On the Fly: Step out of your comfort zone
Michael Gracie/Courtesy photo
Many of you have been fly casting to trout for a while and are beginning to get restless. You’ve likely experienced world-class dry fly fishing on the Fryingpan, Big Horn, and the Madison, conquered the spooky cutthroat of alpine lakes, and have floated the Green River to the Roaring Fork to the Bitterroot, along with everything in between.
What’s next? My resounding answer is a bonefish trip.
Bonefish are the next logical step for many fly fishers because they live in beautiful places, you don’t need a passport to catch them here in the U.S., and they provide a thrilling visual experience. They pull like hell, too. Some destinations are quite remote; other places provide all the amenities you could ever want. Guides are a must, at least the first few times you go. Learning to see these nearly-invisible “ghosts of the flats” is a whole lesson in itself, let alone perfecting the retrieve of the fly, understanding tides, and so forth.
Bonefish tend to come onto a shallow flat with the rising tide to forage for food, and head back out to deeper water as the tide recedes. They move quickly and often require a long range yet delicate presentation. Most bonefish destinations also have other critters swimming around. Depending on where you go, you’ll have shots at permit, snook, tarpon, barracudas, jacks, redfish, snapper, milkfish, trevally, and much more.
Rods, reels, and lines to consider are 7 to 9 weights, and flies consist of various shrimp, baitfish, and crab imitations. Believe it or not, most local fly shops carry a nice selection of saltwater equipment. Places to consider researching are the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Belize, Honduras, Hawai’i, and Christmas Island, just to name a few.
If you’ve got a case of the cold weather blues, look in to heading somewhere salty for a few days. It’s always bonefish season!
This report is provided every week by Taylor Creek Fly Shops in Aspen and Basalt. Taylor Creek can be reached at 970-927-4374 or TaylorCreek.com.
