re: Fly fisherman: What is a good rig to get started?

It was game day I was in the sauce. Stop trying to bulling me. You intents meany!

I am heading to Xcalak Mexico (just north of San Pedro, Belize) Jan 1st and have been adding fly gear for the trip. I have no real fly fishing experience, but this area is known to produce Permit, bonefish and tarpon in the same day. Anyone want to throw some advice out I am all ears.

There are a couple if guides, but I will probably just be winging it the flats in front of the hotel or in the lagoon behind it. I will also have access to yaks.

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as long as you can get the fly in front of the bonefish they usually strike. The permit are the hardest due to locate to fish.

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I was fly fishing out of San Padro a few years ago (for a few days) and didn't find that to be the case.
The bonefish were everywhere but were very skittish...even when the fly was in front of them, they wouldn't play.
Saw a few permit but off in the distance and couldn't ever got a good cast out to them.

Looking back, I wish I'd have gone on a guided trip. Would have saved a lot of frustration.


Back to the OP, I certainly hope you go on a few guided trips (at least one) before you buy.
As mentioned, fly fishing can be very frustrating for beginners trying to figure it out for yourself.
I found finding the fish and casting to be the easy part...figuring out the presentation and lure selection to be the hard part.
Nothing is more frustrating than seeing over 30-40 redfish in a day come tail behind your lure and just swim away (trying every tactic I could think of...)

If it weren't for fishing with other experienced and passionate fly fisherman, I wouldn't have continued it...and now it's all I can think about (in reference to fishing).

I've also learned more about fly fishing, proper casting, lure selection, etc. from the few guided trips I've been on than countless personal trips in LA.

Good luck and have fun with it!

Make sure that you lead the fish a pretty good amount and try to put the fly where you think the fish will go. Twitch it so they see in then strip it. Short but fast strips.


I've fly fished for redfish but didn't do any good. Was with a buddy fishing. It was fun. 6-8 weight rod is what you will need. For saltwater I would suggest spending money on a reel with a good drag.

I'm a big fan of TFO rods for the money

Also, when casting make sure you keep that wrist absolutely straight and wait for the line to straighten on the back cast. If you will do those two things you will have it mastered.