Tarpon 101 // The Basics on How to Fly Fish for Tarpon

Complete Blog Article: redsflyfishing.com/blogs/yaki...
This blog and video is a great basic outline on fly fishing for Tarpon. Be sure to visit the website to get more elaboration and details on fly fishing for Tarpon. We cover flies, casting, fighting the Tarpon, and most of the important background.
Flies for Tarpon: redsflyfishing.com/collection...
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0:00 - Tarpon Fishing Action
3:09 - How to Catch Tarpon
5:14 - Tackle for Tarpon
10:55 - Strategis for Casting and Presenting the Fly
16:01 - Skip Cast
17:32 - Reading the Fish
18:54 - Stripping Style and Speed
20:22 - Strip SET!

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Nice , I’ve fished for Tarpon for several years now a find everything your saying absolutely true . Even doing all of this perfectly one jump is all it takes for them to say goodbye. For me it’s the strike and set , everything after that is fun to . Thanks for the video

[@arthurcayer6630]

You are a very natural and effective teacher. Very good stuff. Thank you.

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks Arthur, very kind of you.

[@manifestgtr]

NRX+ are my go-to fly rods. They aren’t cheap but they don’t wear you down and they have enough power to do what you ask em to with minimal fuss.

[@doughirsch9930]

Good video, those baby tarpon love gurglers and poppers too!

[@redsflyshop]

Oh yes, they will eat right on top. It's so awesome, thank you for the kind words and supporting the channel.

[@tommymarelius]

I love these saltwater videos.

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks Tommy, so appreciated.

[@rpickering4272]

Great advice re setting that hook into concrete!

[@redsflyshop]

You bet! Just got back from a Tarpon trip. Always learning. Landed a jumbo model.

[@craigfuqua4519]

You’re a great teacher. Thanks for the tips

[@redsflyshop]

Oh you are so welcome, I really appreciate that. I'm trying to get better at explaining some things.

[@Dillon7777]

Thank you for your great tips!!! I wish I watched this video before I went to Cancun in past June . Lost too many fish because of wrong way to set hook.

[@stevenh.riddle1601]

Very informative video🎣

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks 👍

[@millerbrosmediaoffgridflyf7767]

Hey Joe what's your GO TO boat shoes right now?? Thanks for sharing guys great video!

[@Superdada]

Great video. Thank you for putting this together. I wish I had seen this before my last Cancun trip. My guide didn’t communicate too much and we spent half a day casting to nothing. We should have just been patient.

[@redsflyshop]

Well thanks for the kind support, sorry I didn't get this done sooner. Join a hosted trip with Red's some time and we'll pre-game with you and make sure you have the very best adventure!

[@Superdada]

@@redsflyshop would love to. Thanks so much! Coincidentally I’m in Cancun right now. Giving it another shot for baby Tarpon on Thursday.

[@ericlaszlo6268]

Fantastic Tarpon 101 video. Beautifully narrated, with clear concise info. After being a guide in Montana for many years, I really appreciate your focus on the basics. I tip my hat to you sir!! I’m heading out for my first reel (misspelling intended) tarpon trip to Puerto Rico later this month. Growing up in New England, I’m no stranger to saltwater fly fishing. Blue Fish, Stripers, along with Bonefish, Jacks, and Cuda (in the tropics). ONE QUESTION I HAVE: Whether it’s baby resident tarpon or the big migratory fish; do you want them on the reel fast, or keep available line free for their inevitable jumping and acrobatics? Much thanks, and ‘tight lines’ ! Eric

[@jefferywheaton40]

Great vid! Watching this now on the last day of my first tarpon trip, in Campeche. Pulls together the things I’ve been learning here all week, wish I’d watched before though

[@redsflyshop]

Oh thanks, I’m headed to Campeche in April!

[@gregg5303]

Joe, Great vid! With your short-stout leader, if you need to break-off, how? Thanks!

[@ezzye5]

I love my earthpak. I need to mod it like you have

[@redsflyshop]

Ha yes, my sons did that. Put some Velcro on it.

[@gregmills6142]

Joe great video. Simms no longer makes a good boat shoe what are you using?

[@redsflyshop]

I'm wearing a Columbia PFG shoe of some sort, it's "ok". A lot of guys are wearing this. It's good in/out of the water. redsflyfishing.com/collections/simms-wading-boots/products/simms-ms-challenger-air-vent-shoe

[@rainmaker3700]

I fish the mangroves on the Indian River in Florida, Tarpon and Snook.

[@redsflyshop]

Nice, that sounds like a ton of fun.

[@rainmaker3700]

@@redsflyshop I am in Tahoe, but have a home in Florida, you bring the gear, I will provide the boat! ;)

[@TheRonthehandyman]

Could use a Little more instruction on the skip cast when you get back to the shop. Looks like high tide in the Tarpon video. Wondering how much tide matters. For example , fish on incoming?, outgoing? High?…..and finally, you have SO much fun.

[@redsflyshop]

I can't and shouldn't speak to tides, as I'm on guided trips for Tarpon. Depending on the area, it could be laid up fish, or fish moving in/out of lagoons or mangroves. You are absolutely right that certain tides will yield more shots at fish "looser" from the mangroves. Usually the guides will it the drop or the rise of the lowest tide from what I've witnessed and had explained to me.

[@aidanobuck5779]

Can you use the same setup you use for tarpon for bass? I only want 1 setup cause I’m dirt poor right now. I don’t know if fly fishing is like spinner setups where you can use your saltwater setup for freshwater.

[@redsflyshop]

Absolutely. If you are looking for the most bang for your buck on baby Tarpon/Bass the Echo ION XL redsflyfishing.com/products/echo-ion-xl-fly-rod?variant=14986809442353 is a stick man. That'll do it. Get a RIO Predator WF8F line for it and a Redington Behemoth Reel. That will get 'em.

[@ksingleton101]

At what point do you let the rod do the work. After fishing for Trout and Bass for the last 30 years it would be really hard for me to use my arm to set the hook rather than the rod. Do you use the real to set the drag or use your hand?

[@justinbolsoy2302]

What do you mean by this? I primarily bass fish and soon to fly fish in the saltwater. And when I hook a fish I set that, with my arm I’m guessing. I need clarification because this seems interesting.

[@redsflyshop]

You'll be gripping the line very tight so this means that you'll be using your hand, not the reel to restrict line movement. The initial hook set will be with your line or stripping hand (for me that is my left), once connected you'll need to pull straight back with your rod arm without lifting the tip. Hopefully this makes sense.

[@sidewaysrain7609]

South Florida any pond larger than a half-acre south of Vero Beach, contains landlocked juvenile tarpon! 20-30 lbers not uncommon. Match your fly color to the tannins in the water. On hot days watch the water surface, tarpon will roll and break the surface of the water to fill their air bladders. Set your hook sideways so you use the butt of the rod not to tip. Large black wooly bugger hold onto your hat it's showtime!

[@baylonaj]

"Don't wait until you're too old to do this" ?

[@davescheer5038]

So I’ve got a question for ya , does fly line color spook Tarpon , ? 🤔

[@SultanofSpey]

Like all things...it depends. Depends on the location. Depends on the guide. Depends on angler abiliites to see at a distance. But generally, a ghost tip or clear line is never going to hurt.

[@davescheer5038]

Sure wish you would have had some kind of muff on the mike the wind made it difficult to hear ! Was your microphone under your head wrap ? This video was very informative , using a 50# leader , doesn’t that hurt the action of the smaller fly ? Even if you have a loop knot ? I’ve seen vids were guys use 20# tippets on smaller fish and it gives a more natural presentation, and more hits 🤔

[@anthonymorabito9655]

Location? Asking for a friend..

[@mattpardy2826]

What's the music in the intro??

[@redsflyshop]

Thanks for watching, it's some free music beat the GoPro App let's you use. Hope it's not too annoying haha.

[@mattpardy2826]

@@redsflyshop I actually really like it. I watch most of the videos except the euro nymphing stuff and boat reviews, but sometimes I come back to the "101" videos just for the music!

[@jamesandolina9546]

Get a 12wt rod and reel 12wt nothing can happen win you fishing