What would be a good bonefish setup?

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dbaken

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I've gotten the idea that I want to give flats fishing a try - bonefish specifically. So I've starting doing some research on what setup I would need. Looks like an 8wt setup is the most common. I figured I'd try to tap into some of the great expertise on this forum to narrow down the rod and reel options. My budget is for a rod $300 or under and a reel for $300 or under. Used is fined with me - most of my fly fishing stuff I got used. In general, I enjoy a good deal and usually keep equipment until it wears out or breaks. And I have plenty of time - I won't actually get a chance to do this fishing until next winter most likely.

Rods - any recommendations on rods at the $300 or less price point? Or do I need to up the budget here?

Reels - After a little research, I was thinking the Danielsson L5W 6nine. But it is out of stock. Sierra Trading Post has the Lamson Guru S-series 7+ for $229. Should I wait on the Danielsson being back in stock? Go a different direction?

Anything else I should think about or will need for bonefishing?
 
I’m not the gear expert with experience with lots of makes and models like many on here, but I will say that depending on where you are going, if you are only targeting bonefish, you might downsize to a 7 or even 6. Like the Yucatán has great flats fishing and lots of bonefish that are mostly small. But what the 8 will give you is a solid platform to also target permit and small tarpon. Even small bonefish pull hard and fast and aren’t exactly boring with an 8 weight, but they are usually easily tamed by one.

So maybe figure out where you’re going and what you’re targeting first and get gear to match that. Not all bonefish and not all flats are created equal. Also get the best lines you can. And it’s never a bad idea to have more than one reel, not just spools, but another reel and line.

Flats fishing is fun as hell. So are tarpon and snook back in the mangroves, though!
 
I would stick with an 8wt...especially if you are only going to have one rod. I've only fished for them a couple dozen times, but occasionally a wind will be present, jacks will cruise by, and if you're lucky enough to tag a double digit bone, you'll be glad you have an 8wt in your hand.

Pick a reel with a sealed drag and large arbor...you will be getting into your backing...
 
check out the TFO NTR fly reels...superb drags, the shop I buy them from regularly provides customer trips to a 'mothership' operation in Cuba, considers them the best budget reel for the salt
 
SurfnFish said:
check out the TFO NTR fly reels...superb drags, the shop I buy them from regularly provides customer trips to a 'mothership' operation in Cuba, considers them the best budget reel for the salt
Click to expand...
Thanks! That's a really nice price on the NTRs.
 
Matt B said:
I’m not the gear expert with experience with lots of makes and models like many on here, but I will say that depending on where you are going, if you are only targeting bonefish, you might downsize to a 7 or even 6. Like the Yucatán has great flats fishing and lots of bonefish that are mostly small. But what the 8 will give you is a solid platform to also target permit and small tarpon. Even small bonefish pull hard and fast and aren’t exactly boring with an 8 weight, but they are usually easily tamed by one.

So maybe figure out where you’re going and what you’re targeting first and get gear to match that. Not all bonefish and not all flats are created equal. Also get the best lines you can. And it’s never a bad idea to have more than one reel, not just spools, but another reel and line.

Flats fishing is fun as hell. So are tarpon and snook back in the mangroves, though!
Click to expand...
Mostly likely will start at Christmas Island. A friend wants to try a diy trip there next winter....
 
Matt beat me to the point that location should figure into your gear selection.

My bonefish experience is limited to two trips, with very different conditions and fish. My first flats experience in Belize was a great intro with plentiful schools of small bones. I had 7 and 8wt l, but mostly used the 7.

I found much tougher fishing, and fish, a few years later in the Bahamas. It was a family vacay, so I only had a couple afternoons, unguided, on a public beach in a south Nassau suburb. Wind and wave action alone warranted an 8wt, and as I found out, the fish as well.

The plentiful, 1-3lb Belizian bones did not prepare me for the 3 encounters I had on that beach once the tide started in. Two in 3-4 lb range. Wish I had gotten measurements on the biggest.

The first caught me off guard and flat out smoked me, straightening the hook (lesson 1: use quality hooks!). I landed the 2nd after a couple of blistering runs, well into backing (lesson 2: get a reel with a quality drag).

The 3rd bone was nothing short of a miracle. I spotted a salmon-sized bone cruising away from the beach, now in 3-ish feet of water, at the edge of casting range, into a not so light onshore breeze. I had to cast beyond the fish, with the fly line landing parallel to, and a few feet to the side (lesson 3: get a rod that can punch a long cast in windy conditions). How it didn't spook is beyond me, but there was wave action and was using a clear intermediate (lesson 4: take an intermediate line for deeper water).

Anyway, to finish the story, the crab fly was still sinking as the bone was passing, so I gave it a twitch mid column. Amazingly it did a 180 and was on the fly. I'd like to say I waited til it turned to set the hook, but was likely just frozen in disbelief. But, it did, the line came tight and I didn't trout set.

10 minutes, and halfway down the beach later, one of our girls snapped this. My most expensive, and luckiest fish ever, so yeah I'm posting it again dammit!

full.jpeg
 
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That's a sweet looking fish. And love the story!
 
First off, should you buy a bonefish set-up or borrow one? How often will you actually use it for flats fishing? Where will you go flats fishing (fish size and alternate species potential)? The biggest expense for the PNW fly fisher is travel, lodging, guide costs not so much gear cost. If you buy, make sure it is a set-up that covers as many of your favorite fishing scenarios as possible.

Buy a high quality bonefish fly line, then buy a good quality fly rod/reel combo to match the fly line. Decide on the rod & fly line based on casting accuracy at short and intermediate range, with enough power to handle wind on the flats. A good bonefish fly rod & fly line helps to put the fly in front of a feeding bonefish (accurately) from 15 - 55 feet. The reel needs to be salt water compatible with a smooth drag with a large arbor and quick line retrieve per turn. A sealed drag is nice to have for bonefishing on foot.

Choose 6 or 7 weight if you will fish for small bonefish at Yucatan Mexico, Belize, etc.
Choose 8 weight if you will be fishing the Bahamas, Christmas Island, Cuba, Hawaii
Choose a 9 weight if you will be bonefishing Seychelles, Mauritius, Cook Islands, Florida Keys, New Caledonia

SA and Cortland have some great fly lines for bonefish in a couple different tapers (calm wind stealthy long tapers and fast loading short tapers for wind).

A used (good condition) Galvan Torque, Nautilus CCF-X2 8/9 is a good bet.

A used (good condition) Loomis NRX 7wt, Scott Meridian 8 or 9wt, Loomis NRX 9wt can be purchased for far less than retail cost of new models.

With some patience you can find great lightly used gear at good prices.

PS - There really are not true DIY options at Christmas Island. Access to boat and vehicle transport and somebody to advise (guide) on where & when to fish within the massive lagoon and outer reef systems is essential.
 
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An 8 wt is very useful here for coho. Yucatan permit, baby tarpon, and snook. For me, I'm learning any fish feels good on a the properly weighted rod and line.....the salt water reel though.....that's important! A reel that binds up or gets sticky during a run....geez. They get whacked around lot in the boat too....and the ground transportation...etc. Just my very limited experience.
 
TFO, Redington, Echo salt/predator 8 wt, used Galvan R-8, a good tropical salt water line, 200+ yards of 30lb backing.
 
My two cents worth given at no charge. I have been to Christmas more than 30 times, fished Belize at least a dozen times, Mexico, The Bahamas, Venezuela and guided in The Keys for a number of years. If I am wading for bonefish I will always chose a 7wt. as the casts tend to be shorter and at times more delicacy is a plus at short distances. Fishing from a boat when longer casts are the norm, when wind can often be more a factor and at times throwing heavier flies especially to mudding fish in deeper water I may opt for an 8 wt in certain conditions. As far as worrying about the size of the fish, your reel is more a priority than your rod. My largest bonefish ever was a 13+ lb Shell Key fish caught while it was tailing in less than a foot of water on a slick calm evening. That fish was caught on an 8 ft 9 in 7 wt. with a lightly weighted fly, a long leader and the very finest and smoothest reel I owned.
 
Your thought of a Danielsson reel IS the best choice for your reel.
Great value and great service for reel you will not regret....I have three.
I have Scott rods one 7 and a 9 Wt for me I like the Scott because it fits my casting style.
In some ways that is an issue because rod tapers especially for salt can be temperamental for the caster to figure out.
Another issue for rod tapers is lines and how the rod favors and or preforms best

I have read that TFO has a decent "salt" rod in the TFO Mangrove at a decent price point.
Good luck on your endeavor and remember the journey is the fun part.
Sorry but you are headed for a "rabbit hole" that has lots of places to go.
 
dbaken said:
I've gotten the idea that I want to give flats fishing a try - bonefish specifically. So I've starting doing some research on what setup I would need. Looks like an 8wt setup is the most common. I figured I'd try to tap into some of the great expertise on this forum to narrow down the rod and reel options. My budget is for a rod $300 or under and a reel for $300 or under. Used is fined with me - most of my fly fishing stuff I got used. In general, I enjoy a good deal and usually keep equipment until it wears out or breaks. And I have plenty of time - I won't actually get a chance to do this fishing until next winter most likely.

Rods - any recommendations on rods at the $300 or less price point? Or do I need to up the budget here?

Reels - After a little research, I was thinking the Danielsson L5W 6nine. But it is out of stock. Sierra Trading Post has the Lamson Guru S-series 7+ for $229. Should I wait on the Danielsson being back in stock? Go a different direction?

Anything else I should think about or will need for bonefishing?
Click to expand...
 
Cant help but chuckle..."Anything else I should think about or will need for Bone fishing"
Sorry to say you have better be prepared for a life changing fishing experience.
A good and fun one
Seriously! If you are a "fresh water" angler.
Unless you dont care about a challenge ie. casting in the wind, actually learning how to spot fish.
Understanding the issues of flats fishing the "fun" and the unreadable variations that will
require your attention.
This is a wonderful journey.
I hope I have not sounded like someone that is not hopeful for the beginner at flats fishing.
I love the challenge and the adventure.
Be a GOOD student and be successful
First time "bone fishing" I came home and told my wife we are selling the house!
But thats me YMMV
 
farofffisher said:
Cant help but chuckle..."Anything else I should think about or will need for Bone fishing"
Sorry to say you have better be prepared for a life changing fishing experience.
A good and fun one
Seriously! If you are a "fresh water" angler.
Unless you dont care about a challenge ie. casting in the wind, actually learning how to spot fish.
Understanding the issues of flats fishing the "fun" and the unreadable variations that will
require your attention.
This is a wonderful journey.
I hope I have not sounded like someone that is not hopeful for the beginner at flats fishing.
I love the challenge and the adventure.
Be a GOOD student and be successful
First time "bone fishing" I came home and told my wife we are selling the house!
But thats me YMMV
Click to expand...

I love trout fishing, I’m a trout snob. But once you hook your first bone and it runs you 100+ into your backing, you won’t be the same.
 
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