Post Your Favorite Bonefish Patterns!

[J.Horton]

I have about a million striper flies already, so I thought I'd start tying bonefish flies for an as yet, non-existant vacation.

What are the best bonefish patterns for me to tie?

Thanks,

J.Horton

[HDale]

Jay:

The Gotchas, Crazy Charlies, et al are very similar in makeup. To me, most of the differences just seem to be variations.

From reading the bonefish bible, I was advised to 1st concentrate on tying whichever pattern(s) you like in the different colors (white, tan, pink, light-olive, etc.). This allows you to use them over different bottom surfaces & types.

Then tie some with no weight, then a small single bead or cone, then bead chain, up to lead dumbells or similar. Tying a few colors in each weight allows you to fish the water column where you need to, without any unnecessary excess weight which could spook a fish. You should seen a permit I cast to >>MOVE OUT>> when I lined him ... but's that's another story ...

I found the bonefish patterns to be extremely fun to tie ... but maybe it was the expectation of "finally using them" that made it that way.

[tom]

If you get a chance, pick up the book on bonefish flies by Dick Brown. Its a terrific resource and it should keep you going for some time. In the end, don't go with a good supply of size 2 - 6 chartreuse clousers - surprise eh?

Tom C

[David Churbuck]

I'll second Tom's recommendation to pick up Dick Brown's book on bonefish flies.

A big lesson I learned after tying up a couple dozen flies, was that as soon as I stepped onto a flatskiff the guide would demand to look in my fly boxes, poke around critically, and out of 48 flies, pull out two and say "those might work".

It seems that there are very specific regional patterns. Where I bonefish the most, the pattern is pink Gotchas tied on #6 hooks. Nothing else worked, so nothing else mattered

N

[Roop]

Jay,

Having never actually cast to a bonefish, the 2 most important things I've repeatedly heard from experienced bonefishers and read is; 1. match the color of the bottom, 2. use a #6 90% of the time.

In contrast to the matching the bottom/ environment some say that bones will eat anything you put in front of them...?

One last thought, since you don't know when or where you might go - weed guards.

Tie hard, have fun... Roop

[Bonehead Jones]

Jay,

I live in the Cayman Islands and bonefish almost exclusively. I've also traveled to Belize and the Keys for bones. If I'm not fishing or guiding, I'm tying flies. Here are a few things you might find useful.

First, at least 20 pound, stiff mono for weedguards -- which should be on EVERYTHING.

Second, 80% of patterns of similar if you squint. Just remember these three things in this order. Sink rate, "splashdown", and color. Sparse flies sink faster but land heavier. Light pink is my fav, but tan, brown, olive, and chartreuse are all good.

I'd have to say that my three most favorite flies are Crazy Charlies, Merkins, and Borsky's Sliders.

I use #8 Charlies for tailers and bigger sparse, lead eyed, flashy versions for crusing fish in deeper water.

A Merkins crab will catch bones and permit equaly well. Try olive over grass.

The Slider is tied with the craft fur at the tail (bend of hook) so you can make it big. It has great action stripped or left on the bottom. It's even been known to work on permit in Belize and the Yucatan region.

Finally a travel tip. Take LOTS of flies. (See Moderator's reply.) Good luck.

Bonehead


Secret to fishing: "Tie good knots, and try not to fall in the water."

[Quicksilver]

For the Florida Keys I like weedless merkins on #2 and #4 hooks.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

Here in the Keys I primarily stick with. Merkins and Borski's Fur Shrimp each in slightly different sizes and eye weights to control sink rate and landing commotion.

[striblue]

Jay... On the site "flyfishingforum.com" I posted 140 bone fish flys I tied from Dick Browns Book ..one each... I will be seeing you next weekend,,,but look on "fly Talk" then into the "bonefish Archives" ,I give credit to Browns book and also posted Pictures of each fly,location and instructions.