What To Bring To Belize For Fly Fishing
Fly Rods
Bonefish/Small Tarpon
Permit
Tarpon
Fly Reels
Fly Lines
Leaders/Tippet
Bonefish – 9 foot 10 and 12lb tapered leaders. Tippet – 8, 10, and 12lb fluorocarbon
Permit – 9 foot 12 and 15lb tapered leaders. Tippet – 12, 15lb fluorocarbon
Tarpon – 9 foot straight piece of 40/50/60lb fluorocarbon or hand-tied bimini twist 20lb class with a 40/50/60lb fluorocarbon bite tippet
Clothing / Sunglasses
Boots
Fishing License
Essentials on the Water
- Sunscreen spf 30-50
- Buff face shield
- Chapstick/lip balm
- Water bottle
- Sun gloves
- Drybag or boat bag
- Chest or hip pack for wading
- Rain Jacket/ Rain Pants
- Fleece Jacket
- Wading boots
- Polarized sunglasses – copper or amber lens
- Lens wipes/cleaner
- Fly line cleaner
- Insect repellant
- Hemostat/pliers/nippers
- Hook Hone
- Knotable wire leader for barracuda 30/40lb
Flies
Bonefish/Small Tarpon
- Christmas island specials – tan/pink, tan/orange
- Bonefish Bitters – Tan, olive
- Squimp – Tan
- Gotcha – Tan, Pink, Orange
- EP Spawning Shrimp – Tan/orange
- Mantis Shrimp – Tan
- Bonefish Clouser – Tan/white
- Crazy Charlies – white, pink, tan
You should have an assortment of bonefish flies in different weights and sizes. Most flies should be on a size 6-8 hook. Have some that sink quick with lead eyes, and some with a slower sink rate tied with bead chain eyes. Some scenerios will also require a weed gaurd to feed tailing fish in the turtle grass.
Permit
- SS Merkin
- Bauer Crab – tan
- EP Spawning Shrimp – tan
- Avalon
- Ultra-Shrimp
- EP Crab
- SS permit crab
- SS B-Turd
- Mantis Shrimp
- Squimp
- Strong arm crab
Permit flies will range on hook sizes from a size 4-1/0 hooks, depending on the pattern. Also have a variety of sink rates with each pattern. Most should be tied with large bead chain eyes or small to mediuim lead eyes. You typcially want to get the fly down quick and in front of the fish. Weed guards are typically not needed.
Tarpon
- Tarpon Toad – chartreuse, white, purple/black, black/red
- Black Death
- Cockroach
- EP Minnow – white, tan/white, chartreuse/white
- Tarpon Bunny – purple/black, black/red, white
Tarpon eyes are situated on the tops of their heads and feed on prey that is above them. So when presenting a fly to a moving fish you want it to stay up in the water column. Your flies should have little to no weight on them. Hook sizes should rage from a size 2 all the way up to a 3/0 for the adults.