Bonefish Bitterns Tan Fly

About the Bonefish Bitterns Tan Saltwater Fly

The Bonefish Bitters Tan is a clean, confidence flats pattern designed to mimic the small shrimps and crabs bonefish feed on in skinny water. This tan colourway is a natural go-to over sand and light bottom, where subtle tones and a believable footprint routinely outfish anything too loud.

This version is built around a bright tan/yellow epoxy-style head with eyes, a slim body, and barred rubber legs that add just the right amount of movement. It’s an ideal choice when fish are tailing, cruising slowly, or feeding in bright, calm conditions.

Fishing Tips:

How it works

• Gets down and stays in the zone: The weighted head helps it sink promptly so you can fish it close to the bottom where bonefish actually eat.
• Natural tan silhouette: Tan blends beautifully on pale sand, reading as a small shrimp/crab rather than a “pattern”.
• Leggy realism: The barred rubber legs kick and tremble with tiny twitches, selling the illusion even when you barely move it.
• Subtle sparkle: A touch of flash in the wing gives a lifelike glint without making the fly look artificial.

How to fish it

• Lead the fish and let the fly settle before you start the retrieve.
• Use short, sharp strip–pause “scoots” to imitate a shrimp darting, then stopping.
• Keep it low: you want it near the deck; a gentle tick now and then is perfect.
• If fish follow but hesitate, reduce movement (smaller strips, longer pauses). If they’re charged up, make it dart a touch faster.
• Always strip-strike with the line hand, then lift once you feel solid weight.

Tier of this saltwater fly: Bob Nauheim