860-434-9624

info@angleradventures.com

Tag: Flies for Bonefish

  • Why Every Angler Should Carry Crab Flies when Bonefishing

    Why Every Angler Should Carry Crab Flies when Bonefishing

    As anglers, we’re always analyzing our environment while fishing. One of the most consistent observations, especially when sight fishing for saltwater game fish, is just how many crabs you encounter. Whether you’re wading the flats for striped bass in the Northeast, exploring the hard sand flats in the Bahamas, or casting over coral and turtle grass in Belize, crabs are a crucial part of the food chain. Even in far-flung destinations like the Seychelles, their presence is immediately evident.

    Why Crab Flies Belong in Your Box

    Chip Bates from Angler Adventures recently added a section on crab flies to our Bahamas What to Bring list, emphasizing their effectiveness for targeting large bonefish. Based on his experience, carrying at least a few crab patterns—if not an entire box—is a smart strategy for any bonefisherman. Here’s why:

    • Bigger bonefish prefer a larger meal. They often seek out high-protein prey like crabs, making a well-presented crab fly irresistible.
    • Crabs fight back. Since real crabs often pinch fish when being eaten, bonefish are more likely to strike multiple times, even if they initially feel the hook.
    • Crab flies are versatile. If you stumble upon a permit, you won’t need to swap flies—crab patterns work well for both species.

    Top Crab Fly Patterns for Bonefish

    With today’s variety of crab fly patterns, selecting the right ones can be overwhelming. While some are timeless classics and others introduce new innovations, tan, light brown, and white are the go-to colors across the board. Here are some of our top picks:

    Pop’s Bonefish Bitter Fly
    Pop’s Bonefish Bitter Fly
    Camo Crab Fly
    Camo Crab Fly
    EP Crab fly (Enrico Puglisi)
    EP Crab fly (Enrico Puglisi)
    Raghead Crab Fly
    Raghead Crab Fly
    McKnight’s Crimp Fly
    McKnight’s Crimp Fly
    Alphlexo Crab Fly
    Alphlexo Crab Fly
    Kung Fu Crab Fly
    Kung Fu Crab Fly
    Greg’s Flats Fly
    Greg’s Flats Fly
    Del Brown Merkin Crab Fly
    Del Brown Merkin Crab Fly
    • Del Brown Merkin
    • Raghead Crab
    • McKnight’s Crimp
    • Alflexo Crab
    • Kung Fu Crab
    • Greg’s Flats Fly
    • Pop’s Bonefish Bitter
    • Camo Crab
    • EP Crab

    Final Thoughts

    Crabs are an essential part of the bonefish diet, and having the right fly can mean the difference between a good day and a great one. If you’re heading to the Bahamas, Belize, Seychelles, or any other bonefish-rich waters, make sure your fly box is stocked with a selection of crab patterns.

    Related Destinations

    • Bahamas

      Bahamas

      The Bahamas: the penultimate in bonefishing adventure. Fly fishing from dozens of large islands and hundreds of undiscovered smaller cays.…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Seychelles

      Seychelles

      Fly fishing adventures in Seychelles Alphonse Cosmoledo Providence Farquhar Astove Atoll Poivre Alphonse Cosmoledo Providence Farquhar Astove Atoll Poivre Explore…

      INFO & RATES >

    • Belize

      Belize

      Belize is a unique fly fishing destination offering excellent fishing for bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook year-round; one of the few…

      INFO & RATES >

    Related Articles

  • Three Second Rule

    Bonefish Flies

    One of the biggest mistakes a bonefisherman can make is failing to adjust his fly to changing water depth.  Your fly should be weighted such that it sinks quickly to the bottom and then stays near the bottom within view of the fish after you begin stripping.  If you strip the fly above a bonefish, it will never see it.
    The average flat depth, whether you’re wading or poling, ranges from 1-2½ ft.  In this depth, a Gotcha or Amber Shrimp with medium sized bead chain eyes should provide close to the perfect sink rate, without overweighing the fly (and potentially spooking the fish).  A good rule of thumb is your fly should reach the bottom in about 3 seconds.  If you find your fly is not getting to the bottom, you should switch to a fly with lead eyes or add a few wraps of lead wire to the eye of the fly.

    The angler who is willing to fish deeper flats will often be rewarded with the largest bonefish.  Big bonefish prefer the protection of deeper flats or shallow flats close to deep water.  When you’re fishing water 3-4 feet deep, you’ll need a fly with lead eyes to get to the bottom quickly.  Proven deep-water flies are the Clouser minnow (especially tan and white and chartreuse and white), the Simram, (a rabbit fur version of the Gotcha fly with lead eyes) and Henry Cowen’s Bonefish Scampi. Lead eyes come in a variety of weights and for joy of casting, you’ll want to carry flies with the smaller lead eyes, as well as the heavier lead eyes that cause many of us to duck when forward casting.

    The last thing a bonefisherman wants to do is scare the daylights out of an actively feeding fish by casting too heavy a fly too close to the fish. Therefore, you must go light in skinny water. By light we mean no weight other than the weight of the hook. For this we recommend mono (or plastic) eyes and a body that lands softly. A well-designed fly for this situation is a pattern called the bunny bone in sizes 4, 6, and 8.

    The bunny bone is made with rabbit fur, rug yarn and mono eyes.  You can throw this unweighted fly quite close to a tailing fish. Its entry into the water is soft, but it sinks well. The rabbit fur makes it look alive even before it’s stripped. All you need to do is give it the tiniest of strips. Don’t strip the fly too far or too fast when working a tailing fish.

    Before you begin fishing it is also advisable to have a handy selection of the flies you’re most likely to use that day.  Have a selection that covers all water depths, so you are prepared when a quick change is required.  For even quicker adjustments to changes in water depths, have a spool of lead wire handy and wrap a small piece around the eye of the fly, as needed.

     This was another except from the Angler Adventures “Bahamas What to Bring List”.