Bodkin / Patterns

Bonefish Bug with Bead Chain Eyes

Shrimp · Bonefish · Permit · Intermediate · 1 version

Classic Recipe

  • Hook Standard saltwater flats hook (e.g. Gamakatsu SC15, Mustad 34007), straight-eye, 4-8
  • Thread Tan 140 denier / 3/0

Materials

  • Eyes Bead chain, medium, silver (1 pair)
  • Tail Tan craft fur or rabbit fur (a sparse clump, one shank length)
  • Flash Pearl or tan Krystal Flash (4-6 strands)
  • Body/legs Tan Estaz or cactus chenille (1 length)
  • Legs Tan/pearl rubber legs (optional) (2-3 pairs)

How to tie it

  1. Start thread just behind the eye and tie in the bead chain eyes with figure-8 wraps about one eye-width back from the hook eye. This fly rides hook-point-up, so the eyes will invert it on the flats.
  2. Wind the thread back to the bend. Tie in a sparse clump of tan craft fur one shank length long for the tail, plus 4-6 strands of pearl Krystal Flash the same length.
  3. Tie in the tan Estaz/cactus chenille at the bend. If using rubber legs, tie a pair splayed at the tail here for movement.
  4. Wrap the chenille forward in touching turns to just behind the bead eyes, then figure-8 a turn or two around and in front of the eyes. Tie off and trim.
  5. Optionally pick out the chenille fibers and add a pair of rubber legs each side at mid-body for a buggy silhouette.
  6. Build a small thread head in front of the eyes, whip finish and add a drop of head cement.

Tying videos

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