Buying Fly Fishing Equipment
Buy The Very Best Fly Fishing Equipment You Can Afford!
​The “Silver King” will test your equipment and inform you as to its worth very quickly, so tread accordingly and don’t buy cheap to save a few dollars. Buy equipment that has been proven by others so your dollars will go farther toward your success. All Fly Anglers fishing for Tarpon will require the best quality gear, including a high-quality disc drag reel, the right fly line, and the right backing and of course leader materials. Seek guidance from your fly shop pros and trusted guides for your Tarpon gear. You don’t want to lose a “Silver King” of your dreams because your wanted to save pennies on your equipment.
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Fly Fishing Leader Options
I use a variation of the standard big game leader with 16lb to 20lb class tippet. I tie my tarpon leaders Including the 5’ - 7' butt section, from 10' to as long as 14 feet.
ALL leaders are tied to legal IGFA standard including the shock/bite tippet of no more than 12 inches, and a class tippet greater then 15 inches.. The shock/bite tippet provides abrasion resistance against the Tarpons sharp gills.
Most Florida Keys Guides want you to have a section of 16lb – 20lb IGFA class tippet as a natural breaking point in the leader and will typically prefer to tie the leaders you’ll be using that day of fishing so they know exactly what their Anglers leaders are capable of against the “Silver Kings” of all sizes.
Also please note, that having the 16lb – 20lb class tippet leader allows the Fly Angler to break off a fish intentionally if a shark is looming, or the line gets around your ankle, fingers or tangled around your rod. The 16lb – 20lb class tippet is as much for your own safety as it is a challenge to fight fairly in landing the fish of your dreams.
Fly Fishing Leader Construction and Leader Materials
​I tie my leaders with 56lb (0.024”) – 65.8lb (0.026”) Flies 2 Fins Ultra Low Stretch Leader for the 5 to 7-foot butt section. I will then step down to a 25.3lb (0.016”) mid-section of Flies 2 Fins Ultra Low Stretch Leader, then I use the Primo Translucent Leader for the 15.2lb (16lb class tippet / 0.012”) – 17.1lb (20lb class tippet / 0.013”), 15“ – 24” long, finishing with a 12” Flies 2 Fins High Stake Saltwater shock/bite tippet which may vary from 56lb (0.024”) to 87.3lb (0.029”) test.
Please note your Guide may chose to use varying shock/bite tippet test line depending on the water clarity and fishing conditions. I will tie the fly of choice to the leader using a loop knot. The leader will conform to IGFA protocol for length including knots used for tying the leader.
Based on water conditions, all leader will be constructed with either Translucent Pink or Translucent Clear Flies 2 Fins leader material from the butt section to the shock/bite tippet.
