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Cuban flies #12440086 09/25/17 12:45 AM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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I'm a few weeks out from heading to the south of Cuba and have a full fly box. I have raghead crabs, merkin crabs, gotchas, crazy Charlies, mantis shrimp, and Christmas Island specials for bone fish/permit. I have a handful of Black Death, cockroaches, tarpon sliders, decievers, and a few tarpon toads for tarpon. I won't have access to any guides and will be limit mostly to wade fishing and might have a few tries at fishing from a boat. Are there any multi species flies I'm missing? I'm taking two rods and several leader options. Any flies that I should
take in case I can try blue water?

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440403 09/25/17 09:34 AM
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karstopo Offline
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Never been to Cuba. I have read about the Avalon Permit Fly being a really good pattern to have down there. I tied up a few and they work on redfish.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/fly-tying/fly-recipes/avalon-permit-fly/

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440405 09/25/17 09:43 AM
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karstopo Offline
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The original recipe uses metal beads and dyed Arctic fox. I used glass beads and orange marabou.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440408 09/25/17 09:48 AM
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karstopo Offline
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Here's the fly.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440500 09/25/17 12:50 PM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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Thanks for the suggestion, I'll put a few on order.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440621 09/25/17 02:27 PM
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Meadowlark Offline
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That sounds like you have a good selection of flies...especially if you have them in various weights. Only thing I would add to your box would be Clousers...tan/grey, white/chartruse in various sizes/weights.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12440675 09/25/17 02:59 PM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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I'll snag a few from my Bass box Meadowlark.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12441522 09/25/17 11:15 PM
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Meadowlark Offline
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I hope you will file a report on your adventure. There has been a lot of mixed reports coming out of Cuba.

I'd bet you will find the black death to be your Tarpon killer....and gotchas on the bones. Permit are crazy picky but I'd bet on a Merkin as first choice. Tight lines.

p.s. I like a brown or black brush fly for big water fish...but you will need at least a 10wt to throw 'em.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12441607 09/26/17 12:06 AM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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Meadowlark, I'll definitely update when I can. I'll be somewhat restricted on what photos I can post, but I'll hopefully have some pictures to share. I'm limited to one bay, but I'll have most of a year to try my luck on days off so I'll have more than a typical trips worth of casting.

I'm taking an 11wt for the big flies/wind along with my 8wt.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: jrod88] #12443617 09/27/17 08:09 AM
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Catfish676 Offline
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Howdy. Been to Cuba several times. Where are you fishing down South? Fished the Jardines de la Reina for a week last year off La Tortuga (incredible) and headed back down this coming Spring. Happy to help if you have questions. Have no experience fishing this late in the year though. JDR is great, if that is where you are headed.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: Catfish676] #12443712 09/27/17 12:51 PM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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GTMO. I'll have the chance for Winter through Summer, maybe Fall. Hopefully long enough for a chance at anything migratory.

Originally Posted By: Catfish676
Howdy. Been to Cuba several times. Where are you fishing down South? Fished the Jardines de la Reina for a week last year off La Tortuga (incredible) and headed back down this coming Spring. Happy to help if you have questions. Have no experience fishing this late in the year though. JDR is great, if that is where you are headed.

Re: Cuban flies [Re: karstopo] #12449509 10/02/17 03:12 AM
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flyfshrgrl Offline
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That's the Avalon Fly, and it is way over fished there. Cody and I visited Cuba in June/July 2015 fishing in Jardines de la Reina. Our group loaded with this fly had refusal after refusal, but when we tied on something different, BAM, FishOn! Take a few, but fish them conservatively.
Black Death's weren't as popular with the Tarpon as Purple and Pink toads. Also, we used a Tan Gotchas caught a lot of species, so did amber Bonefish Bitters.

I'll have Cody go through our photos, because he typically snaps a shot or two of our fly boxes before we fish them. Also, I'll look and see if we still have our Cuba pre-trip planner with suggested flies.

Have fun; it's a great fishery!


Julia Bell/flyfshrgrl
Dallas Fly Fishers President, 2021-present


FishOn! the Fly
Re: Cuban flies [Re: flyfshrgrl] #12450974 10/03/17 03:22 AM
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jrod88 Offline OP
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flyfshrgrl thanks! I just found a handful of gotchas while packing. Some tan and a "foxy leg" variant from an Orvis order I made. Guess the flies fell behind my bench. I also picked up a predator leader, we'll see if I have any reason to use it.

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