Fly Fishing

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

A friend asked me for some tips on bonefishing. He is going to Hawaii. Now I have caught a few bonefish, but to be honest, I only have limited knowledge and time on the water fishing for them - compared to the COLLECTIVE time that we all have fishing for them. And, of course, those on this site from Florida, Bahamas, Belize, Hawaii etc.. who fish for bonefish on a very regular basis. So, I realized quick that the questions he was asking .. I could benefit from too. So, I wonder if we could start a thread here that spoke to Bonefishing in general terms (realizing that of course there are subtle differences between bonefish in different parts of the world.) So, to keep things SIMPLE let's just speak to these things - Fly line, flies of choice, how to look for and find bonefish, how to present the fly (cast), how to strip and how to set the hook. I'll start. This is not an excercise in who is right and wrong .. simply and excercise to help everyone understand the basics of how to fly fish for bonefish .. if they only have limited experience or have never done it. So, if you are a 1 time bonefisherman or a pro -- your knowledge is valid and helpful. Thanks. I'll start it off...

FLY LINE - floating

FLIES - crab patterns, clousers, turds, sliders

HOW TO LOOK FOR AND FIND BONEFISH - Back to sun, concentrate on the edges of the flats and get to the "drop off" of the flat at low tide and work back towards shore with the incoming tide. Visa versa on the outgoing tide. Early morning and evening look for tailing bonefish. Never (in general) wade deeper than the knees. Notice what kind of structure you are seeing fish in consistently and then seek out that structure (turtle grass, muddier bottom, coral, etc..) .. look for "bouncing water" which basically just means any disturbance on the surface of the water caused by a fish just below the surface (it kind of looks like current but not really - hard to describe - but you will know "bouncing water" when you see it)

PRESENTATION - My friends in the keys tell me (and it works) hit the bonefish on the head. I kid you not -- they say, in the bahamas lead them a little but in the keys hit them on the head with the fly. (but not so much on the head that it spooks them - obviously a little to the front of the head and ideally right on the lips Very Happy

. If the bonefish are in schools - get it to the lead fish or put it right in the middle of the school.

THE STRIP - Rod tip low and in the water. Stay tight to the line. Sometimes long so strips than faster and shorter .. but, from what i have been able to gather, never faster than a crab or something of that nature can move -- i try to always think of emulating a crab .. and a crab does not move like a baitfish .. so rather than stripping like a baitfish pattern - i try to emulate a crab. sometimes a crab would move via short and quick progressions and then STOP .. then move again .. then STOP and then perhaps move across the sand in a longer smoother motion. So basically .. the strip is never like a baitfish and always more like a crab. that's the best way i can describe it. based on the way i was tought.

THE HOOK SET - For bonefish you don't have to set the hook like you would on a tarpon .. so a big hard strip set will probably result in a break off. let the fish eat it and the fish will set the hook for the most part. definately don't raise the rod tip and "trout set it" though -- that usually results in pulling the fly out of the fishes mouth. i guess, just keep stripping and when you feel/see the fish eat .. strip once more .. let the fish take the line to the reel (and he definately will) then, raise the rod and ensure the hook is tight .. and enjoy.

hedrush999 · Posted: Fri 05/15/09 8:45 am Post subject:

heres a bunch of random stuff that I learned...bonefish seem to be different critters where ever they swim, but they all have one thing in common...they are awesome to catch. They like to move and feed into the tide in general, although this is not always the case. When the tide is low, fish the deeper edges of flats, and when high, fish the highest part (crown). The colder months and the warmest months of the year see the least fish on the flats, but your chances for a huge bahamas bone are good in the winter as the big fish seem to tolerate the colder water more than the small guys.

The hit 'em on the head theory works well for dumb bones, but in general, try to get the fly in their face without them knowing you are there. Sometimes this means a 10 foot lead. Let the fish swim into the fly, then pull it away. There are a bunch of ways to strip the fly, but let the fish dictate your cadence. Keys fish usually like a short twitchy strip, while bahamas (less pressured) bones react well to a long strip. In the upper keys and islamorada, stealth is key. If the fish has any idea that you are there...fuhgettaboudit.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Hey Dave (Headrush999) - Thanks Bro! Good points about the bonefish almost always moving up tide! That was true for the most part of all the fish I have seen. Also, Dave didn't tell anyone so I will. If there is anyone that I know who is "the bonefish man" its Dave Teper. A full time Floridian and hundreds of days per year on the water ... He has boat and an operation with Bernard Bevans over in the Bahamas and basically lives over there when the fishing is good - he fishes all over the keys for Permit and Bones and Tarpon with World Angling - And is the owner of flies and fins south. Lot's of guys on this site - Marshall, Greg, etc.. have fished bones with Dave and even Alexis from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) and Dave dialed into the bonefish over there in that region of the world .. So, when it comes to Bonefish - Dave knows the game - for sure. And thanks to Dave and Will Benson - they helped me catch a few Key West Bonefish on my last trip down to fish with them -- They make bonefishing look easy - and its the PERMIT that they really like target. Check out some of Dave's stuff and I think you will agree. Thanks for the help Dave. Can't wait to see the next world angling film that you and willy and Jeff and all the Florida crew are workin' on .. sounds killer.
World Angling - Bonefishing Bahamas - Flies And Fins SOUTH

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

Jeremy, we get requests like this all the time in the fly shop and i have many friends who have asked similar questions over the years. Everything you guys have mentioned are excellent tips. A few more things come to mind that i have learned over the years.

Fly selection: Match the fly color to the bottom type that you are fishing. Most food sources of bonefish like shrimp and crabs primary line of defense is to blend in to the background and as a result are the same or similar color to the bottom that they are found on. Also as in most fly fishing situations, try to match the hatch and fish a fly that represents the primary food source of the fish that you are targeting. This may not always be readily apparent with bonefish, but you can get a good idea by looking closely while you wade. If you are fishing an area that is known by asking. Certain places such as Los Roques, Venezuela it is very easily apparent as the bonefish feed heavily on baitfish ( kind of unique for bonefish) and you can watch them chase the baitfish. This is uncommon, however and mostly they feed on shrimp, crabs and other crustacteans.

Leader & Tippet: Fish a long enough leader to be able to present the fly to the fish without them seeing the fly line. Typically this is 9-12 feet, but conditions may dictate even longer up to 15 plus feet. Tippet size should be matched to both the size of fish you expect to be catching, the amount of pressure the fish experience, the conditions that you are fishing in and the size of fly you are using. Typical range of tippet size is 8-12 lb test and I personally like to start heavy and then change flies if i am getting refused first and drop down in tippet size as a last resort.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Kory - GREAT tips and you bring up an interesting point "I get questions like this all the time at the shop" --- I think that is because a lot of people go fishing for a species for the first time (like me .. I just got back from roosterfishing in mexico) ... And, I think, because fly fisherman by nature love to analyze things and break things down to micro levels - it is often very difficult to just find BASE LAYER information. In other words for roosterfish (like bonefish) -- I merely wanted to know - IN GENERAL - why type of rod, line, flies, what types of water too look for, how to present the fly, how to strip the fly. period. I FULLY understand that it is much more complex than this and guys who fish to roosters all the time think about things on a much more detail orientated level. But, for a guy like me who had never done it .. I really honestly just needed the FOUNDATION INFORMATION to at least put me "in the game" in general terms. Complexities could be built upon that foundation -- but without the foundation - I would just be totally lost and more confused by any of the more detailed information.

I think we should do some more posts like this - that aim NOT to point out all of the minor details and complex contingencies that apply to any one species in different parts of the world .. Rather, that aim to provide just the NUTS AND BOLTS about getting a BASE LAYER of INFORMATION in regards to pursuing a certain species. I could see doing this for lots of species .. like Tarpon, Steelhead, Carp, Permit, Trout, Striped Bass, Albies, Snook, Bluefish etc....

And, as always, if we had a lot of input from what various crew members on this site have learned .. I think it would be awesome .. and provide a great BASE layer for people who have never fished for a given species but also perhaps point out a few things that have been overlooked by guys that have fished for the species. And, as always, it would definately NOT be an excercise in who is right and wrong and who knows more and less .. just simply and collectively devising a method to saying "Here are the very basics to get someone 'in the game' when fly fishing for XYZ species" ....

What do you think? Sorry to detract from this bonefish post .. just thought it was a pretty good idea to do this for other species too - maybe not?

Zeebaars

one more tip ( with only a 2 day experience on Bonaire ).

after the hook-up never look at the running fish , but look at your flyline untill the fish is on the reel. ( flyline always finds something to go around , like the butt of your rod etc..)

Seabass
Cornelis ( The Netherlands )

LineSpeed · Location: North Jersey & Orient Point

I've been to Andros 6 times for Bones, so I'm no expert but I've caught some fish. Largest 6lbs.

The most important thing I've learned is this: You cannot go bonefishing enough.