SaltwaterBorski Bonefish Slider
The Borski Bonefish Slider is a highly effective saltwater pattern originally designed by Tim Borski. This fly is designed to imitate a fleeing shrimp or crab as it skitters across the flats. It's a favorite among flats fishermen and a proven bonefish catcher.
Year Round
Advanced
Bonefish
Apr 2025
Overview
Tim Borski's slider is built with a full body and wing of tan craft fur over a Tiemco 811S hook, with medium bead chain eyes providing just enough weight to ride hook-point-up without the loud plop of heavier dumbbells. A few strands of pearl Krystal Flash in the wing add a subtle baitfish-like shimmer as the fly settles. Tan Uni-Thread ties everything down sparse and translucent, keeping the profile buoyant enough to swim in short, natural strips just under the surface film rather than diving straight to bottom. That slow, gliding fall is what gives spooky bonefish and permit a believable look at a fleeing shrimp or crab without spooking them off the flat.
Where to Buy This Fly
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Materials
- Hook:
- Tiemco 811S, size #4–#8
- Thread:
- Tan Uni-Thread 6/0
- Eyes:
- Medium bead chain
- Body:
- Tan craft fur
- Wing:
- Tan craft fur
- Flash:
- Pearl Krystal Flash
Behavior & Presentation
Natural Behavior: Shrimp and small crabs exhibit rapid skittering movements when detected, leaving visible puffs of sand as they burrow or flee. Their most active feeding periods coincide with incoming tides when they transition between vegetation and open sand.
Where Trout Eat It: Sandy flats and turtle grass bottoms in 1-4 feet where bonefish cruise and feed.
How to Fish It: Retrieve with short, quick 2-3 inch strips to mimic fleeing crustaceans, pausing briefly to let the fly settle.
Best Water: Work channel edges, grass edges, and flats during incoming tides when crustaceans are active.
Strike Type: Feel the line accelerate and sense weight as fish inhale the fly aggressively.
Fishing Strategy
Rigging Suggestions: Use a 9-12 foot leader with 12-15 lb fluorocarbon tippet. Match leader length to water depth and wind conditions.
Seasonal Timing: Year round in tropical flats, with peak fishing from April through October when bonefish are most active in shallow water.
Pro Tips: The bead chain eyes provide fast sink rate to reach feeding fish quickly, while the craft fur body creates lifelike motion in currents. Watch for nervous water and lead cruising fish by 3-4 feet.
Entomology
Shrimp and small crabs on shallow flats exhibit rapid skittering movements when detected, leaving visible puffs of sand as they attempt to burrow or flee across exposed bottom. These crustaceans time their most active feeding periods with incoming tides, becoming increasingly exposed as they transition between vegetation and open sand. Bonefish have developed keen vision for detecting these escape behaviors, targeting the movement and silhouette of fleeing prey that cannot outpace their lightning-fast pursuit.
- Organism Type
- crustacean
- Life Stage
- general
