Sharks are one of the most difficult fish to catch on a fly rod. Very small and blacktip sharks will attack almost any fly as they cruise bonefish flats. But as they get bigger, they seem to get smarter. Fortunately there is a surefire way to get a shark to hit your fly. Catch several ladyfish (the best fish to use as a decoy) or a catfish (which is very tough)--though any small dead fish can be used. Attach the dead fish to a length of thin rope or line and let it drag behind the boat as you drift along in waters that sharks inhabit. The juices and scent from the fish are very apparent to any nearby shark, which will move in to grab your decoy. Remember to keep a careful watch on the fish or the shark may steal it! When you see a shark near the decoy fish, get ready to cast.

(Remove th decoy immediately before the cast is made.) Orange-and-red or yellow-and-red flies appeal most to sharks, and they are easy to see. Remember, a shark's eyes are located well back on its head. If you cast directly in front of the shark, even if it sees the fly, the shark's nose may push it aside as it tries to grab your fly. You must cast the fly so that it lands and is retrieved near the eye of the shark. Since the amount of time the fly remains near the shark's eye is crucial, the boat's position and your own prior to the cast are important. If you cast to a shark that is going away from you, the fly, no matter how well placed, will zip by so quickly that the shark will either not see it or miss it on the strike. You need to approach the shark at such an angle that it swims toward you.

Then you can make your cast and maintain the fly near its eye. As the shark moves close to the boat you should also kneel, because despite its poor vision the shark can still see a silhouette. And in stalking a big shark, silence is vital.