HOW TO BUILD 3 DIFFERENT BONEFISH LEADERS

Bonefish leaders need to be a happy balance between strength and stealth. They need to be able to handle abrasion from corals and the like, but at the same time be stealthy enough to be fished in clear water and be presented close to the bonefish. Our guides have years of experience in what setup will work for which conditions at the various spots around the Delphi Club. But if you want to build your own, here is a brief overview:

1. STANDARD

The standard go-to staple bonefish leader when you’re fishing an 8WT is a 10-foot tapered, leader down to 12lb. Depending on the area where you’re fishing this can be stepped up to 16lb.

2. FLUORO CARBON TAPERED LEADERS

These are not always easy to come by but we do stock some premium Scientific Anglers products in our shop. Their Absolute Fluorocarbon leaders boast a 15% higher wet knot strength than previous iterations of the product and it offers great clarity and abrasion resistance. Also the packaging is fully recyclable and biodegradable which we like.

Client’s accessing remote bonefish flats on one of our Hell’s Bay Marquesa skiffs. (c) Kyle Reed

3. FURLED

For best cast-ability and presentation we really like fishing furled leaders. This sounds more complicated than it is, we go with a straight section of 15lb Seaguar Blue Label, with a furled butt section. This allows the fly to turn over easier, with the softer tip lending itself to a delicate presentation. Then, potentially for additional shock resistance, a Bimini Twist at the top. Seaguar is also available in our store.