Thoughts on Fly Fishing and Flycasting / Tarpon

Gordy & Group,

Being a long-time lover of the books and literature associated with angling, I have had occasion to read books which I also considered to be written for, to quote Gordy, as "name-dropping" ego trips, others obviously with profit as the only impetus and some that just never even should have been attempted. But adversely there are also many books that are a sheer pleasure to read and actually become part and parcel of the entire learning experience we all look back on with such reverence. Old Ed Hewitt, the famed dean of the Neversink here in the Catskills once stated:

"There is a normal progression to fly fishing. First we just want to be out there taking in the scenery, flora and fauna and enjoying the solitude. Then when we acquire a little acumen, we want to catch lots of fish. When we get a little better at this, then we want to catch the big fish. And when we get really good, then we want to catch the difficult fish no one else can catch. Once that point has been reached, then we just want to be out there taking in the scenery, flora and fauna and enjoying the solitude.

I recently walked in to a pool that is rather difficult to reach and found myself totally alone. Flies were hatching and fish were rising all over the pool. It was a such a beautiful sight, that in spite of the fact that I had the right fly already tyed on, I just sat down on a rock and watched in awe the wonders of nature. I left just as content as I would have been had I caught the rising fish, because many times I've already caught the rising fish

I honestly think you (Gordy), just by compiling what we have discussed these past few years, could write a book which would truly be tantamount to a Bible for those interested in learning the mechanics of good casting. It would surely head the list of suggested study material for those aspiring to be instructors. It has been stated several times by several authors of our literature, that anybody who has fished for more than 50 years, owes it to the angling fraternity to put something in print.

Bob Rumpf

www.flyepenbooks.com

Instructions - www.catskillfies.com

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From David Lambert on Tarpon leaders / lines:-

Gordy, three friendsoleaving for a month (off and on) in Big Pine. They

were wondering about tarpon lines. I told them you were the man and I'd

ask. They are taking 10 wts and 12 wts. What do you prefer for

June-July season -- floaters, intermediates, heads? These guys are all

very experienced fishermen and fine casters. Also, I know you've

recently offered your take on tarpon leaders. would you mind a recap

onthem?

Thanks,

David Lambert

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David,

Here is a brief recap on lines and leaders for tarpon :

LINES : I like to have ready and rigged at least three outfits. My own preference is to use # 10 wt. and (max.) #11 wt. lines for Keys tarpon.... even for those well in excess of 100 lbs.

Fishing true giants (150 lbs.) and above, say at Homosassa, I'd use # 12 wt. outfits. Billie Pate invited me to go to West Africa with his group a few years ago. They reported fish of well ove 200 lbs., there. Huge fish in brawling deep river mouths. That would make me consider short #15 wt. rods such as we use for blue marlin ..... but I didn't actually make the trip, so am not qualified to give advice on that particular fishery.

My three usual choices:

1.) # 10 full floating Tarpon Taper. I like the Scientific Anglers Mastery line best ...... may change to the Sharkskin after playing with it longer.) I use this one for very shallow flats fishing and worm hatches.

2.) # 10 floating Tarpon Taper with a clear intermediate sink tip. I use this one when I need to sink the fly a bit, yet wish to perserve relative ease of a quick pickup & second presentation after a refusal.

3.) # 10 Full intermediate sink line. I like the Scientific Anglers Mastery lines and the Airflo lines as well. I use this outfit when fishing deeper ..... say about 3' - 6' or deeper. I, also, use this regularly when the tarpon are in weedy waters. This allows me to make a cast, let the fly line sink just below the floating sargassum weed ..... then make my retrieve.

I use this one or the sink tip line when fishing tarpon with poppers. NOT the floating line, which tends to make the popper jump out of the water ....... spooks the poons.

I make a 1/2" loop at each end of the fly line for loop-to-loop connections with leader butt section and backing.

(I use Spectra gel-spun 50 lb. backing)

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LEADERS :

Length: 9' - 10' with a clear tip line on very windy days. (Need wind distance and the fish are not really spooky)

12' - 14' with any of these lines on clear days with not a lot of wind.

Design: 50% Butt section of 50 lb. test moderately supple nylon monofilament, 1/2" Duncan loop at either end.

No true, "tapered section". For long leaders, I'll add 24" or so of 40 lb. test nylon mono with a loop at its end.

To this I attach my class tippet/shock tippet assembly.

Shock tippet: 60 lb. test Fluorocarbon affixed to hook with a 4X snell or loop knot. This is usually a Homer Rhodes loop. I use either an improved blood knot between this and the class tippet, an improved Albright Special, or ( if I were to try to stay strictly within IGFA specs) an improved Huffnagle knot.

Class tippet: 18" to 30" of 20 lb. nylon monofilament. I always double it over at each end to make the connection to the shock tippet on one end, and to make a furled double strand loop at the other end for loop-to-loop connection.

Class tippet for IGFA spec. rigging: Here I'll go the whole route of tying Bimini twists at each end of the class tippet.... this gives me double lines out of the end of each knot for connections above and below. If using 15 lb test or below, I'll make a furl of the double line out of the proximal Bimini, then double it over again and furl the furl to make a tiny (1/4") "spring loaded" loop and finish it with a 2x surgeons knot. To meet these specs, you must have a minimum of 15 " of class tippet, and your shock tippet must not exceed 12" in length, including the knots.

The reason for the tiny spring loaded furled loop at the top of the class tippet is to prevent the once in a while jumping of one loop over the other with leader fracture as one loop catches on the knot of the other loop as the fish jumps.

COMMENTS:

Many come to fish for these fish with perfect tackle including expensive rods and reels. Unfortunately, they can't handle the casting in the real world of standing on the deck of a skiff pitching and rolling........and making, "lazer-loops" into a howling wind to make the delivery. They can't make the quick 60' backcast presentations so often needed for success. The, "quick cast" concept of a delivery with only one or two back casts hasn't been learned or practiced.

Gaining the casting skills is, I feel, far more important than buying the ideal tackle !!!

Learning how to handle the fish on the strike is of great importance. Most fishers new to tarpon fishing lose on the strike. The hardest thing for me to teach is to avoid a, "trout" or "salmon" strike. It almost always results in pulling the fly right out of the fish's mouth.

Best, to wait and let the fish come tight .... rod bent way down with lots of tension before executing a strip strike.

Gordy