Fly Fishing for Bonefish: A 101 Guide

We will warn you now, there is no brevity in this post. It’s long and it’s informative. Isn’t that why you clicked on this article? The information you’ll find in here is a suggestion, each angler has their own way of fishing a specific fish. We try to offer a few ‘all-round’ options that will arm you with what you need to have the most success at catching these stealthy creatures. And note, the more time you spend on the water the more you will come up with your own style and ways of fishing. So buckle up, save this link, and come back as often as you need for the information within. Welcome to the World of Fly Fishing for Bonefish: A 101 Guide.

The bonefish is an elegant and easily frightened species. They have an elongated body roughly the length of your forearm. They are called bonefish because of their numerous little bones. The fish is purposefully using its slim snout to dig in the sediment and seagrass for crabs, shrimp, and other good things to eat.

Bonefish predominantly inhabit coastal areas in tropical and warm temperate waters. Their preferred habitats include seagrass meadows, mangroves, and river mouths; think the Florida Keys, Bahamas, Mexico, Belize and Hawaii (Honolulu).

Sight casting for bonefish is one of the most exciting ways to fish due to the fact that you need to be ready at a moment’s notice. Bonefish are skittish and when spooked can swim up to 64 kilometers per hour. With that said, it is critical to have gear that performs well and that you trust when that shot arises. The most important piece of gear in this equation can be argued for ages. However, we strongly believe that the most important element in any saltwater outfit is the fly line.

Whenever discussing fly line design, it’s helpful to define what a fly line actually does. First and foremost, a fly line provides the appropriate weight required to bend the rod during the cast. This can be achieved regardless of taper. Secondly, by providing weight capable of bending the rod, the fly line allows virtually weightless flies to be delivered to fish with tools strong enough to fight the fish being targeted. It also does so with a particular ‘presentation’ in mind, the goal of which is almost always to transmit just enough energy to turn over appropriate flies and leaders, but dissipate just enough energy for as subtle a presentation as possible. Finally, a fly line is meant to be fished, and that opens up an entire discussion on how well it needs to float, sink, mend, etc. for the fishery at hand. Now that you can better understand fly line design, let’s look at the most used line for bonefish.

Weight Forward (WF) lines are designed to help any angler turn over longer leaders and punch bigger flies through the wind. These lines accomplish all this by simply having more of the weight of the line towards the “head” or forward part of the line. The only real disadvantages to a WF line are its inability to throw dry flies with a delicate presentation and they can be too heavy for slower action rods. They come in a variety of shooting heads and can also be a half-size or full-size heavy. For an example of a half-size heavy line looking at a 8WT rod. When you purchase a half-size heavy line in a 8WT line it is actually 8.5WT. It has more grain weight than industry standards. When the occasion calls for it, wind and big flies mostly, we tend to overweight rods.

The Lines:

For saltwater bonefishing, you have line options that are specific to the species. However, those that have been bonefishing before, know that where there are bonefish, there may be permit and tarpon. So we will list below bonefish specific lines, as well as a couple all-round lines that can handle fighting a few different species of fish. For bonefish we suggest 7, 8 or 9 weight lines.

For those that are familiar with Scientific Anglers, they offer 3 categories of the same line. They are their Amplitude AST Plus (most expensive, slickness additive with texture for superior shooting & durability), Amplitude Smooth (mid-level price, same slickness additive but smooth surface, exact same shooting & durability rating) and Mastery (most cost effective, no additive to lin, smooth).

Enter the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Bonefish Taper fly line. Unlike other fly lines in the saltwater category that feature a more aggressive weight forward shooting head design this taper is a little bit more conservatively designed. Tipping the scales at 210 grains this line will allow casters to drop small gotchas and other shrimpy patterns with whisper quiet presentation.

Features:

Features the revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive for superior shooting ability and increased durability
High-contrast sighter to identify the back of the line when fighting fish on long runs
Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation
Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts
Revised taper for delicate deliveries to skittish fish
Stiff coating and core for enhanced shooting
Looped on both ends for quick rigging
Medium-length head for fly control and casting accuracy
Tropi-Core technology for tropical climates

Pros:

The AST Plus slickness additive easily highlight’s the pros section of this article due to the fact that it is a gamechanger. This coating takes a minute or two to dial in due to the fact that this line feels much more slippery than most. Performance wise the AST Plus coupled with the dimpled “shooting texture” means that this line shoots really well through the guides for that little bit of extra distance.
Like all other Sharkwave and Amplitude series fly lines this line has a three-color construction that provides a ton of contrast. The Amplitude Bonefish features an Ivory (white) tip, coupled with a Surf (blue) running line and a Black sighter section. These contrasting colors aid in judging distance while casting or bringing in fish.
SA/ID – This is standard on all Scientific Anglers fly lines. However, I feel that it is underappreciated. All fly lines are marked with the series, taper, and weight designation on the front of the line (ex. SA Amplitude Bonefish WF 8 F)

Cons:

The noise level on textured lines is always a talking point for some anglers. Some may even argue that it spooks fish. The slight whistle as the line travels through the guides always takes a little to get used to.
The AST Plus coating is pretty slick and takes some time to get used to when handling. Is it fair to put in as a con? I am not sure. This could be due to angler error just as much as anything
The slightly lighter line means that this line does not load up as quickly as some other saltwater tapers on the market like the SA Grand Slam or Rio Flats Pro. However, what it lacks in quick loading it makes up for in presentation.

For bonefish, permit and baby tarpon, enter the Scientific Anglers Amplitude Grand Slam Taper. This line is designed with a short powerful head to turn over a wide variety of flies no matter what the conditions present. The line loads up a rod with relative ease to allow you (the angler) to make the most of every shot that comes along.

Features:

Features the revolutionary AST Plus slickness additive for superior shooting ability and increased durability (Amplitude AST+ & Smooth Only)
Floating Texture on the tip section for the ultimate in flotation
Shooting Texture running line delivers longer casts
Designed for demanding tropical saltwater applications
Loads rods quickly, cuts through the wind with ease, and turns over big saltwater flies
Short, powerful head for quick casts to moving targets
Tropi-Core technology for tropical climates

Pros:

The AST Plus slickness additive easily highlight’s the pros section of this article due to the fact that it is a gamechanger. This coating takes a minute or two to dial in due to the fact that this line feels much more slippery than most. Performance wise the AST Plus coupled with the dimpled “shooting texture” means that this line shoots really well through the guides for that little bit of extra distance.
Like all other Sharkwave and Amplitude series fly lines this line has a three-color construction that provides a ton of contrast. The Amplitude Grand Slam features an horizon (white) tip, coupled with a Sand (light orange) running line and pale yellow site line section. These contrasting colors aid in judging distance while casting or bringing in fish.
SA/ID – This is standard on all Scientific Anglers fly lines. However, I feel that it is underappreciated. All fly lines are marked with the series, taper, and weight designation on the front of the line (ex. SA Amplitude Grand Slam WF 8 F)

Cons:

The noise level on textured lines is always a talking point for some anglers. Some may even argue that it spooks fish. The slight whistle as the line travels through the guides always takes a little to get used to.
The AST Plus coating is pretty slick and takes some time to get used to when handling. Is it fair to put in as a con? I am not sure. This could be due to angler error just as much as anything

The Rods:

Up next, the rod. You may be wondering, what makes a good bonefish rod? Again this could be viewed as a very loaded question. The variance in answers to this question can be due to what condition an angler may find themselves in. Do you find yourself stalking these ghosts on foot in shallow water? For that type of bonefishing some anglers may argue that a 7wt is the way to go. Or do you find yourself fishing from the front of a flats boat with an 8wt? If the wind picks up do you grab a 9wt? Slower rods, allow for more delicate presentations and make those short shots a little easier. Fast action can mean a number of things in terms of modern rods. Fast from one company could be similar to moderate from another, “casts are like snowflakes, every angler’s cast is a little different”. Complimenting your cast with an action that works with the angler instead of against the angler is going to provide a better fishing experience and less frustration on the water. But on average the go-to rod size was a 9’ 8 weight. Below are a few of our suggestions for rods.

Winston Saltwater Air 2 (7, 8 or 9 weight) – The Winston Saltwater air is an extremely light, fast action, fly rod capable of generating high line speed needed for the windiest of conditions. This rod is perfect for delivering flies to the spookiest of bonefish either on foot or the front of a flats skiff
Sage X (7, 8 or 9 weight) – Very castable rod that is great for beginning or experienced anglers. The X Rod is the new flagship fly rod from Sage that takes fly fishing performance to the next level. New technology and technically advanced materials deliver the company’s finest casting fly rod ever. Designed with Sage’s new Konnetic HD Technology, the X Rod uses high-density fiber composites to maximize lightweight strength and deliver tight loops over the complete range of casting distances.With efficient blank recovery, casting energy is smoothly transferred from butt to tip. Along with tighter loops, this fly rod decreases lateral and medial vibrations to greatly improve accuracy. The X Rod is enhanced with Sage’s most durable, high-quality components that add to the rod’s overall performance.
Orvis Helios 3D (7, 8 or 9 weight) – With the Helios 2, Orvis hit a homer; with the Helios 3D, they have hit one out of the ballpark. The 3D is designed to deliver large flies, with decreased damping vibrations, to bonefish and tarpon on the flats with power and accuracy.. and on the water, accuracy means success. A matte black finish on the rod blank and reel seat provides a look of stealth when casting. Head to the saltwater flats with the Orvis Helios 3D ready to drop a Clouser in front of a bonefish. Available in 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 weights to fit your needs Stealthy, matte black finish Recoil snake guides and titanium stripping guides Aluminum rod tube with sock.

The Reels:

There are so many high quality saltwater reels out there. And ultimately it will come down to your budget. Ensure whatever reel you’re looking at has a sealed/beefed up drag system. Below are two of our favorites.

Ross Evolution R Salt – 7/8 or 9/10 – Ross Reels’ Evolution R Salt reel was designed with the rigors of fly fishing in the salt in mind. A 16-disk, sealed-drag system incorporating stainless steel and carbon fluoropolymer produces 30 pounds of fish-stopping drag pressure. Not one, but two, counterbalances on the spool reduce mass and eliminate vibration. An exceedingly strong frame, made of Anodized II aluminum, performs in the most challenging saltwater environments. In short, the Ross Evolution R Salt reel will exceed your expectations. Ultralight weight for unsurpassed power-to-weight ratio Sealed drag Stainless steel internal components for corrosion-resistance Increased backing capacity for fast-running quarry.
Nautilus CCF-X2 Fly Reel – 8/10 – The Nautilus CCF-X2 features a stout, saltwater safe, disc drag system that is built to withstand the stress of hard fighting species like Bonefish. The 8/10 reel is a staff favorite due to the fact that it has a lightning fast line retrieval rate of almost a foot per revolution. This reel can also be fitted with a larger 10/12 spool to tangle with cuda, tarpon, sharks and whatever else can be found while roaming the flats.

The Leader & Tippet:

Another aspect of fishing for bonefish that stands out is that you do NOT need a bunch of leaders (and to be honest, you don’t need a ton of flys). One leader for each rod you bring and maybe a few backups for people that are with you.

There are a variety of leader rigs used for bonefish. You can purchase premade options like:

SA Absolute Saltwater Fluorocarbon – Once hooked, Bonefish run hard & fast. The SA Absolute Fluorocarbon brings increased wet knot strength and abrasion resistance to ensure that once hooked those fish make it to hand.

Or if you’d like to try building your own, a recipe that we enjoy using is, “the Bruce Chard recipe” The general recipe for Bruce’s bonefish leader would be:

Hard Mono – 2ft +/- of each of the following: 30lb > 25lb > 20lb > 16lb > 12lb > back to 16lb fluorocarbon.

In years past we used Rio Hard Mono specifically and noticed each step down was a decrease in diameter of .003”. Once you get to the fluoro, the decrease was .002”. This consistent change in diameter kept the leader’s taper nice and consistent. The modification to this recipe you can make is extending the section of fluorocarbon to 2-3’.

The Flies:

An important part of the equation: Fly Selection. Selecting flies for Bonefish doesn’t have to be a daunting task at all. Generally from our experience bonefish are not really all that picky. A good presentation is much more important than the fly that you choose in most cases. The range of sizes below will allow you to have a pattern that will work whether you are wading in shallow water, poling a shallow flat, or even fishing deeper water. The size of the fly will affect the presentation, meaning, as a very general rule of thumb, we would recommend using flies on the smaller scale when fishing shallow water and bigger flies when fishing deeper.

Veverka’s Mantis Shrimp: Fantastic pattern for fishing on the mud and sand flats in the Bahamas. It provides great movement with the rubber legs. Pick your weight 2 – 8 depending on the scenario.
Pearl Gotcha: This tried and true pattern that many bonefish anglers are familiar with. The color combination of the pearl and flash light up when the sun hits this pearl attracting those bonefish. Offered in a variety of weights and sizes fitting the scenario.
Craven’s Bonefish Junk: Combining elements of the first two flies with a nice addition of the orange spawn sack. This imitation is in a spawn attracting becoming a favorite for producing when others won’t.
Bahama Mama: Great pattern for shallow wade fishing, bright sand flats being easy to track with the pink profile and the pink legs. Great pattern to have in the box for wade fishing to tailing fish.
Needlefish Nightmare: This one is a lot of fun and not necessarily for bonefish. What you’ll find is that there are a lot of predators out on the flats, be it sharks or barracudas that will love to chase this. Cast it beyond your target then two hand strip it back as fast as you can because needlefish are quick in nature. They will respond to this pattern based on it’s profile, sound and color immediately!

The Casting:

Now that we have the gear covered, let’s chat briefly about your skills. Bonefish and many other fish require stealth. So after you have picked the destination you’re headed to, you’ll want to spend some time practicing your casting. We believe anglers should be prepared to be consistently and accurately making 20-50 ft casts more often than the 50-90 ft casts. The long casts are fun and when there is no wind it’s easier to make those longer casts, but more often than not you’ll have semi-windy and often overcast days which means that fish may only be visible at close range.

Prior To Your Trip:

First and foremost, make sure that prior to your destination trip that you practice casting quite a bit. My favorite exercise for this is to lay out a bunch of targets at varying distances and directions and to have someone call them out to cast to. This will allow you to practice all aspects of bonefishing from the ready position, picking the correct target and presenting the fly quickly and accurately.

Develop a good double haul: Let me preface this by saying that you will catch fish in the salt without a proper double haul, however, the double haul is a useful technique designed to generate energy in each cast and keep loops tight. If it is executed correctly anglers can generate more line speed, which equates to greater distance with more accuracy.

If you don’t know how to double haul, check out this video for instructions. Make sure to practice this technique before your trip. If you have any questions about a double haul when on your trip ask your guide for a casting lesson. The Deneki guides are all excellent casters and better teachers.

During Your Trip:

Remember to always TYG (Trust Your Guide): In order to give you the best chance to present the fly to fish, the guide will most likely put you in a position where the fish will be swimming at you most of the time. When you have spotted a fish, and they are in your range, make the cast to them as quickly as you can. Remember that a majority of your shots at bonefish include a moving target. If you are able to minimize your false casts and present to fish quicker the chances of hooking up go up exponentially. Too
many false casts and you will see the fish swim right past.

Try to make your last cast your best: I have been told many times that I make beautiful false casts and when I go to lay down the fly I drop the tip of the rod on delivery. This is a big no-no! Dropping the rod tip at the last second opens your loop and drives the line downward towards the water, thus accelerating the fly. This causes the fly to land with a giant thud and the fish will scatter in fear! Instead of dropping the tip make sure to keep the rod tip high. This will keep your loop nice and tight and the fly will land much smoother.

And this next part shouldn’t surprise anyone, weather. Guess what, it never plays nicely. So be prepared for anything mother nature delivers during your bonefishing trip.

On good days, bright sunshine illuminates the flats creating a contrast between the fish and the bottom, making fish much easier to see. Unfortunately, when the clouds roll in, the exact opposite happens and seeing fish (let alone catching them) can become difficult. That’s not to say it can’t be done though! Here are 6 tips for bonefishing when the lights go out.

Bonefishing on Cloudy Days – 6 Tips

Look Short. On cloudy days, visibility is going to be limited. Therefore, there’s no use wasting time trying to spot fish a long ways off. Instead, be honest with yourself and concentrate only as far as you can make out the bottom given the conditions.
Focus on the Surface. In low light conditions, pay special attention to the surface of the water, particularly in shallow areas. Tails, ripples, or other ‘nervous water’ breaking the surface is sometimes your best bet for locating fish in the worst conditions
Try More Sizzle. We’re not quite sure why, but on cloudy days our bonefish seem to really like flies with a little extra sizzle – flash, rubber legs, hot spots, or any other attention getting elements. We like to think it helps to grab their attention on an otherwise dull backdrop, but hey, we don’t speak ‘fish’.. Otherwise, we’d just ask!
Go For a Walk. When the light is really tough, oftentimes our guides will opt to fish on foot rather than from the boat. The rationale? With limited shots at close range, two anglers are able to fish as opposed to only one when fishing from the boat, thus increasing your chances. Plus, considering most shots will be in tight, it’s a lot easier to sneak up on fish on foot than it is with three guys piled into a flats skiff. Regardless, clouds or no clouds, wading for bonefish is just plain awesome.
Walk Slower. When fishing on foot, it’s important to walk slower on a cloudy day than you might otherwise on a bright sunny day. With decreased visibility, you may not be able to see fish until they’re fairly close, and by walking too fast you risk spooking fish before you even know they’re there!

Use Lighter Lenses. Sunglasses with light tinted lenses are a great tool for fishing in cloudy conditions. Yellow, amber, or rose colored polarized lenses like Costa Del Mar Sunglass do a great job at increasing contrast and visibility in low light and really can make a big difference.

The Miscellaneous Gear:

Gear guide below for our recommendations to make your next bonefishing adventure a success.

Boxes – Umpqua UPG Boat Box + UPG LT Flats Foam Fly Box – Umpqua’s UPG Boat box provides ample storage for all the shrimps, crabs, baitfish, and poppers needed for a day out on the flats. The outer drying foam is a great spot to store all the used flies that have been snubbed over the course of a day. When on foot, the UPG LT Flats Foam box allows you to carry a vast selection of flies in a slim profile. That way you have all the right options on hand at a moment’s notice.
Pack – Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Backpack – As its name suggests, the Thunderhead backpack from Fishpond is 100% completely submersible waterproof (assuming the heavy duty T-Zip is closed). It holds enough gear to double as a great boat bag option and has an extremely comfortable suspension if you find yourself putting some miles on your boots for the day. Couple with the optional Quikshot rod holder, a 10-weight rod and you are ready for anything.
Boots – Simms Flats Sneaker – These high top style, saltwater safe, wading boots offer a great deal of support and protection that comes in handy when navigating the various terrain found on the flats of Bahamas.
Socks – Simms Neoprene Wading Socks – When paired with the quick drying sock of your choice, the Simms Neoprene Wading socks are a lightweight, quick drying option that does a fantastic job of keeping the sand where it belongs. That is, outside your boots of course.
Men’s Top – Simms Solarflex Hoody & Women’s Top – Simms Solarflex Hoody – The sun shines bright in the Bahamas and sun protection is paramount. Anything that is not covered and screened will be as red as a stop sign by the end of the fishing day. The Simms Solarflex hoody is the answer. It is designed with lightweight, comfortable, COR3 fabric that is UPF 50 rated. It offers technical performance to keep you on the water under the hottest of conditions

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