Part Three: Flies and rods for bonefish

FLIES FOR BONEFISH
The Crazy Charlie is the Casa Blanca Bonefish fly of choice. This is not to say that no other fly will work. They will. Almost any shrimp imitation can be productive, but the Charlie works great and is widely available. The following Charlie variations (including the recommended number of each pattern) will be enough for the entire week.

# 4 Bead Chain Eyes - 6 each in white or cream (silver bead eyes, silver or pearl body over-wrapped with clear Swannundaze or Larva Lace, white calf, bucktail or saddle hackle wing); amber (brass bead eyes, amber Swannundaze body with light tan bucktail wing); brown (brass eyes, brown calf tail, natural buck tail or cree saddle hackle wing w/gold tinsel body over-wrapped with clear Swannundaze or Larva Lace); yellow (brass bead eyes, gold tinsel body over-wrapped with clear Swannundaze or Larva Lace, yellow calf, bucktail or saddle hackle wing); and pink (silver bead eyes, pink Swannundaze or Larva Lace body, pink bucktail, calf, or saddle hackle wing).

# 6 Bead Chain Eyes - 3 each in white or cream, pink, and tan.

# 6 Eyeless Charlie — 3 each in white or cream, pink, and amber.

Flashy Charlie (for flat light) with bead eyes tied on # 4 or # 6 hook - 6 in pink and pearl (Crystal Flash body over-wrapped in clear Swannundaze or Larva Lace, gold bead eyes and crystal flash wing).

# 4 Woodstock - 2 ea. in tan and cream.

Clouser Minnow - 2 ea. tied on # 2 and # 4 hook - in chartreuse and white bucktail with red lead eyes.

You might consider substituting several Gotchas for the standard Charlies listed above. Other Productive Patterns: Grass Shrimp, Bonefish Muddler, Snapping Shrimp, Baited Breath, Ghostbuster.

FLY RODS FOR BONEFISH
The ideal size rods for bones are stiff, fast action, 8 or 9 weight. This line size will effectively handle all conditions and have the power to punch out a line in a fairly stiff breeze. If you're planning to fish in an area that holds bonefish and permit, it would be wise to use a 9 wt. rod that can handle the larger/heavier permit flies.

The new high modular graphite rods are the rage among saltwater anglers. With a very stiff butt section and ultra-fast tip speed, they enable the fisherman to punch heavy saltwater tapers into a gusty head wind with little effort.

Most saltwater fly rods are 9 feet and over. Here are a few examples of the most popular fly rods: (Keep in mind that 4-piece rods are much more convenient than a 2-piece outfit and can be carried with you on commercial flights - alleviating any worry about arriving without your rods).

Note: We recommend bringing at least two rods in sizes 7 weight to 9 weight

Orvis
HLS Power House Traveler, 9 ft. ,4-1/4 oz. for 8 wt line. 4-pc.

Sage
Graphite III RPLX, 9 ft. 3-5/8 oz. for 8 wt. 4-pc. Sage
Graphite III RPLX, 9-1/2 ft. 4-5/8 oz. for 9 wt. 4-pc.

Loom is
IMX, 9 ft. for 9 wt. line. 4-pc.
IMX, 9-1/2 or 9 ft. for 8 wt. 4-pc.