We recommend fast to medium action rods in 8 or 9 weights it’s always a good idea to bring a backup rod as well.
Bonefish reels must have a reliable disc drag and at least 200 yards of 20lb backing with a floating weight forward line. A 9’ 10 lb leader works well in most situations and I always like to have a spool of 30lb Maxima to add length to the butt section of the leader if required.
Fly Selection
Two things have to be considered in you fly selection. Sink rate of the fly and colour. As a general bonefish selection you should have the following flies:
#2-6 Gotcha
#4-6 Kristal Charlie (Gold and White)
#2-6 Clouser Minnows
#4 Bonefish Specials
#2-4 Bunny Gotcha
#4-6 Tan Mantis Shrimp
#4-6 Tan Bonefish Puffs
Most bonefishermen believe that presentation is much more important than pattern.
Tides
Especially if you are wading, the best tide is low rising tide. In this situation the fish are hungry and about as aggressive as bonefish ever get. The Exuma tides can vary greatly even in a small area and this gives us the opportunity to fish a variety of tide conditions in the same day.
Spotting Fish
High quality polarized glasses are mandatory and maybe the most important piece of gear. Amber lenses cut blue light from the spectrum and increase contrast.
Spotting fish involves intense concentration and a bit of practice. Start in close, twenty to fifty feet, and then scan outward. Learn the clock directions until you can react instinctively to instructions. Learn to judge distances using you rod. Most rods are nine feet long so an easy guide is your rod plus one length of line is 20 feet.
First-time bonefishers often have difficulty seeing fish because they don't know what to look for. Bonefish "tail". They grub their snouts in the bottom, rooting for crabs, shrimp, or other food items. This causes their tails to stick into the air and wave like little flags.
When the water is too deep for tailers, look for "muds". Again, the grubbing in the bottom stirs up mud which the current carries. These are easy to see.
A fish cruising in shallow water pushes a hump of water above it, known as a wake. These can be blatant or subtle and get easier to see with practice. They should always be investigated. Disturbances in the normal pattern of the waves must be caused by something under the surface, whether a shark, a ray, or a bonefish. Bonefish and other species will often follow feeding stingrays. If you see a mudding ray take the time to make several casts to it, not to catch the ray but to catch anything that might be accompanying it.
Finally, look for dark shapes moving over light bottom.
Take care not to let your fly look like it's attacking the fish. This spooks them every time! The fly should be presented so that it looks like it's fleeing away from the BoneFish not towards them.
After hooking a bone, keep the rod tip up and the reel close to your chest. They run at high speeds, nothing beats the reel-screaming run of a large bone.
Most bonefishermen believe that presentation is much more important than pattern.
Spotting Fish