Fly Rods

In general, the ideal rods for bones are stiff, fast action rods in 7 to 9 weight. The rod and line sizes will effectively handle all fishing conditions and have the power to punch out a line in a fairly stiff breeze. If you're planning fish in an area that holds bonefish and permit, it would be wise to use a 9 wt. rod that can handle the larger, heavier permit flies.

The new high modular graphite rods are very popular among saltwater anglers. With a very stiff butt section and ultra fast tip speed, they enable the fisherman to punch heavey saltwater tapers into a gusty head wind with little effort.

Most saltwater fly rods are 9 feet and over. Here are a few examples of the most popular fly rods. Keep in mind that 4 piece and 3 piece rods are much more convenient than a 2 piece outfit because they can be carried with you on most commercial flights. We recommend that you bring at least two rods in sizes 7wt.to 9wt.

Fly Reels

Reels should be anodized, corrosion-resistant saltwater models that will hold a full fly line, plus at least 100 yards of 20 lb. backing. Reels with a high quality, smooth, drag are essential to prevent break-offs from the blistering runs of hooked fish.

Fly Lines

Floating fly lines are all that are necessary. We recommend Scientific Anglers, Mastery Series Saltwater Taper, (in the bright colors) or something with a similar taper construction. Note: We recommend that you carry at least one extra spool/line in case you damage your line.

Leaders

A tapered leader of nine feet of longer is highly recommended. The most simple solution is to buy the pre-tied bonefish leaders by Climax or Orvis and then use separate spools of 8 (3X), 10 (2X), and 12 (1X) pound tippet for added length. If the fish are leader shy, try using slightly smaller tippet material. If the fish are spooking when the fly line hits the water, try using a longer tippet section.