Selection

Having the proper flies can make or break a fishing trip. Casa Blanca stocks an excellent selection of bonefish flies. If you would like, you can purchase all your flies when you arrive at the lodge. One advantage of buying your flies at the lodge is that the hot flies change from week to week. Instead of buying every pattern  you might possibly need, you can focus on current winners.

Fly Color

Many people feel that the most important factor in proper fly selection is bottom coloration. Most of the items on the bonefish's menu have evolved to blend into their surroundings, so many experts feel it is important to match the fly's overall color with that of the grass or sand over which you are fishing. Then again, there are days when bright pink is the only color that will attract attention. Many of the guides at Casa Blanca, recommend starting with pink everyday and changing if you get refusal. It is important to ask your guide for recommendations.

Fly Size

It has been our experience that big bonefish generally prefer big flies. The bonefish of Ascension Bay prefer patterns in hook sizes 2 through 6, although at times patterns as small as size 8 are necessary. The general rule is: the more shallow the water, the smaller the fly.

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 water (less than 1 foot) over turtle grass: intermediate, small-eyed flies, like Crazy Charlie with bead-chain eyes are used in on to two-foot water; and heavy flies, like Clouser Minnows, are more effective in 2 to 4 feet water (or deeper). The ideas behind matching your fly's weight to water depth are really pretty simple. In skinny water, the splash of a larger fly tends to be more perceptible. Plus, you don't really need much weight to sink a fly only a few inches. When fishing in deeper water an unweighted fly does not get to the bottom fast enough.

Be sure you have the following basic selection. The Crazy Charlie and the Gotcha are the Casa Blanca bonefish flies of choice. This is not to say that other flies will not work. They will. Almost any shrimp imitation can be productive, but the Charlie and the Gotcha work great and are widely available.

* The following Charlie or Gotcha variations (including the recommended number of each pattern) will be enough for the entire week.
#4 Charlie with bead chain eyes - 6 each in white/cream, light tan, brown, yellow and pink.
#6 Charlie with bead chain eyes - 3 each in white/cream, pink and light tan.
#6 Eyeless Charlie - 3 each in white/cream, pink and light tan.

* Flashy Charlie (for flat light), with bead eyes tied on #4 or #6 hook - 6 in pink and pearl (Crystal Flash body over - wrapped in clear Swannundaze or Larva Lace, gold bead eyes and crystal flash wing).

* Woodstock, #4 - 2 each in tan and cream.

* Clouser Minnow - 6 each tied on #1 and #4 hooks - chartreuse and white bucktail with red lead eyes; tan and white bucktail with red lead eyes. The sparse patterns seem to work best.

* Other Productive Patterns : Puff, Grass Shrimp, Bonefish Muddler, Snapping Shrimp, Baited Breath