While it is possible to catch bonefish with artificial lures and live bait, most experienced bonefish anglers will target them with fly fishing gear. Floating line and sinking flies are preferred for targeting the shallow water bonefish on the flats. Choosing the weight of the fly is very important. If your fly doesn’t sink fast enough, bonefish will just swim by your fly as it sits too high in the water column. If the fly sinks too fast, your fly will end up getting caught up in the turtle grass. Since most anglers are fishing in only a foot or two of water in most situations, the biggest factor in choosing the weight of the fly will be the wind and the currents.
There are so many different flies on the market that will work for bonefish. Some of the top anglers will actually tie their own flies. Some of the best flies do a good job of imitating a shrimp or small crab, although, there are some great flies on the market that do not imitate either food source. Keep an open mind and feel free to experiment with several different flies to see what works best for you.
