Flies & Knots
Tarpon Flies
My tarpon flies are mostly tied in the non-fouling splayed tail, married tail, worms, baitfish and toad style with lots of colors and weight variations. ​Tarpon eat Mullet, Pinfish, Atlantic Needlefish, Sardines, Palalo Worms, shrimp, and crabs. The Tarpon are pretty resourceful during migration and prey on a variety of food sources. If you choose to tie your own flies, you should tie both light and dark patterns with hook sizes ranging from 1/0 for ultra clear water conditions to 3/0 for dirty water conditions.
Black and Purple still seems to be the most universally "hot" color pallet for flies, although yellow and red are still producing under the right conditions.
Any flies used on the flats should be unweighted and rather small so as not to spook the Tarpon as it lands in its feeding zone. The fly will be tied to the leader with a loop knot allowing free unrestricted movement of the fly.
As mentioned previously, your Guide will know and have available the correct flies to match your fishing areas depending on the water clarity, bottom surface, overhead light conditions and a lot of other reasons based on their experiences that a fly shop can’t sell you. Remember, they are fishing with you, through your actions and want you to be equally successful in landing the big one as they are directing the action resulting in success for all.
Knots
Most of the Guides follow a KISS method (Keep It Simple ……) to their leader knots and will certainly tie your leaders from the butt section forward or your fly line loop should you feel the need to use that connection. Personally, the jury is hung between using the method of removing the fly line loop and Snell knotting a matching 5-7ft. butt section of matching diameter leader directly to the fly line end, then tying the leader forward from the butt section, or utilizing the factory welded loop and using a loop-to-loop butt section connection. Either method works well, but you should follow your own preference based on your casting abilities and leader construction capabilities. Your guide for the day will certainly be the best in determining the right direction for you. If you are tying your own leaders, knowing the Quad Surgeons Knot, Blood Knot, Improved Blood Knot, Homer Rhodes Improved Figure Eight Loop Knot, Perfection Loop, Steve Huff Double Figure 8 Knot or any other knot you prefer and of course having the sensitivities to tie and trust all your knots is very important to your success. Once again, trusting your Guides direction in your leader set-up is strongly advised. Please remember, guides tie leader knots daily and certainly are experts in doing so with a trust factor well earned.
