equipment & flies

Temperatures in Los Roques can range from 75° to 90°+ Fahrenheit during the fishing season, with varying degrees of humidity. Protection from the sun's rays is extremely important. You can expect some wind and should be prepared in the event it rains. The following list of clothing and equipment should make for an enjoyable trip:

• Hat with bill and neck protection (dark underside on hat bill)
• Polarized sunglasses, (amber or brown, with side shields) with lens cleaner and towel
• Sun Gloves (A great product that protects the back of your hands from cooking...)
• Bandanas (Always handy for neck protection, cleaning sunglasses, etc.)
• Long sleeve shirts (light colors, light weight such as Patagonia, Ex-Officio or Simms)
• Short sleeve shirts (for traveling or casual wear on shore)
• Tee shirts (several)
• Long pants for wading (light colored, light weight cotton)
• Shorts (you'll wear these much of the time)
• Sandals or camp shoes
• Deck shoes (no laces, non-skid)
• Flats (wading) boots (not waders) for bonefishing
• Raingear (very light)
• Sunscreen (at least SPF 30, waterproof, paba-free, UVA & UVB)
• Zinc oxide (good for nose, lips)
• Lip balm with sunscreen (highest SPF you can get)
• Insect repellent with DEET
• Camera, lots of film, extra batteries, lens paper
• Waterproof bag or Zip-Lock Bags (to carry camera & other gear while in the boat)
• Small flashlight or headlight
• Garbage bags or waterproof bags for laundry & wading boots
• Reading glasses _ Books/magazines
• Travel alarm
• Passport and travel documents
• Copy of passport (packed separately in Zip-Lock bag)
• Airline tickets and itinerary
• Pre-trip information, maps
• Cash (small bills for tips, gift shopping, etc.), credit card, travelers' checks
• Notebook and pen
• Emergency telephone numbers
• Toiletries, including; shampoo, hand lotion, bandages, roll of athletic tape, etc
• Aspirin, other over-the-counter medications i.e. antacids, benadryl, and papaya enzymes
• Prescription medications
• Swimsuit & Snorkeling gear
• Prescription glasses

Bonefish Fly Rods:
9’ or 9’ 6”, multi-piece, 6, 7, or 8- weight fly rods are the best choices. Our own experts prefer fast action saltwater rods that have been specially designed for the rigors of the salt environment. These models will cut into the teeth of a wind and deliver the fly farther than slower action, lower modulus fly rods. Good models to choose from include the Sage Xi2, Sage Z-Axis, Winston BIIMX, and The Fly Shop’s GLH20 rods all in three, four or five piece configuration, for easy traveling. We highly recommend bringing a backup rod.

Fly Reels:
Reels specifically designed for saltwater fly fishing are absolutely necessary, and should hold the fly line and a minimum of 150 yards of 20lb backing. In fact, the reel is probably more of a key to success than the choice of fly rod. Smooth disk drags, plenty of backing capacity, and sturdy anodized aluminum frames are features to look for in a reel.

Our favorite reel and highest recommendation goes to the Nautilus Models (either a CCF or NV); other top considerations are the Tibor “Everglades”, Abel, or Galvan Torque. If cost is a consideration, choose one of The Fly Shop’s new S4 Large Arbor reels. They’ll handle any bonefish or permit.

Fly Lines:
A weight forward floating line (specifically designed for saltwater) is all you need. Scientific Anglers Mastery Bonefish Line, new Magnum Sharkskin Line, or the new Rio Bonefish or Redfish fly line are all great choices. These lines are specifically designed for saltwater fly fishing with a special braided monofilament core that provides the proper stiffness to allow excellent shooting while resisting tangles, even in tropical heat.

Leaders:
Fluorocarbon tippet and leaders are a must. Whether you use full fluorocarbon leaders, or just add fluorocarbon tippets to a nylon leader is up to you, but over the last few years the full knotless fluorocarbon leaders have become our first choice for saltwater applications. Using leaders 9 feet long tapering to 10 or 16 pound test will cover all of your bonefish needs. Carry tippet materials in the same pound tests for those occasions when a longer, finer leader is needed or when the tippet section has been frayed. Most fluorocarbon leaders are super strong, less visible and have a tougher finish than monofilament. Mono leaders and tippet material in the same sizes as fluorocarbon are an arguably acceptable alternative.

Bonefish Fly Selection:
The best of Los Roques flies are small, and usually light in color. Sizes: 6, and 8 all work, with size 6 being the most common & productive on most flats. Make sure a few of your flies are tied with weed guards. Here is a must have selection of flies direct from Sight Cast:

• Bonefish Bitters (orange, green and brown 6 each)
• Raghead crab (olive and tan 6 each)
• Gotcha (6 each size 6 and 8)
• Clouser (grey/white size 6 -10 each, size 2 - 6 each)
• Gummy minnows( size 6 - have at least 10 of these).

In addition to the “must have” flies, be sure to include:

• Tailing Bonefish: (size 6)
• Snapping Shrimp: (size 6)
• Gold Snapping Shrimp, (size 6-8) tan, pink
• Enrico’s Micro Crab for the Pancake Flats
• Crazy Charlie: (size 6) Amber, Crystal Brown
• McVay Gotcha: (sizes with lead eyes)
• Mini Puff & Blind Mini Puffs: (size 6) Pink
• Hot tail Gotchas (size 6)
• Miheves Flats Fly: (size 6)
• Bonechrusher: (size 6)
• Tuxedo Gotcha (size 6 & 8)
• Shane’s Psycho Puff (size 4 and 8) for the Sand flats and muds
• Bonefish Clouser: ( size 6) Tan, Brown, white for the beaches

Barracuda Fly Selection:

Barracuda fishing requires a spool of nylon-covered braided wire, such as Rio Knottable wire bite tippet in the 20 - 30 lb. class or the RIO Toothy Critter Wire tippet leader. All you need is the Ka-Cuda and/or the Nasty Needle flies. Tarpon Fly Selection: There are scattered populations of tarpon throughout Los Roques National Park. Anglers should be prepared with a few smaller (#1 - #2) Cockroaches, Lefty’s Deceivers in sizes 1/0 & 2/0, and Flashtail Whistlers. They really like the Pearl Gummy Minnow #2. Be sure to have some of these. Most of the tarpon you’ll encounter will be in shallow water, often rolling or gulping air. Under certain circumstances an intermediate sinking line can be handy, although a floater will get it done. (Shock tippet leaders 60 - 80 lb. are required).