides into the interior of the island, and to visit the settlement of Red Bays, home of the island's best basket weavers and wood carvers. A boat trip to the reef for snorkeling is also included. Free lessons will be given to first timers. In addition, there will ample opportunities to swim, snorkel from shore and SCUBA dive.

Highlighting the week will be the chance to participate in mist netting, whereby bird are caught in nets, giving participants a chance to hold the birds, view them up close, photograph them and help tag and release them for future research.

Participants in this past events recorded sightings of over 160 different species of birds, including the Bahama Woodstar, Bahama Yellowthroats, Cuban Emerald Hummingbirds, Great Lizard Cuckoos, Stripe-headed Tanangers, Banaquits and over a dozen species of migrant warblers.

In addition to birding, the week includes daily slide shows and lectures on bird life as well as topics relating to the island, its ecology and its social environment. Participants also will have the time to enjoy the natural isolation of Small Hope Bay Lodge, and avail themselves of the use of complementary bicycles, kayaks, two small sailboats, windsurfers, beachfront hot tub and snorkeling equipment ($12 for the duration of your stay). Complimentary introductory dive or snorkel lessons are also available to anyone wanting to try the sport.

Dr. Baltz is a former resident of Andros. He is married to an Androsian, and in addition to being an experienced ornithologist and conservationist, is a certified diver.

Cost for the seven night package is $1645 per person, and includes beachfront accommodations, all meals, bar drinks, beverages, hotel taxes, kayaks, bikes, self-guided nature trails, windsurfers, a Hobie Cat, and an Escape sailboat plus daily birding, tour excursions, and lectures.

For details about this trip, contact Dr. Baltz at mbaltz@tnc.org

For reservations contact Small Hope Bay Lodge, SHBinfo@SmallHope.com.

For reports on previous Birding adventures, click here

Events taking place in our area on the island of Andros in the Bahamas
June - October, 2006

• June 8 - 11, 2006: Andros CrabFest, Queen's Park, Fresh Creek
• July 10 - 15, 2006: Andros & Berry Island Regatta, Morgan's Bluff, North Andros
• June 27 - September 5, 2005: Andros Nights / Goombay Festival, Queen's Park, Fresh Creek