The 10 Best Bonefish Flies – Fly Selection Guide

best bonefish flies

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Allow me to introduce you to 10 of the most effective bonefish flies you can use in the Bahamas, Florida and around the globe! As an experienced fly fisherman, I have a handful of favorites that have proven to be successful time and time again. The beauty of these flies is their versatility. They work marvelously for bonefish, but you can also use them for other species like triggerfish, trevally and permit. So, let’s dive into the world of bonefish flies and find out which ones you should have in your tackle box for your next adventure.

Bonefish Flies

Gotcha

gotcha

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The Gotcha is the Swiss army knife of bonefish flies. It’s a trusted companion that will rarely let you down, no matter where in the world you are fishing. The shrimp pink nose, tan overwing, and lots of flash material are simply too tempting for bonefish to resist.

To maximize your possibilities, fill your bonefish fly box with sizes 2 – 6, each in two weight variations. The lightweight version should have small bathroom chain eyes, while the heavy version can carry small tungsten dumbbell eyes.

Spawning Shrimp

Spawning Shrimp

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The Spawning Shrimp is your all-terrain vehicle in the world of shrimp flies. When choosing a color, match it to the bottom you are fishing over. For instance, use a light tan color over white sand and a brown or olive version over turtle grass.

The egg sack acts as a trigger point, and the silicone legs give the fly plenty of lifelike movement in the water. For most bonefish, I recommend a size 4 Spawning Shrimp, but if you’re targeting larger cruising bones, a slightly longer version could be more effective.

Avalon Shrimp

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The Avalon Shrimp is a sought-after Bahamas permit fly that replicates the long mantis shrimp found on the shallow sand and coral flats. Large bonefish in this area feed on the same shrimp, making a slightly smaller version of the Avalon an exceptional choice.

The Avalon stands out with two unique features: the zonker strips tied on the sides of the hook, which act as claws and give the fly incredible movement during retrieval, and the keel system that allows the fly to swim hook point up.

For your bonefish box, make sure you have size 4 and 2 Avalon Shrimps. If a permit happens to show up, you can confidently present the same fly to it.

Pseudo Shrimp

Pseudo Shrimp

The Pseudo Shrimp, despite being around for a while, still holds its own among my favorite flies. The fly’s action differs from others on the list due to the positioning of the weight on the hook.

It’s an excellent bonefish fly, whether you’re stripping it at speed or fishing it slowly.

Pink Puff

Pink Puff

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The Pink Puff is a classic that continues to deliver results. It may not be the first fly I tie to my leader on a new fishery, but it often saves the day when other flies don’t seem to hit the mark.

Its soft delivery is likely the key to its success. I always carry a few in my box, tied on size 6 hooks with small bathroom chain eyes.

Veverka Mantis Shrimp

Veverka Mantis Shrimp

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The Veverka Mantis Shrimp is very similar to the Spawning Shrimp. The main difference is the materials used and the legs pointing to the side of the fly. This fly pattern is best fished slowly or even static and looks very lifelike in the water.

I always have a good range of these flies in my box, from sizes 2 to 6 and in various weights. This allows me to target bonefish, triggerfish and small trevally species.

Christmas Island Special

Christmas Island Special

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The Christmas Island Special is a rendition of the popular Crazy Charlie. It resembles a Gotcha but uses a different overwing material.

When tying the fly, I prefer adding forward and rearward facing legs. This gives the fly good underwater movement, even when fished slowly. If the fish react poorly to the legs, I simply cut them off with my pliers or nippers.

The best sizes to have in your saltwater fly box are 4 and 6. As always, carry two or three different weight variations, which will make it possible to target bonefish in skinny to deep water, especially when you’re on Christmas Island fly fishing.

Alphlexo Crab

Alphlexo Crab

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The Alphlexo Crab has been gaining a lot of attention recently, and for a good reason – it catches fish! I’ve caught bonefish, triggerfish, trevally, permit, and even some freshwater species with this fly.

They are quite pricey because they take time to tie, but it’s worth investing in the best ones as not all Alphlexo Crabs are tied well. Good sizes for bonefish are 6s and 4s.

Bonefish Bitters

Bonefish Bitters

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The Bonefish Bitters is my go-to pattern when fishing on turtle grass. They come in a range of colors, sizes, and weights. Always choose your Bonefish Bitters to suit the bottom you’re fishing on.

The weight of the fly is covered with epoxy, which increases its surface area, meaning the weight is distributed better, allowing the fly to sit on top of the turtle grass. The spun deer hair overwing acts as a built-in weed guard.

I prefer fishing these flies quite small and always carry a good color selection of size 8 – 6 in my box.

Crazy Charlie

Crazy Charlie

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The popular Crazy Charlie was developed by Charlie Smith and Bob Nauheim in 1977. They were first developed to imitate the glass minnows that bonefish frequently feed on in the Caribbean. Soon the Crazy Charlie became a style of tying rather than a specific pattern, resulting in many popular flies we have today.

I dedicate one entire side of my bonefish box to Crazy Charlies, including colors such as pink, tan, orange, chartreuse, and olive. These flies work well on many fish species including trevally, permit, and other reef species.

FAQs

What size flies for bonefish?

Bonefish typically feed on small shrimp and crabs. Therefore, I recommend small flies such as size 2-4 streamers and clousers, size 6-10 shrimp patterns, and size 8-10 crab patterns.

Do you use tippet for bonefish?

Absolutely! The use of leader and tippet is vital when fishing for bonefish. The leader should be relatively light, ranging from 4-8 lb test. The tippet should range from 6-12 lb test.

How far do I need to cast for bonefish?

Bonefish are typically found in shallow water, so the casts don’t need to be long. Accuracy is more important than distance. The key is to avoid spooking the fish.

In Conclusion

So there you have it! These are my top 10 picks for the best bonefish flies. Remember, the best fly is the one that works for you. So don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own favorites. Now, it’s time to pack your tackle box and hit the water!

Don’t forget to check out our series of fly fishing books below for more expert advice and tips. Happy fishing!

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