Last week we discussed the basics of fly fishing for tarpon; now we want to discuss the all-important details.
Once set up, the angler must be able to make a 40- to 50-foot cast to a location the size of a dinner plate. Placement of the fly cannot be overemphasized because tarpon will seldom vary a foot or two from their path to eat a fly.
Although there is always the rare exception, a fly must never travel in a path towards the intended target or stop when a tarpon gives chase. A tarpon’s prey species wouldn’t survive long if it moved towards its aggressor or stopped during pursuit and tarpon know it. Besides moving away from the fish, the fly must move at the proper pace and be at the proper depth. Conversely you can’t move the fly too fast, taking it out of a tarpon’s range. It’s a matter of learning to “read” the fish.
If all this wasn’t demanding enough, once a tarpon decides to eat the fly, the angler’s mettle is tested. Tarpon are not trout and attempting to raise the rod to set the hook is a cardinal mistake. Fortunately once a tarpon decides to eat the fly, there’s no need to make a lighting fast hook set. The right set is called a “strip strike” which involves letting the line come tight and immediately setting the hook with a combination of the line hand and the rod. The angler must at once work to set the hook in the cement-like jaw while being ready for the fish to bolt away from the boat.
After the initial hook set, attention must go immediately to clearing the line (getting the loose line off the deck). In most cases the angler has been stripping in line when the fish bites and the hook is set. That line can easily foul on the angler, the rod or the reel. The angler must take their attention from the fish to the line at their feet. By holding the rod away from your body and letting the excess line pass through the stripping hand through a circle made with the thumb and the forefinger, there is less chance of the line fouling. Once the line is “on the reel,” the hook should be set with several more strip strikes, using the rod.
If this wasn’t enough to remember, it’s critical to apply maximum pressure to the tarpon during the fight, yielding only on jumps when the angler thrusts the rod forward to relieve pressure on the line. This prevents the tarpon from breaking off if it lands on a taut line. This maneuver is known as “bowing to the king.”
It’s customary to start the engine and get as close to the tarpon as possible after the initial and subsequent long runs. This allows the angler to apply maximum pressure. If a tarpon is 100 yards from the boat, the stretch of the line makes it impossible to apply any real pressure.
If you’re looking for a good jump shot, here’s a great tip: When a tarpon makes any long run, motor to it, applying only enough pressure to make sure the hook doesn’t dislodge. As soon as you are in place, frame the shot you want and then have the angler apply maximum pressure. Most times the tarpon will make a jump that’s close enough to the boat to get the angler and the fish in the shot. It’s not a sure thing, but when it works it can present an awesome photographic opportunity.
Finally, don’t try and rush the tarpon when it gets near the end of the fight. Keep the pressure on but don’t clamp down and try to force the fish to the boat. Catching a tarpon on the fly is a challenging endeavor, one of angling’s ultimate tests, and well worth the effort when you finally get that first fish boatside for a photograph.
Related coverage:
The apex of angling: Part one
