If You DON’T Want to Catch a Bonefish…

Do any of these five things while fishing for bonefish and you’ll be NOT catching fish in no time.

Wear shoes in the boat. Always go barefoot when fishing out of the boat so you can feel your line if it’s underneath your feet. If you’re wearing shoes, you won’t know if you’re standing on the line.
Use a fly that’s too heavy. At the Bahamas, we fish for bonefish in really skinny water. Using a lead-eyed fly that’s designed for deep water in the Florida Keys, will scare the crap out of bonefish. Guaranteed.
Focus only on the bonefish you’re casting to. Bonefish tend to be in groups. If there’s a fish between you and your target, you’ll line him and spook ‘em all. Game over. Scan the area between you and your target before you cast.
Cast too far. If you’re properly set up on a flat, most of the fish you encounter will be swimming towards you. If you cast too short, just leave it and that fish just might swim right up to your fly. If you cast too long…you line ‘em and you might as well take a seat.
Don’t pay attention to your stripped-off line. If you’re in the boat, your line should be neatly piled on the deck or on the bottom of the boat. If you’re wading, your line should be looped behind you in the water. If your excess line is wrapped around your buddy’s boat bag, or underneath the boat, or around a cleat or a hinge, or snagged on a mangrove shoot, well, you might hook him but you’re not going to catch that fish. So pay attention to your stripped-off line.