Fly tyers gearing up for a tarpon trip need to understand what a specific tarpon pattern is intended to do being attentive to techniques to make the fly fish right. To get everything just right tarpon guides often tie their own flies. They might look at a fly that’s floating just right in the water column but decide it isn’t food for NO reason. Tarpon don’t bother with a fly that sinks to the bottom, they might not eat a fly that sits on top. The most important thing about a tarpon fly is how the individual fly behaves in the water. Great patterns tied improperly won’t work well, an ugly captain’s fly tied well will work all day. This may seem counter intuitive but the best tarpon flies are not the same as the best tarpon patterns.

Loop foul guard keeping the tails in place.Ĭhoosing the right tarpon flies is important too.

The smallest flaw in the tarpon rig can leave the angler with stories only about the fish that got away. The backing knot has to be smooth and strong, the leader-line connection needs to be clean, perfect. Also when a fish runs at the boat the reel needs to pick up line quickly. The reel does much more than hold the line it needs to slow down 150 lb fish heading for the deeps, a sticky drag will leave the angler with suddenly limp line. A tarpon fly rod also needs to put steady and predictable pressure on a running fish. Twelve weight rods are almost essential, it needs to be quick and powerful enough to cut headwinds. To get geared-up for tarpon fishing is not a casual endeavor. A lot has to come together to get the first jump out or a tarpon. There’s really nothing like it in the world of saltwaterįishing. The angler from the fish, captains shout unintelligible orders, knees go weak, Line peels off the deck, errant loops wrap parting Leaving a hole in the ocean and the angler wet. Sometimes they eat the fly and keep swimmingĪt the boat, or eat and turn bolting for another continent. Crazy things can happen when a tarpon eats. Catching tarpon on the fly is an extraordinary experience.

Black point flat tarpon fishing