Originally posted by BLUE_48_98:
ANGELO
GREAT TIPS FOR BONES. WILL BE DOWN IN JULY TO TRY FOR SOME BONES AND TARPON. WAS WONDERING ABOUT COWENS BONEFISH SCAMPI. WHERE CAN I VIEW THE PATTERN. I TIE MY OWN FLIES AND HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS FLY. I DONT HAVE AN ORVIS WITHIN 200 MILES OF ME. THE LARVA LACE IS GREAT FOR SHRIMP BODIES. IT GIVES IT THAT SEGMENTED LOOK. IF YOU PUT A THIN COAT OF 5 MIN. EPOXY OVER THAT YOU'LL WANT TO PEEL THEM AND EAT THEM. THANKS AGAIN. ANY CERTAIN TARPON PATERNS THAT WORKED BETTER THAN OTHERS?
Orivis is kind enough to share the recipe and a photo for the pattern on their website
Cowen\'s Bonefish Scampi I think what Severo does is run either a pink or pale green thread through the hollow center of the larva lace, which brings that color all the way through the lace in a translucent manner. You should just be able to replace the mylar body on the scampi pattern with this and be good to go.
#6 fly sizes are your staple here for bones. Bring some un-weighted, some lightly weighted, and some heavy weighted. Tan, pink, and white, as well as a few in #8 for the really shallow parts where they spook easily. User Fluorocarbon 10 and 8 lb. leaders for Bones.
For Tarpon, Black Death, Cockroach, and Burnt Orange Grizzly are choice, but I brought some others that are mainly used in Florida too, just in case. Size 2/0 and 3/0 are Severo's choice. Severo's choice in color while I was with him was Black Death and any of my darker orange patterns. You might want to bring some 4/0 since you're down there when the large migratory fish are there, but I wouldn't bring too many of them. Use 20lb or heavier leaders with 60-80 lb shock tippets, and preferably in Fluorocarbon.
You might want to try the Permit too. They're not really that big on the flats here, so #4 and #6 crab patterns are a good size. Severo didn't care for my #4 Merkin Crabs and wanted me to use my Bonefish Sliders instead. I think he also likes the Raghead crab for Permit here.