Rather than post a new fly pattern this time, I decided to show my standard bonefish fly selection. These are the 12 flies I typically have in my box when fishing The Bahamas and Florida Keys. I always carry other patterns of course, but these 12 patterns form the core of my selection. Often, I'll add darker versions of these patterns if I'm fishing in areas with dark bottom (seagrass or algae). Everyone has their favorite flies, and these are mine.

1. Gotcha, brown and gold. At least that's what I call it. It's the same basic pattern as the original gotcha, but has gold intead of pearl flash, and a brown instead of blond wing.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2
Tail - gold thin flashabou
Body - gold sparkle braid under 20 pound test monofilament
Wing - brown calf tail
Weight - gold beadchain
Thread - Danville flat waxed nylon, brown

2. Horror (this one with beadchain eyes, so I guess that makes it a Puff, unweighted is a horror, both work well). The original had a yellow head, but pink does well. It would be great if someone did research on bonefish vision so we had a better idea of what portions of the light spectrum they see best. It would really help with fly design.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 4
Wing - brown bucktail
Head - pink chenille
Weight - silver beadchain, medium

3. Craft fur clouser. This one is pink and white, but I tie this in tan/white and chartreuse/white as well.

Wing - pink craft fur over pearl krystal flash over white craft fur (aka fly fur), all tied on the hook-point side of the shank
Weight - silver beadchain, medium

4. Buggy Shrimp. A simple fly (my favorite kind) yet effective.

Hook - Mustand 34007, size 2
Tail - tan craft fur, marked with brown Sharpee; rootbeer krystal flash
Body - Puglisi streamer brush (tan) tied in at hook bend and palmered to eye
Weight - from silver beadchain to large lead eyes, depending on desired sink rate
Thread - Danville flat waxed nylon, color to match upper wing

5. A variant of a gotcha, using Fishair or similar, that I got from Dave Skok, who had learned the pattern from Jaime Boyle. Very effective on sand bottoms, especially areas where the bonefish feed a lot on small fish. This pattern worked very well for me in Cuba.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2
Tail and Wing - tan FisHair
Body - pink thread under pearl bodybraid
Weight - small lead eyes
Thread - Danville flat waxed nylon, pink

6. Big Ugly, bunny wing. The standard Big Ugly with a rabbit strip wing.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2
Tail - tan craft fur, barred with brown sharpee
Body - brown hackle, palmered
Wing - tan zonker rabbit strip, tied in at the hook bend and hook eye
Weight - from beachchain to lead eyes, depending on desired sink rate

7. Crystal Ugly. The hackle body of the original is replaced by cactus chenille.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2
Tail - tan craft fur, barred with brown sharpee
Body - rootbeer cactus chenille
Wing - tan craft fur
Weight - from beachchain to lead eyes, depending on desired sink rate

8. Spider ugly. Rubber legs are tied in mid-shank and give the fly great action.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2
Tail - tan craft fur, barred with brown sharpee
Body - pearl body braid
Legs - tan rubber, barred red and black with Sharpees
Wing - tan craft fur
Weight - from beachchain to lead eyes, depending on desired sink rate

9. Gotcha with bunny wing. A heavy lead eye and rabbit strip wing make this a good fly for casting to bonefish holding deep or mudding.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 4 or 2
Tail - pearl mylar tubing, medium
Body - pearl body braid
Wing - tan zonker strip tied in at hook bend and hook eye
Weight - medium or large lead eyes

10. Gotcha. A good ol' standard.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 4 or 2
Tail - pearl mylar tubing, small
Body - Pearl bodybraid
Wing - tan craft fur
Weight - silver beadchain, medium

11. Legless merkin, Merkwan, or your favorite name for this pattern. Highly effective, especially for tailing fish.

Hook - Mustad 34007, size 2 or 4
Tail - tan craft fur, barred with a brown Sharpee
Body - Puglisi fibers (alternating tan and brown), tied in Merkin style
Weight - unweighted for tailing fish, medium beadchain for cruising fish

12. Bastard crab. My new favorite.

Recipe here

All material copyright Aaron Adams 2009 and beyond, unless noted.