"GO TO" BONEFISH FLIES - GOTCHA

TYING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MUST HAVE FLIES IF YOU'RE GOING BONEFISHING. THE GOTCHA CATCHES BONEFISH AROUND THE WORLD, FROM CHRISTMAS ISLAND TO THE BAHAMAS. CERTAINLY WORTHY OF A "GO TO" IN YOUR FLY BOX. IT'S EVEN EASY TO TIE!

HOOK: TIEMCO 811S SIZES #2-8

THREAD: ULTRA THREAD 140 TAN

EYES: SPIRIT RIVER REAL EYES PLUS SIZE TO MATCH HOOK SIZE

TAIL/BODY: PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH

BEARD: CREAM CRAFT FUR, ICE FUR, OR EP FIBER MIXED WITH PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH

STEP 1: START THREAD ON SHANK LEAVING JUST LESS THAN 1/4 SHANK BACK OF EYE. TIE IN EYES AFTER USING ZAP A GAP GEL ON SHANK TO BOND EYES AND PREVENT SLIPPAGE WHEN FISHING. MAKE SURE TO WRAP EYES USING X WRAPS.

TIE BACK TO REAR OF SHANK.

STEP 2: USING ABOUT A DOZEN STRANDS OF KRYSTAL FLASH, TIE IN TAIL APPROXIMATELY SHANK LENGTH. DO NOT CUT FLASH, USE FOR BODY.


STEP 3: TWIST KRYTAL FLASH AND WRAP FORWARD ON SHANK BUILDING SLIGHT TAPER. WRAP X STYLE AROUND EYES AND TIE OFF AHEAD OF EYES. COAT ENTIRE BODY WITH HARD AS HULL CEMENT AND MAKE SURE IT IS DRY BEFORE NEXT STEP. i WILL OFTEN DO SEVERAL FLIES THROUGH THIS STEP, HANG TO DRY, AND THEN FINISH FLY LATER. NOTE: SOME WILL TIE THE BODY WITH PEARL DIAMOND BRAID. I PREFER FLASH AS I CAN TAPER FLY BETTER AND I FIND IT MORE DURABLE WITH THE CEMENT.

STEP 4: TIE IN CREAM CRAFT FUR ABOUT 2.5 TIMES SHANK LENGTH. TRY TO TAPER MATERIAL SO MATERIAL COMES TO A TAPERED POINT. MAKE SURE NOT TO CLOG EYE OF HOOK.

STEP 5: TIE IN ABOUT A HALF DOZEN STRANDS OF PEARL KRYSTAL FLASH OVER CRAFT FUR.

STEP 6: MAKE SURE BEARD/FLASH IS TIED IN SECURELY, FINSH HEAD WRAPS TO PREFERENCE, WHIP FINISH, AND COAT WITH HARD AS HULL CEMENT.

THIS BASIC PATTERN CAN BE CHANGED UP BY SIMPLY CHANGING BODY AND BEARD COLORS. EXAMPLES: TAN BEARD WITH ROOT BEER BODY, PERFECT FOR CAYO LARGO, CUBA OR ORANGE BEARD WITH ORANGE BODY, PERFECT FOR CHRISTMAS ISLAND.