Tarpon Toad
The toad is one of my favorite flies to tie, and pretty easy to do. The fly was originally
designed for tarpon, but have found it as a great fly as well for redfish and large
mouth bass. All the materials you need to tie these up are:
- Marabou
- Rabbit fur
- McFlylon or Puglisi fibers for the body
- Gamakatsu SC17 hooks in whatever size you might want
- 30 lb Mason's Hard Mono for a weed guard (if needed, not pictured below)
designed for tarpon, but have found it as a great fly as well for redfish and large
mouth bass. All the materials you need to tie these up are:
- Marabou
- Rabbit fur
- McFlylon or Puglisi fibers for the body
- Gamakatsu SC17 hooks in whatever size you might want
- 30 lb Mason's Hard Mono for a weed guard (if needed, not pictured below)
The first step is tying on some marabou for the tail. Some people prefer to use a mono
loop to keep the feathers from fouling, but I find that if I wrap the thread around the
feathers at their stem, it seems to do good job at stopping that from happening. I try to
reduce mono loops and weed guards and only typically have them if I feel it is
necessary.
loop to keep the feathers from fouling, but I find that if I wrap the thread around the
feathers at their stem, it seems to do good job at stopping that from happening. I try to
reduce mono loops and weed guards and only typically have them if I feel it is
necessary.
The second step would be to cut the fur off of the rabbit strip and tie on in 3 places
(the left side, the right and the top). I prefer this over the wrapped cross-cut rabbit
fur, but that method is done commonly as well and am sure works too. I just prefer
the profile when tied on in three sections.
(the left side, the right and the top). I prefer this over the wrapped cross-cut rabbit
fur, but that method is done commonly as well and am sure works too. I just prefer
the profile when tied on in three sections.
Next, is tying in the body of the fly. I like to take 2 pieces of McFlylon and tie them in
together. By completing multiple wraps around the material in figure 8 fashion, the
piece is secured. Once the piece is secured, I complete a few wraps at the front of
the material and prepare to tie in the next piece. I continue to add these pieces until
the hook shank is almost full.
together. By completing multiple wraps around the material in figure 8 fashion, the
piece is secured. Once the piece is secured, I complete a few wraps at the front of
the material and prepare to tie in the next piece. I continue to add these pieces until
the hook shank is almost full.
Lastly, add the eyes. The eyes are the piece of this fly where you, as the tier, have room to
customize the sink rate of the fly. You can use mono eyes, burnt mono eyes, bead chain eyes
and dumbbell eyes. In the example below, I used the bead chain eyes for an upcoming redfish
trip. Typically, for tarpon you would use mono eyes, but there are times when bead chain can
be good as well. Once the eyes have been added, it is time to trim the body. I have noticed a
couple of styles used for this. The easiest would be a trapezoid type shape where the sides
angle out towards the back of the fly, this is effective and have seen it on the Chasing Silver
series. The other is a Merkin Crab type body as pictured below. It takes a little practice,
especially with straight scissors, but after doing it a few times it becomes second nature. If
you have need any clarification or extra tips on how to tie this pattern, always feel free to drop
us a line at skylandsangler@yahoo.com
customize the sink rate of the fly. You can use mono eyes, burnt mono eyes, bead chain eyes
and dumbbell eyes. In the example below, I used the bead chain eyes for an upcoming redfish
trip. Typically, for tarpon you would use mono eyes, but there are times when bead chain can
be good as well. Once the eyes have been added, it is time to trim the body. I have noticed a
couple of styles used for this. The easiest would be a trapezoid type shape where the sides
angle out towards the back of the fly, this is effective and have seen it on the Chasing Silver
series. The other is a Merkin Crab type body as pictured below. It takes a little practice,
especially with straight scissors, but after doing it a few times it becomes second nature. If
you have need any clarification or extra tips on how to tie this pattern, always feel free to drop
us a line at skylandsangler@yahoo.com