Part Two: Fly-fishing
for bonefish
FLY-FISHING FOR BONEFISH
The fly fisherman has some advantage over the spin fisherman due
to the delicacy of the fly presentation and a more diversified
selection of colors and patterns.
SELECTING FLIES FOR BONEFISH
The two most important factors determining proper fly selection,
are bottom coloration and substrate. Concerning the former, it
is important to match the fly's overall color with that of the
grass or sand you're fishing over. The food items that bones prefer
are also experts in camouflage and will match to their surroundings
perfectly. Then again, there are days when bright pink is the
only color that will attract attention. Always ask your guide
for recommendations.
Size: The bonefish of Ascension Bay prefer patterns
in hook sizes 4 through 6, although at times patterns as small
as size 8 are necessary. The general rule is: the shallower the
water, the smaller the fly.
Sink Rate: You should have flies with three sink
rates in your box: unweighted, slightly weighted, and heavy. Normally,
unweighted, eyeless patterns are used in the shallow turtle grass,
intermediate/small-eyed flies are used in one- to two-foot water,
and heavy flies in four- to six-foot water when the fish are mudding.
PRESENTATION
If the bonefish are in turtle grass, don't allow the fly to settle
to the bottom. Begin your retreive soon after it touches the water,
keeping it just above the grass. If you are fishing over sandy
bottom, which is usually the case, allow the fly to settle and
then retreive it off the bottom in little spurts. While stripping,
remember to keep the rod tip at the surface of the water in order
to eliminate slack. If the fish don't seem interested, try varying
your retrieve until the fish respond. The most popular retrieve
is a short, slow strip. Another productive technique is a fast
strip followed by a dead stop. If the fish sees the fly, he will
pick it up from a dead stop. The fish will usually pop its tail
up as it takes and the hook should be set immediately after this
occurs; you will actually see many fish take before you feel them.
Many people miss fish because they don't set the hook in time
- the fish has picked up the fly but hasn't been felt by the angler
and the fish drops it again.
SETTING THE HOOK
When setting the hook, apply a moderate pressure to the fly line
with your stripping hand ( a steady tug). As soon as you feel
pressure, slowly raise the rod tip overhead. Don't jerk - many
bonefish turn violently at the moment they feel the hook and that,
combined with too hard a hook set, will usually snap the leader.
Once you have a hookup, follow the fish where practical, holding
your rod as high as you can. Larger bonefish can develop great
bellies of line and backing on long runs and can easily break
your leader, or even the backing, on pieces of coral. If you're
on a clean flat without coral, you don't have to worry as much
about following the fish. As soon as the fish begins to run, it
is very important to clear the line you have "stripped-in"
in order to avoid line tangles and to get the fish on the reel.
Occasionally the fish will run toward you in which case you will
have to quickly strip-in more line to maintain pressure. Then
the fish will change directions and you can clear the line. Bonefish
have tough mouths and having very sharp hooks is important. Re-sharpen
hooks with a hook hone after every three or four fish. Vary your
retrieval technique if you have refusals and, of course, change
flies following two or three refusals in a row.
