In this week’s “How to Tie” feature, Ryan with Trident Fly Fishing ties a tarpon fly that should be every anglers best friend while the worm hatch is on, the Palolo Worm.
Learn How to Tie This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
In honor of Tarpon Week, our first pattern focuses on a timely event during the tarpon season, the infamous worm hatch. This “hatch” is created by Atlantic palolo worms spawning, pooling together and creating a floating buffet for predators. Timing can be difficult if you are not a local or can pack a bag and quickly escape reality, but any attempt is well worth it. The Palolo Worm is a fly that will make your year if tied and fished in time for late spring and early summer, and one that every tarpon angler should have in their fly box.
For novice tyers, if you can tie a Woolly Bugger you can tie this pattern with ease. With the main components being chenille, saddle hackle and rabbit strip, you’ll be able to tie up batches with ease and cost efficiently. Adjusting sizes to cover all your bases to make the most of the hatch is important due to the limited time to take advantage per year. Enjoy the process for tying the Palolo Worm, and be sure to keep close by when conditions and moon phases line up this time of year.
Ingredients:
- Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 – 1/0
- Thread: Veevus – Yellow 6/0
- Weed Guard: 20lb Mono
- Tail: Rabbit Strip – Coral
- Collar: Strung Saddle Hackle – Golden Olive
- Body: Micro Chenille – Golden Olive
Now you know how to tie the Palolo Worm!
Video courtesy of Trident Fly Fishing.
Last Updated on July 2, 2026 by Max Inchausti
