It’s hard to describe the feelings as a tarpon slides behind your fly, staring it down with their giant eyes, before slurping it down. This very moment is what has brought countless anglers to the pursuit of saltwater fly fishing. To experience this yourself, choosing the right fly patterns is important. You may think these giant fish will just slurp any fly you throw at them, but that is not the case. Tarpon can be incredibly picky, often only eating the smallest, most natural offerings (after all, elephants eat peanuts). Over the years, countless patterns have been created, some better than others, and some that have withstood the test of time. These are the top five tarpon flies every angler should have.
1. Tarpon Toad
Tarpon Toad
The Tarpon Toad was originally created by Gary Merriman and borrows features from Harry Spear’s Tasty Toad bonefish fly. The fly, in its current version, features a marabou tail, a flat EP body with wings off to the side, and a pair of plastic bead chain eyes. Since its conception, this has been a staple in anglers’ and guides’ boxes with new variations still being tied today.
The reason this fly is so effective is due to its action in the water. The toad suspends in the water, allowing anglers to slowly strip it with a constant action. This accurately imitates a baitfish swimming by and is the ticket to drawing strikes from tarpon. This fly is particularly effective when fish are laid-up, where a delicate presentation is essential.
2. Palolo Worm
Palolo Worm
The palolo worm has been an effective fly pattern since its first iteration in the 1960s. Originally, these flies were tied and fished strictly during the worm, an annual event in which worms hatch by the thousands. Over the years, the worm fly has continued to evolve, with the most common version being the foam worm today.
These foam worm flies float below the surface, and when worked with a two-handed retrieve, imitate the steady swim and wiggle of a real worm. Today, guides and anglers fish these flies throughout the season for oceanside fish. Even when there is no worm hatch happening, something about the palolo worm is irresistible for migratory tarpon.
3. Cockroach
Cockroach
The Cockroach is one of the most iconic tarpon flies of all time, and a fly that still works today. It was invented by Norman Duncan and proved to be the difference maker when targeting lockjawed fish in Loggerhead Basin. Since then, the Cockroach quickly became a staple in all anglers’ boxes and is still fished today around the world.
It’s constructed with grizzly hackles and a squirrel hair collar, pushes water, and creates a lifelike movement. While it doesn’t exactly imitate anything, it does an excellent job of covering a wide range of food sources. From baitfish to shrimp, it can be tied in a variety of sizes and color combinations that will consistently fool tarpon.
4. Blurple
Blurple
Blurple isn’t specific to any one fly pattern but rather a color combination (black and purple) that tarpon can’t resist. It’s particularly effective in backcountry water or first light with low visibility. The dark silhouette stands out to tarpon and can draw them in even when conditions are less than ideal.
It’s worth having a few blurple flies in any tarpon fly box. Tie some toads, EP baitfish, and even a cockroach or two with this color combination. This will give you a variety of swimming motions to choose from depending on the conditions.
5. Tarpon Shrimp
Tarpon Shrimp
It’s no secret that tarpon love eating shrimp. Just take a look at the Miami shrimp hatch when tarpon are busting shrimp on the surface all night long. With that in mind, it serves every tarpon angler to have a few shrimp flies in their arsenal. The Millhouse tarpon shrimp is one of our favorite patterns. The combination of a marabou tail, deer hair collar, and dubbing head gives it an incredible amount of movement.
Fish this fly either on the oceanside or in the backcountry. You’ll want to fish it with a slow single-hand retrieve. Shrimp naturally swim at a steady rate and only “jump” through the water when they are fleeing from something. You want the tarpon to think they stumbled across a lazy shrimp floating on by.
Choose the Fly For Your Fishery
Like any type of fly, certain patterns work in certain fisheries. Our top five tarpon flies are staple patterns that work pretty much anywhere. That said, there are a lot of flies we didn’t cover that may work in the water you are fishing. Match local forage fish and dial in the flies specific to your fishery for the best success.
