There are lots of factors to consider when choosing fly patterns for our area, but we have a well stocked fly assortment at the lodge and your guides can help pick out patterns for you. If you would like to bring some patterns with you, the following patterns are a good starting point. Bonefish and Permit: Christmas Island Specials, Crazy Charlies, Gotchas (size 4-8, assorted colors, both beadchain and dumbbell eyes; tan, pink, and white are good colors); Squimp (size 4-6, tan — great pattern for permit and bonefish); Raghead Crab (size 2-6, white or light tan with white legs and yellow eyes, also tan, light olive, and other colors); Casa Blanca (size 2-6, white with yellow eyes, all colors are good, size 6 is our favorite); Spawning Shrimp and Mantis Shrimp (size 2-6, great patterns for permit, tan is our favorite color); Strong Arm (size 2-6, tan or olive). Tarpon: Toads, Bunnies, and Bunny Toads (size 1/0 to 3/0, black/purple is a favorite color combo, also white, white with red, chartreuse); Deceivers, Peanut Butters, Game Changers (size 1 to 3/0); Puglisi Diver (size 1/0 to 3/0, orange or tan fished around the sargassum); Cockroach (size 1/0 to 3/0); Gurglers (size 1 to 2/0, smaller sizes are great in the back lagoons for juvenile tarpon and snook). Others: large Gurglers and poppers for Jack Crevalle when they are crashing the surface, and long, skinny patterns for Barracuda like Needle Fish and Tandem Hook tube flies.
