Tip: Practice in your back yard, a swimming pool, the local pond—anywhere. Your email address will not be published. Move tactfully: Don’t forget about the wind during your presentation. Most tarpon prey don’t do this and often it will spook the fish. Our GIS Inshore or Seahunter Series works well for conventional enthusiasts. You need to be able to cast at least 50 feet, preferably into a moderate wind.

You can’t go wrong with the Helios when it comes to fly fishing for tarpon.

Pay attention to the clarity of the water. He has won many awards for his writing. Determine the direction and speed of the current (tide). If he does that, his stamina increases and the battle drags on. No comments yet / Posted on February 13, 2020 / by Kent Klewein, Are you reading the tarpon correctly and presenting your fly in the right spot? This allows you to bring your fly into the tarpons field of vision at the correct depth and time frame. Try to spot the fish, but if you can’t, drop it as close as possible to the target location the guide describes. Make them see the fly: You need to be able to cast at least 50 feet, preferably into a moderate wind.

Gerald Almy has been a full-time outdoor writer for over 35 years, with articles published in over 200 publications. The lower oxygen content makes an active tarpon roll more and gulp air, giving away their position.
When the fish streaks away, let him have free reign.

Cast the fly too close, and the tarpon will spook. Tip: Confuse the fish and you break the fish’s will. Tip 10:  Never have your fly moving towards the fish.

However, if you are following the right procedure then your chances to …

That’s not only tiring for you, it wears the fish out more, reducing chances for releasing the tarpon in a healthy condition. Prick Those Porcupine Quills Out of Your Pet, Help Your Pet Overcome Those Lumps and Bumps, How to Remove Those Sticky Burrs on Your Pet. If he does gulp oxygen, pressure him and make him burp it out. This allows you to bring your fly into the tarpons field of vision at the correct depth and time frame. “You need to strike hard, but not too quickly or you might pull the fly out the tarpon’s mouth. Success all boils down to angler aptitude and experience. Always allow your guide to help you zero in on your target during your false casting, especially if you lose sight of the fish. Drive the hook into the fish’s mouth, which is bony and hard to penetrate.”. When he falls back in, immediately come up tight again.”. It’s no different fly fishing for tarpon. Their fins, which often come out of water, can also be helpful to find out the best place for your fly. Tarpons look for shrimp and crabs in deeper section of tides so you should locate the section of water where they are eating. Understanding the Draw of Tarpon Fly Fishing. In most cases the tarpon will see the shadow of your fly line and spook. The guide will say “tarpon, 3 o’clock, 70 feet. Bottom-line, there’s a very small margin of error bestowed to anglers fly fishing for tarpon. You must have a fly line with at least 200 yards of backing. You need to get your timing and technique down before even venturing out into the waters of Costa Rica, the Florida Keys, or wherever you plan to challenge this hulking silver fish. Don't lead the fish enough, and your fly won't get down to the tarpon's depth. Try to use fly line to get close but if it is not possible then push your boat close to them. All rights reserved. That’s the next important phase of the battle. Taking the time to have your guide walk you through different fishing scenarios will greatly increase your tarpon insight, fishing awareness and get you prepared for the real McCoy.

Follow his or her advice. You will have to throw a fly close to the Tarpons as they will not go after your bait especially when there is plenty of food in the water.

“Bow to him with the rod and your body when he jumps or he’ll snap a 15 pound tippet like thread,” says Vaughn. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Tempt them wisely: They get on the saltwater with only fly casting experience with trout rods. The first thing you must do is clear that line. Tarpon is a large fish that inhabits the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans. First of all, you should find out their position and then lock the area to make this exercise fruitful. Tip: Practice in your back yard, a swimming pool, the local pond—anywhere.

The clearer the water the farther you should lead the tarpon. Choppy water conditions you can get away with placing your fly closer to the fish. Catching a Tarpon on a fly rod can be an uphill task as most of the fishermen catch them on live bait.

It’s not only important that you lead the fish but also cross the fish with your fly and leader.

I gave my good friend and Florida Keys flats guide, Captain Joel Dickey a call to look over my checklist and give me some pointers. Before even trying to tackle a tarpon on a fly, practice casting with heavy gear such as an 11-13 weight fly fishing outfit and stiff fly rod. 5 + = thirteen. Instead, you need to apply the maximum force the tippet will bear with a fighting strategy that constantly counters what the tarpon wants to do. “As soon as he starts to come out of the water, lean forward, bend at the waist and give all the controlled slack you can. The more you have of it, the better the chances you’re going to make the right calculations and decisions on the water.



If you miss your target, even by just a little bit, it can drastically lower your chances for getting a tarpon to eat. However, you must be careful during this time as Tarpon can migrate quickly if there is any sign of danger. Tarpon of all sizes are typically at the surface, especially after a steamy, breathless night. Now, when you have found a group of Tarpons, you should cut the motor and wade so that there is no noise to alarm them.

Practice Casting a Heavy Weight Fly Outfit. 1) Fly Fishing for Tarpon is Different From Other Saltwater Species Tarpon are indeed a very cool species. Believe me when I tell you that a ten weight rod in your hand feels a whole lot different then a five weight.

If you like relaxing, laid-back fishing, here’s a warning: don’t go after tarpon with a fly rod. He must have gone over a dozen different scenarios during the drive up.

A 10-weight is not only a great tarpon rod, but works well for permit, roosterfish, milkfish, and most larger tropical species as well as a host of coldwater gamefish like pike and striper… Moreover, you should be practiced enough to avoid hitting the pod with your line.

Once you hook up, you want to land the tarpon with a quick victory. Picking the Right Fly/Lure.

The second thing anglers should do to increase their success tarpon fishing is have a solid game plan or checklist that they’re willing to stick to on the bow. Your email address will not be published.

In 2008, a feature he developed for Field & Stream and wrote for five years called “Best Days of the Rut,” was nominated for…, 12 Best Trout Fishing Flies That Go-Anywhere (video), 10 Things to Know Before Building a Fishing & Hunting Farm Pond, Dependable Early Spring Crankbaits for All Game Fish (video), Tarpon Tactics: Cut Bait for the Silver King, 3 Great Tarpon Lures and How to Fish Them, Travel Blog: Fishing Small Tarpon in Campeche, Mexico.

Cross the fish at the wrong angle, and your fly will be moving towards the fish and it will spook. Tip: Put your rod tip low, even in the water if he tries this.

When you feel a thud, it is the right time to strike back so pull up a couple of times and then be ready for a long fight. He has written hunting and fishing columns for many newspapers both in Virginia and Texas, as well as the Washington Post. When he eases up, apply pressure. Hesitate 1-2 seconds after you see him eat the fly.”, “After the fish feels tight on the line, set up as if you were double-hauling, using a series of jabs. If you find yourself falling into this category, prior to fishing, you should take the time to have your guide explain how you should handle common fishing situations that you’re likely to encounter. The only way to tire a tarpon is pumping. Calm flat water calls for fly placement farther away from the tarpon. Start working line out to cast in that direction and about that distance immediately. Tip: Learn to follow directions based on the hands of a clock.

Tip: A hat with a brim and polarizing sunglasses are vital to help you spot the fish through the glare on the water’s surface. It may take time but ultimately you will be able to get close to the Tarpons and place your bait perfectly. You’ll just break the leader. The list goes on and on. Tip 2:  Figure out where the tarpon is located and the direction it’s facing or moving (left, right, straight at you, quartered away, ect.).

The majority, though, will react yet a third way. It grows about 5-8 feet and weigh up to 40-140 kg. It’s feather light, powerful, and very responsive. If you have a heavy crosswind you’ll need to take that into factor when aiming. So many anglers head down on their first tarpon trip without ever picking up and casting a 10 or 12 weight rod.

Don’t try to be a know-it-all and make suggestions. For most of us, that means that the further you get away from an 8, either small or larger, the less you’ll use that rod.

A strong current may call for leading a tarpon 10′ or more, while a slow current could be as little as 5-6′. Required fields are marked *, Prove You\'re Human *

Remember, they will ambush the fly only if they are able to see it clearly. Unless you’re a veteran flats angler, you’ll likely be fishing with a guide who works virtually every day on the water studying the fish and knowing where to find them on every tide phase.

I can hear him now, “If the deer is faced in this direction, I want you to put the crosshairs here“. Your email address will not be published. Before even trying to tackle a tarpon on a fly, practice casting with heavy gear such as an 11-13 weight fly fishing outfit and stiff fly rod. I personally prefer the tarpon toad in black and purple. Get comfortable Casting your big game fly rods. Fly Reels For Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing . He has written two books on fishing and contributed chapters to a number of hunting books. FYI: I was going to break down every tip in detail with examples but that would have made this post go on forever. Tip 5:  Pay attention to the clarity of the water. Tip: Always pull the opposite way from the direction the fish wants to go. Figure out where the tarpon is located and the direction it’s facing or moving (left, right, straight at you, quartered away, ect.).

The clearer the water the farther you should lead the tarpon. The go-to rod for saltwater fishing is an 8-weight. It grows about 5-8 feet and weigh up to 40-140 kg. Below is a checklist we came up with that every saltwater angler on the bow should follow closely to increase his/her chances at placing their fly in the right target zone, and maximize their hookup ratio.

He will mean 90 degrees to your right and 70 feet out, just like a timepiece hand would be positioned. Practice Casting a Heavy Weight Fly Outfit. That is what makes this method more difficult than catching a fish with live bait. The tarpon will likely help by streaking off on a searing run. Pull back with the rod hand, down and forward with the line in the other hand. As a kid the same preparation was used by my Dad to walk me through how to make a clean kill shot on a deer. Then strip it as fast or slow as your tutor suggests.

Tip 1:  Make sure your fly is not fouled on the hook and you have your fly line laid out organized in the ready position. The average angler that travels to fly fish for tarpon is not educated on how to read and respond accordingly to different fishing scenarios on the flats.

He has guided countless anglers to successful tarpon encounters after having grown up in Pennsylvania and cut his teeth on trout and bass before moving to Florida.

The Axiom II is a good choice for those who prefer fly.