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Casting
To Bonefish
Once
you have become adept at spotting bonefish you'll soon
be presented with the exhilarating pressure of casting
to the fish. The general window of opportunity once
a fish enters your view is ten seconds or less. This
short time frame requires that you master the art of
speed casting.
When
you first reach the bow to begin your ready position
you must strip a portion of line from your reel and
remove the memory of the line by firmly standing on
a section as you firmly pull on the other end with your
hand. You then must make a practice throw to ensure
that your line coils properly on the deck to prepare
for your first cast.
Most
anglers prefer to have roughly fifteen feet of line
and leader outside of the rod tip while firmly grasping
the fly with your left forefinger and thumb. When the
moment of attack arrives you must move the rod in your
right hand back firmly until it clears the standing
line and removes the fly from your grasp. You must pay
careful attention to hold the fly in a manner in which
this process won't painfully lodge your fly in your
finger! It is imperative to properly loading the rod
that you do no throw the fly! Once you allow the line
to pull the fly from your fingers you may make two or
three false cast before you accurately present the fly.
Before
you can cast you must instinctively decide where you
want to intercept your target. If you are casting to
a tailing bonefish you must practically hit him on the
head! Try to cast to tailing bonefish just a foot in
front of him so that you may strip the fly right under
his nose if he doesn't see it. In contrast, if you spot
a bone cruising along on a calm, clear day, deliver
the fly at least ten feet in front. You must always
be prepared to pick up and recast should the bone unexpectedly
change direction in their usual paranoid fashion. Be
careful to silently lift your line out of the water
before you recast, otherwise you will surely spook your
target.
Once
you have deftly and accurately positioned your fly you
must impart action to get the bone's attention if he
hasn't seen your your fly. If the bonefish hasn't seen
your fly, make two long quick strips to let him know
you're there, followed by letting the fly sink to the
bottom. After the fly hits the bottom make a series
of short strips so as not to frighten him. If the fish
sees the fly and begins to radar in, you must very slowly
pull the fly back while keeping tension on the line.
As the fly is slowly being pulled along the bottom he
appears as though he is fleeing. If you have done this
technique while keeping tension, you will feel the fish
strike and all that remains is a quick, firm pull of
the line for a hookset.
Another
effective technique for cruising bonefish when they
are exceptionably nervous, is to determine the direction
they are moving and cast at least thirty feet in front
of his path. Let the fly sink and wait until the bone
gets seven feet in front of your fly before you give
it a few little twitches. If your lucky he'll see the
movement and quickly come in for the dinner bell.
With
all the infinite possibilities and variations that are
encountered bonefishing, the only guaranteed casting
technique is practice. The single most important factor
in the bonefishing equation is your ability to accurately
and confidently cast your fly. This can only be done
through many hours of practice, so take every opportunity
you have to practice. We promise your time will be happily
rewarded!
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