Selection

Bonefish can be finicky about the flies they will eat, but permit can be even more difficult. Casa Blanca stocks several flies which work well on the local permit. Permit flies are generally larger than bonefish patterns because permit seem to prefer crabs over shrimp. Because of their larger body size, permit also tend to put more of a strain on a hook, so it is a good idea to use larger/stronger hooks. Although there is much debate over the best permit pattern, the best advice is to stick with one pattern that looks good to the guide and keep trying.

Permit seem particularly fond of small crabs, so the majority of the productive patterns are crab imitators. The most productive patterns at Casa Blanca are the Casa Blanca Rag Head, the McCrab and the Del Brown Special. We have also had good luck with Clouser Minnows.

1. The Casa Blanca Rag Head is most effective in a light tan with a slightly greenish tint.

2. When purchasing the McCrab, make sure that the deer hair is clipped very close to the hook shank giving you a wide hook gap, and that the underside of the fly weighted properly. If this pattern is tied incorrectly, it will go belly up when it hits the water or when you start to strip it.

3. The Del Brown should be tied in light tan and cream only. The darker colors which are widely available do not work at Casa Blanca.

4. Clouser Minnows in #2 to 2/0 work well when tied sparsely. Tan or chartreuse are the most effective.

Before you go to the flats, tie your permit fly on to your line and drop it in about two feet of water. Count how long it takes to hit the bottom. You now know the fly's sink rate. When you cast to a real permit, you will then know how long it takes for your fly to reach the bottom. Remember to adjust the time according to the water depth on the flat when you are fishing.

Tailing permit are most likely to take a fly, but stumbling upon one is somewhat rare. Cruising permit are most commonly encountered, so you must be prepared to place the fly well in front of the fish, allow it to settle to the bottom (count!), and patiently wait for it to swim to the fly. Permit swim more erratically than bones, changing directions often. You might need several casts to get the fly into position. When the permit is several feet from the fly, "walk" the fly along the bottom (about 6") in a slow, deliberate, crab like fashion and then stop the fly completely. All smart crabs know that they cannot outrun a permit and will remain motionless in hoper that the permit will overlook them.

If the permit doesn't immediately pounce on your fly (which is about 75% of the time), don't begin stripping away. Think like a crab and slowly mainipulate the fly into slowly "removing" itself from the vicinity. (This, of course, is quite difficult with all the adrenaline flowing). The trick is to keep the fish interested, allowing it to look the fly over. Don't be afraid to let the fly remain motionless if the permit is eyeing it - almost always, permit prefer to take a motionless fly. If you are using a Clouser Minnow, just use a normal strip. They are designed to imitate an active prey item