Try to take a choice of flies in different colours to match the type of bottom you are fishing. On turtle grass or over darker bottoms, brown or tan coloured flies are best while on white sand choose white or pink.

Flies with yellow or chartreuse in them can be superb too, but there will be days when they spook fish. Try to limit yourself to a few proven patterns in a choice of colours and also carry them in a choice of weights and sizes. Flies without eyes are excellent in very shallow water (1-1.5 feet). Flies with bead chain eyes work well in a medium water depth (2-3 feet), but in water of four feet or more, lead barrel eyes are generally a must.

Based on local knowledge Matt Hayes has put together the GranSlam Collection, a compact selection of flies for bonefish, permit and tarpon that work well in La Salinas and Rio Negro. Most are well known patterns but Matt has tied some custom patterns for us which he knows work really well in Cuba. Click here for the GrandSlam Collection details, you can either put together the collection yourself or buy them from GrandSlam via the booking and enquiry form.

Size wise for bonefish, sixes and fours are usually good but also carry a few smaller patterns in size eight in case the fish are picky. Carrying three or four patterns in different weights, colours and sizes is better than a random selection. For tarpon, bigger flies are required. Classic patterns like the deceivers and the characteristic 'tarpon fly' work very well and it is best to carry them in a choice of colours. Red and white, yellow and white, plain yellow, orange and darker colours such as black and purple are all good fish producers. Generally, Cuban tarpon react well to flies in size 2/0.

For sharks, jacks and barracuda, tarpon flies will prove adequate but there are specialist patterns available. For sharks, you might find yourself using bigger flies in size 4/0 or larger while for barracuda, specialist needle fish imitations, usually made from mylar, are excellent.

For all of the predatory species, but especially for tarpon, jacks and snappers, poppers can be brilliant. A few white, yellow and dark poppers on size 1/0 and 2/0 hooks can provide spectacular surface action. Jacks especially love poppers and the takes are nothing short of explosive!

For permit, a selection of crab flies tied on size 4 and size 2 hooks are worth carrying. Try George Anderson's McCrab for bigger permit and the Bonefish Bitterns for smaller specimens. In truth, permit are such contrary creatures that it is almost worth throwing anything at them in an emergency. Permit are quite common in Cuba and in a typical day spent bonefishing it is not unusual to see at least one small school. Enthusiasts will have a spare rod, usually a nine weight, rigged up for them. Having seen permit follow tarpon and bonefish flies, and having heard of several Cuban permit being caught on poppers and tarpon flies unless you are seriously keen to catch permit, it is probably just as well to fish for bones or tarpon and if you see a permit, throw whatever fly you have tied onto your leader at them.