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From
time to time Dick posts tips here for improving your bonefish skills.
If you have a specific question you would like to ask, you can contact
him at dick@dickbrownbonefishing.com.
See Fish Better
Locking onto a moving target is the very essence of bonefishing—seeing
its direction, speed, and the path it is following gives you the information
you need to aim your fly to the one place it will reach bottom in front
of a pod of fish and appear as natural prey. To do this really well
without spooking any of the fish in the school requires your best vision—you
must follow every movement of the school and each of its members to
avoid startling a fish that suddenly changed direction … and
that means eliminating glare. I carry two pair of Polaroid® glasses,
amber for bright sun, and yellow for low light. Both have wide leather
side-shields that screen out ambient sidelight, a must if you are really
serious about seeing fish better. A cap with a generous bill helps
too.
Fewer Break-offs with Better Knots
If you like using terminal knots that are tight to the fly, like the
clinch, try the Trilene, the Palomar, or the Orvis (Becker) knot—all
three are far stronger than the clinch. If you like your fly to move
more freely, use the no-slip loop—it’s easy to tie, fast,
and stronger than just about any other knot around.
Make Sure Your Rods Get There with You
While some airlines will allow you to carry a 3-piece rod carrier
on board, which is about 42” long, many carriers will
make you check these long bags at the gate. I prefer 4-piece rods
with a pack length of 32” (red bag), which will get past most
of the airline gate screeners or 5-piece bags (gray bag), with a
short 25” long
profile, which are even better.
Better Hooks, Fewer Lost Fish
A bonefish’s mouth is lined with ceramic-hard plates and may
resist penetration by dull or weak hooks. I‘ve also been surprised
by the violent hook-bending forces that even a medium sized bonefish
can generate as it realizes it is hooked and makes its first long-distance
run for open sea. The Gamakatsu SL11-3H has become one of my favorite
bonefish hooks, as has the Daiichi 2546 for longer profiles.
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