Bone Appetit
Bone Appétit
Designed by Drew Chicone, of Salty Fly Tying, this crustacean imitation lands lightly and blends into the light coloured bottom of the local saltwater environment, like natural prey. This fly combines subtle pinkish silver colouration and enticing movement resulting in a very effective shallow water fly pattern.

Tied in smaller sizes (6 and 8) this pattern is effective when targeting fish feeding on the ocean side flats found in Belize and Mexico. Tied in larger sizes (4 and 2) this fly will definitely fool the big bonefish and permit found in the Bahamas.

You can also modify this pattern to catch fish inhabiting turtle grass flats by simply substituting brown, olive or light olive coloured materials and tying on a weed guard.

Materials
Hook: Daiichi 2546, size 4
Thread: UTC Ultra 140; fl. shell pink
Eyes: Medium beadchain; silver
Tail: Krystal flash; fl. shrimp pink
Body: Diamond braid; fl. shrimp pink
Wing: Rabbit fur; light brown
Legs: Sili legs; clear/pearl-silver flake
Flash: Krystal flash; fl. shrimp pink
Adhesive: Zap-A-Gap brush-on and Premium head cement (available at Pieroway Rod Company)

Tying Instructions
Step 1. Insert the hook in the vise. Attach the thread and wrap back three hook eye lengths.
Step 2. Place a drop of Zap-A-Gap on the thread wraps and then figure eight wrap the beadchain eyes to the top of the hook (This fly rides hook point up).
Step 3. Tie in 12 strands of krystal flash on the top of the hook shank. Start at a point directly behind the eyes and wrap the thread over the flash to a point opposite the barb of the hook. Trim the flash tail to the length of the hook shank.
Step 4. Return the thread to the point right behind the eyes.
Step 5.Tie in the diamond braid. Start at a point directly behind the eyes and wrap the thread over the braid to a point opposite the barb of the hook.
Step 6. Advance your thread forward to a point in front of the eyes.
Step 7. Wrap (palmer) the diamond braid forward to the point directly behind the eyes with touching wraps. Figure eight the diamond braid around the eyes and tie off in front of the eyes. Trim away the excess material.
Step 8. Turn the hook over in the vice (hook point up). Tie in a pencil-sized hank of rabbit fur, cut from the skin, directly in front of the eyes and extending slightly past the bend of the hook.
Step 9. Tie in two strands of sili leg on each side of the thread head so that the legs lie parallel along each side of the fly. Trim the legs so they extend slightly past the flash tail.
Step 10. Tie in four strands of krystal flash directly on top of the rabbit fur wing. Trim the flash so they extend slightly longer than the wing.
Step 11. Build up a thread head, whip finish and cover with premium head cement.

Your Bone Appétit is now complete and you are ready to head out On The Water!

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