• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Deneki Outdoors Fishing Lodges

Alaska | The Bahamas | Chile

  • About Deneki Outdoors
  • Our Fishing Lodges
    • Alaska West
    • Andros South
    • Rapids Camp
    • Rio Salvaje
  • Deneki Blog
    • Alaska West
    • Andros South
    • Chile
    • Fish
    • Fishing Reports
    • Fly Tying
    • Gear
    • General
    • Guest Posts
    • News
    • Rapids Camp
    • Rio Salvaje
    • Tips
  • Contact Us

May 28 2013

4 Ways to Spook Fewer Bonefish

Spooking Bonefish
Mellow bonefish = happy angler. Photo: Adam Kryder

If you freak out a bonefish to the point where he thinks his life’s about to end, you’re much less likely to get him to eat your fly.

Keep those bonefish mellow, mon!

How To Not Spook Bonefish

  1. Fish lighter flies.  One problem with fly selection in a place like South Andros is that our big fish want big flies, but most big commercially tied bonefish flies are designed for the Florida Keys where deep water is the norm – so they’re way too heavy for our fishery.  Heavy flies make a loud sound when they enter the water.  If the water’s less than 18″ or so deep, stick with bead chain eyes or small lead eye flies.
  2. Cast a little shorter.  If you could choose between too long a cast and too short a cast, too short a cast is almost always better.  If you cast too long, you’re really likely to line the fish, which is really likely to send him looking for Mommy.  If you cast too short (especially if the fish is coming towards you), you might be able to just leave the fly and let the fish swim up to it.  Too short is almost always better than too long.
  3. False cast off target.  If you must make false casts in the vicinity of the fish (the fewer the better!), make sure you’re off to one side or the other.  Making a false cast right over the fish’s head will create a scary shadow (birds eat bonefish), and will spray water on to the surface of the flat (not a natural thing at all).  Keep your false casts at least 15 feet to either side of the fish – or just stop false casting!
  4. Be quiet.  Don’t slosh your feet in the water when you’re wading.  Don’t wear flats boots on the deck of a skiff (squeak, squeak).  Don’t slam the lid of the cooler.  Don’t drop your bottle of Kalik – set it down softly.

More Bonefishing Tips

  • How to Land a Bonefish
  • Selecting Bonefish Flies
  • Hit ’em On the Head

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eric says

    August 30, 2013 at 11:35 am

    5. Don’t cast at a school if someone else is (even if it is your turn!) The bones are checking out the first fly and too close for another fly to ploop down.

    Perhaps this counts towards No. 1 in bonefishing etiquette. I’d love to see
    your thoughts on the topic of bonefishing etiquette.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Plan Your Trip

Let our experts plan the fishing adventure of your dreams.
Contact Now

Search Topics

Subscribe to our newsletter

All Blog Posts

Recent Posts

  • 7 Most Popular Smoked Salmon in the World
  • Fly Tying: March Brown by Kevin Foley
  • Who Doesn’t Like Potcakes?- Support The Bahamas by Helping the Potcakes
  • Tips on Mousing for Rainbow Trout and Grayling at Alaska West
  • What’s Happening with Pebble Mine- Good News for Alaska

All About Spey

All About Trout

All About Bonefishing

All About Gear

Best Posts

Footer

Deneki Outdoors

Mailing address:
200 W 34th Ave.
PMB 1170
Anchorage, AK 99503

Office:
4451 Aircraft Drive
Suite 202
Anchorage, AK 99502

US Information and Reservations
800-344-3628

International Information and Reservations
+1 907-563-9788

Email: info@deneki.com

Our Lodges

Rapids Camp
King Salmon, Alaska

Alaska West
Kanektok River, Alaska

Andros South
South Andros Island, The Bahamas

Rio Salvaje
Puerto Montt, Chile

Deneki Outdoors thanks Peter Viau, Tosh Brown, Abe Blair, Kyle Shea and Kara Knight for the beautiful photography used on our sites.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

#denekioutdoors

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · Deneki Outdoors · Privacy Policy · Site by 21 Designs