There is no other fishing where quick casts with few false casts and good accuracy are as crucial as when flats fishing for species like bonefish and permit. If you fish with guides, they assist you in spotting fish from a distance, but if you're fishing on your own and wading, then skill is essential for successful fishing. Even though you often have an idea of which direction the fish is coming from, it could just as easily appear beside you or behind your back. In such situations, swiftly presenting the fly just in front of the fish with few false casts is very important, even if you have to make a short backhand cast into the wind.

Practically all fishing on the flats is what's known as sight fishing, meaning you don't cast at fish until you see them in the water. This makes it incredibly important to spot the fish before they spot you and to present the fly quickly and accurately. To see well into the water, a pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses is an indispensable tool as they reduce reflections and glare on the surface. They also protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays and, of course, from hooks and flies that might go astray during casting.

In addition to protecting your eyes from UV rays and sharp hooks, it's important to be able to withstand the strong sun all day. For us pale northerners, this means being diligent about wearing lightweight, full-coverage clothing over our entire bodies and reapplying sunscreen to exposed areas several times a day. A cap and a head buff protect the ears and neck, with the cap's visor shielding the eyes from the sun's rays. If you'll be wading extensively, having good footwear is extremely important. A pair of well-worn wading boots with a Vibram sole and a sock that can be folded down snugly to keep out sand and stones is an ideal solution.