Fly Selection Advice Wanted

[JerseyGirl]

I plan to do some bonefishing around Robinson's Bight during a mid-March visit. I've never been down there and was wondering whether anybody had specific advice on where to find fish there (it looks like a big bay) and what flies should work. Thanks in advance for the help.

Todd Shipman

[DrRalph]

Check out Fishing in Abaco (http://www.drralph.net/FishininAbaco2005.html), it contains a lot of info about bonefishing.

[SamFamAustin]

I fish ultra-light and am horrid as a fly-fisher, just don't have the gift. But I do throw bare hooks that I tie myself, like weighted hooks or using a little lead wrap on the shank. Bonefish like small hooks like Number 2 although I use the larger 4/0 or 6/0 for tarpon and surf casting (with more weight of course). My favorite color is yellow/gold hairs on a short wrap (to make it look "poofy") and some Crazy Glue. They're not perfect but by golly they work! -sammie

[Willy Landham]

Number 2's are the largest that we use Sam and the majority of our patterns are 4's. Well here's a piece from "Fishing in Abaco" that I wrote on fly selection...

"Flies...[FONT=Arial][COLOR=#000000] we use mostly number fours but there are a couple patterns that we tie using number twos. We tie our own flies. It is a TON cheaper! Flies sell for anywhere from $1.50 to $6.00 for bonefish patterns... I can tie them for less than a quarter apiece. Tying also gives you control to alter the size, weight, construction, color, etc to better match the local conditions. On the other hand it also is very time consuming and requires you to develop the skills and techniques to tie as well as investing in the equipment and materials. Whether you're interested in tying or not, a good book is Bonefish Fly Patterns by Dick Brown. It is a compilation of 150 different patterns used around the world. It was our Bible when we started out. This book contains large color pictures of the patterns as well as information on materials, tying tips, the prey that it imitates, how and where to use it, and much more (as they say). If you don't want to tie your flies then they can be purchased from Orvis, Dan Bailey's, The Fly Shop, etc. Just do a web search on these names to find their sites. Just about any shrimp or crab pattern works. Colors range over the spectrum and include pink, pearl, tan, brown, orange, gold, amber, and yellow. Most of the flies we use are weighted with bead chain. Lead eyes tend to create more of a fish-spooking splat when they land on calm water but are necessary if you're fishing in a bit deeper area. Some of the patterns that you may want to consider are Gotcha, Goldeneye, Squimp, Slamaroo, Brewer's Amber, Bird's Bonefish, Del's Merkin, Peterson's Spawning Shrimp, and Flats Fodder. Just about all of these flies are in Dick Brown's book. If you can't find these exact patterns then get something that's pretty close in the colors that I listed... it's not that critical. Making a good presentation is a zillion times more important than fly selection! Also, get a nice little fly box that will fit in a shirt pocket and hold a couple dozen flies.

[Hank g]

Gotchas, Charlies, or similar, sparsely tied, sizes 2 or 4 light brown/sand/pink colors

Almost all of the fish around Robinsons are on sand instead of grass

I'd highly recommend Maitland Lowe if you are staying on Elbow (242-366-0234). Once in awhile you might see a Cherokee guide there also.

Good luck!

[Abakimmy]

Hey Hank! Are you down there on the "rock" yet? or still up here in the frozen homeland? 23 degrees this morning just ain't what the Outer Banks is all about.... wishing I was in H'Abaco....

[Abakimmy]

Oh and oh yeah, so as to NOT hijack a thread like so many love to do, here's supper caught on a Charlie....

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d148/kimco_obx/Blogshots/flyfish.jpg

Would have just edited this but couldn't. 30 minute rule?

[DrRalph]

Yep, 30 minutes; can I edit for you?

[SamFamAustin]

The neat thing about the trigger fish - here a gray and not the queen - is that they have two triggers. There's a little one in front of the big spiky one. Push that little trigger back and the big one will fold down like an umbrella. Cool?

My limited understanding of fly fishing is that after all the technical flapping and extraordinary whipping, the idea is to present a bait about two to four feet in front of a fish's path - maybe more with a bone or here a redfish at cruise speed - and let it sink and give it a wiggle so the bait looks half alive.

Fish are curious as cats and will investigate usually, and take a bite to see if it's good to eat, or spit it out - which they do because a bare steel hook with a few threads and hairs has absolutely no nutritional value. Hopefully the hook has set and you got something on the line! :)

[Hank g]

Kim,

I just got back a couple of days ago. Nags Head was warmer yesterday (70 or so) than Abaco has been for most of the last three weeks. I know that's changing now, since I'm here and not there. Still, it was obviously much better being in Abaco in January and I'm already counting the days before I go back.:cool: