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Bonefish are opportunistic feeders. If it looks edible or interesting, odds are bonefish will put their lips on it. Few bonefish flies have evolved into specific imitations but are, rather, suggestive of many possible foods, including shrimp and crab.

Fly selection is usually based upon prevailing conditions, including bottom type and color, and water depth. Aside from rare times when you are imitating a specific food source or when bonefish are feeding selectively, the most important considerations are:

• Sink rate

• Presentation

• Retrieve

Bonefish are bottom mostly feeders and often feed as they travel, so flies should usually be presented at their level or below. Successful anglers compute a fish’s travel speed and the water depth, and select a fly that reaches the bottom in 2.5 to 3 seconds. If a bonefish is feeding at 2 miles per hour it travels almost 9 feet in three seconds! If your fly takes 6 seconds to reach the bottom the bonefish has most likely changed direction! Cast too heavy of a fly (or sometimes any fly) too close and you spook them! The other wild cards are the speed and direction of the wind, tide and the boat, if you're fishing from one. Therefore, the “interception zone” (where and when your fly intersects with bonefish) and how and in which direction you then retrieve the fly are the biggest keys to success on the flats!

There are explicit charts in Bonefishing! that detail lead distance for various bonefish travel speeds, the best angle of presentation, retrieve, and selection of flies.

Besides weight, other fly selection considerations include size (length), shape, color(s), style of fly, the materials used in their construction and so forth. Anglers are always asking me how many flies they need. This depends on where and how you fish, how fast the fishing is, how many flies you break off on fish, how many you wear out, lose, loan to your buddy or otherwise part with. You never lose everything but the “hot” flies go quickly.

If you have 2 to 4 “favorite” patterns in 4-5 colors and 3-5 different sink rates, plus two styles of crabs in two colors and sizes along with some forage fish, you have over one hundred flies, but only one of each. The good news is that you can effectively fish these flies for bonefish almost anywhere. The bad news is that your favorite or most productive flies may not last too long. I often take along tying supplies. If you don’t tie, travel with someone who does, or someone who has plenty of flies!
 

I carry these in 3 to 5 sink rates (critical) and in at least 3 color combinations.

Other favorites include Clouser, Gotcha, Gummy Minnow, Super Swimming Shrimp, Bahamas Special and those pictured here.

The overall length of a fly is of concern to bonefish, not the hook size.

Most standard bonefish flies like these to your left are similar in shape.

Colors range from white to neon.  Tan is the most universal color.

The selection of small, mostly tan flies to your left is productive nearly everywhere in the world.

Note the variation in shape, sink rate and materials used to construct them.

Flies are actual size relative to the size of the dime.

Certain colors are more productive in specific areas. 

The selection of tan Charlies and Christmas Island Specials above is for varying water depths at Christmas Island but is productive almost amywhere.

The best prepared anglers have the best success.  If you find yourself surrounded by jacks or permit, you want to have the right fly.

The only way to do that is to have lots of flies in assorted shapes, colors and sink rates.

Flies are like film, golf balls and ammunition: if you run out, it's over.  Pictured are Marabou Shrimp ties in a varying degree of sink rates.

Crabs for permit are generally larger than those used for smaller bonefish.

A general comparison is quarters for permit, dimes for bonefish.

Bonefishing! - page 306
 

If I had to pick two colors to fish Christmas Island - and I wouldn't want to do that - it would be tan and yellow, perhaps orange ... maybe pink.

Sparse flies are usually best, unless you are after the generals. 

Then, use a heavy fly.

For deep water, carry some Marabou Shrimp and Christmas Island Specials in various sink rates and assorted crabs that are the size of a quarter.

Most bonefish flies are relatively simple to tie and following are some favorite pattern photos and recipes out of the 3,600 patterns from the book Fly Patterns.