Flies
You could ask any guide on Andros what the single best fly is and each one would tell you something different. The point is....the fish aren’t selective. Bring the usual suspects; gotchas, charlies, puffs, shrimp and crab patterns, etc, in white, pink, pearl, brown, and tan.  If you do get a couple refusals change the fly.  Size 2 and 4's, the only exception is during the winter months you may want to throw a smaller fly. Not often but sometimes the bones can be picky. You will want to tie on a #6 or #8 natural buggy looking fly like a Bitters, tan puff, mantis shrimp, etc. 

As a safety precaution be sure to bend your barbs and always wear your glasses!

Bring a few weighted flies, you may be fishing the deeper edges for bigger fish or poling a high tide and need the weight to get down. Also, you might need to drill a cast into the wind. A fuzzy Pink Puff on a long leader might get blown back into your face while a shorter leader and a weighted fly has enough momentum to roll over.

A lot of fly fishermen tie their own flies. There is something satisfying about catching a fish on a fly you tied yourself. Don't confuse bonefish flies with trout flies where an exact match is critical. Have fun with it.....improvise. Most bonefish flies are just glorified Gotchas or Charlies. Once you have the basic patterns down get creative. Tie on some rubber legs, mono eyes, or change the color.

The puff, spawning Shimp, and mantis shrimp patterns are different but just as easy. The Pink Puff is the simplest fly you'll ever tie. It works well tied in tan. If you dig around on the web you can find endless resources on tying any of these bonefish flies.

Here are a couple helpful hints for tying an effective South Andros bonefish fly. There are basically two color groups. The pinks/pearls and the naturals like brown, tan, or blonde. The bones seem to really like rubber legs an anything. I even tie a few on my puffs and call it a super puff. On the natural colored flies be sure to tie on a few strands of copper/gold flash. Make you own shrimp or crab eyes with 20-30lb monofiliment. Melt the end with a candle or lighter. Watch out!! Don't do this over your lap. It takes a couple tries to figure out. Heat it slowly so the mono blackens. Hold it vertically until it cools or dip it a glass of water.

Click here for more info on flies.

Fly Rods
If you can throw a tight loop and have a good double haul an 8wt is fine but...if the wind picks up to 20 mph you'll wish you had a 9wt. Bring an 8 weight and a 9 weight. Better yet, just make it a couple 9 weights, one for back up. Odds are good that you’ll be casting in 10 to 15 mph winds.

Fly Line
Weight forward, floating line with a saltwater taper in the weight appropriate for your rods.  Bring an extra spool of line and backing. Fly lines have been destroyed by fish ripping them through mangroves and across coral or lost to weak knots.

Some fishermen like to overline their rods by one weight.  If you are just learning to cast it is easier to feel the rod loading. Whether you are experienced or a beginner a 9wt rod loaded with a 10wt line is a deadly tool on a windy day.

Leaders & Tippets

Most store bought leaders have weak butts that collapse onto your fly line when pushed against a strong wind. Add a couple feet of 30lb or 40lb hard mono to your fly line then tie your leader to that. You can also build your own leaders with hard mono or fluorocarbon. There are formulas regarding the proper length for each section. It's all overkill. Equal parts or lengths works just fine. A good high wind leader is 3ft of 40lb, 3ft of 30lb, then 3ft of 20lb. A good light wind leader can be built using 3ft of 30lb, 3ft of 20, then 3ft of 16lb.

Generally a 9ft leader with a couple three feet of 16lb to 20lb fluorocarbon tippet works well.  Do not be concerned about the tippet size spooking fish, they don’t mind. If it does concern you use 10lb to 14lb tippet. Pound for pound bonefish are the strongest fish you will ever hook. Everytime I go fishing I'm hoping I'll catch the fish of a lifetime. I don't want to be messing around with 10lb tippet as that fish is ripping through the mangroves and marl.

You can buy a lifetime supply of flourocarbon on a 200-300 yard spool for less than you'll pay for a single 30 yard spool of flourocarbon that says "tippet" on the spool. 

Fly Reels – Large arbor with 200 yards of 20-30 lb backing. Nearly every fish you hook will be into you backing.

Wading boots
.......and socks. A little sand in you boot without the socks will rub your feet raw. Sand guards can prove helpful.

Wading Pants/shants
You can wear shorts January through March but come April the doctor flies come out with the first rains. They are like giant deer or horse flies and they bite....Hard!  Pant are recommended. Even then where your pants are wet and sticking to your calf the doctors will still bite through. Wearing knee high socks will keep the flies from biting through.

Chest, Back, or Fanny Pack
You may be wading for hours and the boat will be just a spec on the horizon. Be sure to bring a wading pack to carry your flies, leaders, tippet, clippers, a water bottle, camera, etc..

Tools
Pliers, hemostats, knot tying tool, snips, hook sharpener.

Rain Gear
Light and breathable. Bring your rain gear with you on the boat everyday no matter how clear it looks. Squalls pop up quickly and the boat ride can be wet.

Sunglasses
Polarized and bring two pair. Amber lenses are the best. A good pair will set you back a hundred bucks or more but well worth it.

Hat
Black under the brim.

Spin Rod, reel, jigs
If you’re a spin fishermen you can do quite well bone fishing and we’re happy to accommodate you. You’ll need a six to seven foot rod with a 6-15lb line rating. A Shimano 2000 or 3000 series or 4500SS Penn reel or equivalent with at least 200 yards of line. Use 8-10 lb test, make sure the spool is full. The jig selections are limitless. Bring small plastic jigs in twister, shrimp, crab patterns, D.O.A. shrimp, wiggle jigs, gotcha style jigs, flat or round jigs in white, brown, tan, or pink buck tail, marabou, or synthetic fiber with a little flash. What works best?..... flat or wobble jigs in pink, white, or tan. No more weight than you need to cast them, 1/8th or 1/4th oz.