Bonefish Fly Patterns

Bonefish flies probably represent the largest category of Saltwater fly patterns available. New and exciting patterns are constantly being created for this fast and elusive fly rod quarry.

Shrimp and crab patterns rule the day here, all within a very narrow hook size range of from size 8-2 with 6-4 being most prevalent. As with many Saltwater fly categories, synthetic materials make up the bulk of what is being used in pattern design.

Weighted eyes are also a big part of fly design and performance. Bead chain and lead barbell eyes are used to create flies to be fished in different water depths and/or different weather conditions. Bright calm days on shallow flats may require unweighted patterns where as windy days on deeper flats require lead barbell eyes.

Bonefish Bitters (Hermit Crab Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- Mustad 3407,Thread- Tan 6/0, Head- Amber epoxy around small gold bead chain eyes, Legs- Light blue mottled Spandex rubber legs with red and blue permanent marker stripes, Wing- Natural deer hair spun 180 degrees. Pattern Designer: Craig Mathews

Bonefish Clouser Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 6/0, Overwing- Red fox tail with tan guard hairs, Underwing- Gold Krystal Flash and rust Flashabou, Wing- Red fox tail with black tipped guard hairs, Eyes- Red painted lead eyes with black pupils. Pattern Designer: Bob Clouser

Bone Crusher (Tan Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- Gamakatsu 15R- bend hook shank 1/8" behind eye 15 degrees toward point. Thread- Tan 3/0, Eyes- Lead eyes attached just forward of 15 degree bend so hook point rides up, Body- Tan Flashabou dubbing, Legs- Four 1-2" long strands of fluorescent orange tipped Flashabou leg material, Wing- Tan Fuzzy Fiber slightly shorter than legs wrapped parachute style facing up with legs. Pattern Designer: Larry Dahlberg

Bonefish Critter Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC800S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Weight- Non toxic barbell eyes, Weedguard- 20 lb Mason Hard Nylon, Eyes- 60 lb Mason hard nylon with tips burned, Butt- Hot orange crystal Chenille, Body- Tan wool spun and tinted on top with Pantone 147M, Legs- Wide olive grizzly hackle. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Bonefish Special Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread Black 3/0, Tail- Orange marabou, Body- Yellow monofilament over gold Mylar, Wing- White calf tail and two gray grizzly hackles tied to extend well past hook bend. Pattern designer: Chico Fernandez

Branham's Shrimp Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Weight- Lead barbell eyes, Weedguard- 12lb Mason Hard Nylon tied separated and slightly in front of hook point, Eyes- Black mono, Antennae- Black Krystal Flash, Mouth/Shellback- Tan natural bucktail, Forelegs, Tan natural bucktail with pearl Krystal Flash, Claws- Ginger Variant hackle, Body- Tan Chenille, Topping- Clear color guard. Pattern Designer- Joe Branham

Bread-N-Butter Bonefish Pattern Recipe: Hook-TMC811S, Thread- Brown 3/0, Body- Clear V Rib over pearl Flashabou, Eyes- Small chrome plated bead chain, Wing- Brown dyed calf tail with two grizzly hackle tips.

Chili Pepper Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Burnt Orange 3/0, Eyes- Gold bead chain, Tail- Gold Krystal Flash, Body- Clear V-Rib over flat gold Mylar, Wing- Dyed orange bucktail, Overwing- Pearl Krystal Flash. Pattern Designer: Moana Kofe

Christmas Island Special (Orange Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Fluorescent fire orange 6/0, Eyes- Gold plated non-lead painted white with orange center and black pupil, Tail- Fluorescent orange Krystal Flash, Body- Fluorescent orange Krystal Flash, Wing- Fluorescent orange Krystal with tan craft fur. Pattern Designer: Randall Kaufmann

Crazy Charlie (Pink Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Pink 3/0, Eyes- Chrome plated bead chain, Body- Clear V-Rib over pearl Flashabou, Wing- Pink calf tail. Pattern Designer: Bonefish Charlie

Crystal Lite (Pearl Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Light Cahill 6/0, Body-Medium Pearl Crystal Chenille, Eyes- Small non-toxic barbell eyes painted red with black pupil, Wing- Pearl Flashabou. Pattern Designer: Bob Clouser

Greg's Flats Fly Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan and white 6/0, Eyes- Chrome plated bead chain, Tail- Tan calf tail with root beer Krystal Flash, Weedguard- 15lb Mason Hard Nylon, Legs- Ginger grizzly hackle, Body- Clear V-Rib over alternating bands of pearl tinsel and tan 6/0 thread. Coating- Cover body and eyes with head cement. Pattern Designer: Greg Miheve

Fleeing Crab Pattern Recipe: Hook- Mustad 34007 or 3407, Thread- Danville flat waxed nylon 3/0, Legs- Rubber Sili Legs, Body-Aunt Lydia's Craft and Rug yarn in color of choice, Weight- Lead barbell 5/32 or bead chain if slower sink rate is desired.

Gotcha (Pearl Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Fluorescent Pink 6/0, Eyes- Chrome plated bead chain, Tail- Pearl Mylar tinsel, Body- Pearl Diamond Braid, Wing- Pearl Krystal Flash over blond Craft Fur.

Grass Shrimp Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Fine clear mono, Eyes- Medium stainless steel bead chain secured with Dave's Flexament, Tail- Tan Fly Fur, Ribbing- Fine clear momo, Body- Tan Fly Fur. Pattern Designer: Dennis Goddard

Interceptor (Pink Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- Mustad 3407, Thread- Fluorescent pink 6/0, Eyes- Nickel plated steel painted pink with white center and black pupil, Tail- Pink, wine and pearl Krystal Flash, Body- Pearl Diamond Braid, Wing- Pink, wine and pearl Krystal Flash. Pattern Designer: Randall Kaufmann

Kuan( Chartreuse Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Chartreuse single strand nylon floss, Weight- Medium bronze bead chain eyes, Tail- Chartreuse Craft Fur barred with permanent brown marker with sparse pearl Krystal Flash, Butt- Hot orange crystal chenille, Body-Tan and cream rug yarn tied in horizontal with figure 8 thread wrap.

Mantis Shrimp (Green Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Black 6/0, Eyes- Black Mono, Tail- Olive marabou tied as short tuft, Body- Olive chenille , Hackle- Olive palmered sparsely over entire body, Ribbing- Clear monofilament, Back-Olive Thin Shin
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Nix's Epoxy Fly (Pink Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- White 3/0, Tail- Pink Marabou, ping Krystal Flash and two pink Grizzly hackle tips, Weedguard- Heavy Monofilament, Body- Devcon (or Permatex) 2-Part 5 Minute Epoxy, Eyes- Painted black dots. Pattern Designer: Jimmy Nix

Salt Shrimp (Tan Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- White 6/0, Weedguard- Monofilament loop, Tail- Dyed gold deer hair, Antennae- Gold Hackle stems stripped and tied in split, Back- Clear plastic, Eyes- Mono nymph eyes, Body- Gold Antron dubbing, Legs- Gold Grizzly hackle. Pattern Designer: Dave Whitlock

Sili Legs (Chartreuse Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Chartreuse 6/0, Eyes-Small dark non-toxic barbell, Tail- Chartreuse and white calf tail with sparse pearl Krystal Flash, Body- Clear V-Rib over pearl Flashabou, Wing- Chartreuse and white calf tail. Legs- Three strands of chartreuse Sili Legs tied in front of barbell eyes horizontally. Pattern Designer: Barry & Cathy Beck

Super Charlie (Pink Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tip- Short mono anti-foul tail, Eyes- Chrome plated bead chain, Body- Epoxy over pearl Flashabou to include bead chain eyes, Wing- Pink calf tail with sparse gold Krystal Flash and two grizzly hackle tips.

Super Swimming Shrimp Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Front Legs- Two tan or white rubber barred brown with permanent marker, Eyes- Non toxic barbell painted yellow with black pupils, Tail- Tan calf tail with orange Krystal Flash, Back Legs-Two tan or white rubber barred brown with permanent marker, Weedguard- 15lb Mason Hard Nylon, Body- Golden brown bucktail flared out towards hook point and trimmed at eye. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Turneffe Crab (Cream Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC800S, Thread- White 3/0 mono, Legs- Four strands of white round rubber tied to create eight legs marked with red and brown permanent marker, Eyes- Lead barbell , Body- Cream Furry Foam oval in shape, Wing- Natural deer hair tied upright and sparse. Pattern Designer: Craig Mathews

Ultra Shrimp Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Tan 3/0, Tail- Gold Krystal Flash and tan Ultra Hair, Eyes- Burned monofilament colored with black Pantone pen, Antennae- Tan Ultra Hair, Body- Tan thread built up with brown hackle palmered bend, Back- Tan Ultra Hair cut to shape with epoxy overcoat. Pattern Designer- Bob Popovics