UNPARALLELED PERFORMANCE
Staking out is an effective method, to encounter these large schools in
ARTISTRY
however, if you have the patience shallow water is generally limited to
required; I usually don’t. The guide the months of April, May and June in
CRAFTSMANSHIP
and the angler have a better chance of the Florida Keys.
TRADITION
controlling at least some of the variables If I had to choose, though, hunting
that occur in this sport. Your guide’s laid-up fish in the turtle-grass-covered,
knowledge of a particular area allows shallow-water banks and basins is my
him to position the boat along a favorite method. They are often
known travel route for tarpon, making difficult to see and hard to feed. But
spotting fish easier even in conditions when you drop a fly in front of a lone
poor for sight fishing. Additionally, tarpon and get to watch as it first
taking advantage of wind direction hears and sees the fly, then decides to
and reducing the constant movement eat it—nothing in fly fishing is more
exciting. Casting accuracy and presentation
BLEACHED BLONDE
are frequently more demanding as is
the guide’s job of spotting fish and
TIED BY DAVE STANLEY
H
positioning the angler quietly to make
OOK: TMC 666SP
THREAD: Hot-orange
the first cast a good one.
TAIL: Two strands of pearl Krystal Flash and
ginger-dyed grizzly saddle hackles
WHICH THREE TARPON
BODY: Five to seven turns of orange chenille
tied into a ball at the bend of the hook
FLIES WOULD YOU
C
NEVER BE WITHOUT,
OLLAR: Ginger rabbit
REGARDLESS OF
CONDITIONS, AND DO
YOU FISH THEM
DIFFERENTLY?
of
the
Fishability is a rod’s first virtue.
boat can
To meet the diversity of today’s fishing
Borski:
improve
Three tarpon flies
needs, we at Thomas & Thomas provide
any angler’s
my box is never without?
a variety of rod actions to handle the
ability to make
First, a size 2/0 Orange-Butt
lightest of tippets as well as the most
an accurate cast.
Tarpon, which is a nice solid pattern
stout.Whichever action you choose, you
Whether going after migrating fish
for a variety of conditions front and can count on T&T to deliver finesse in
or laid-up fish, sight fishing for tarpon
back. I’ve had an awful lot of these
is the name of the game. Weather,
casting and line control.To insure the
chewed on during the last several
tides and other factors will often
highest quality possible, we manufacture
years. Then the Green Zima—a real
determine where or if you find good
our own blanks and reel seats.
“go-to” fly in bright water on bright
sight-fishing conditions. Large,
Designed to meet specific angling
days—which is rapidly becoming one
migrating schools of tarpon can get
of my favorites. And a Blue and Gray
needs,Thomas & Thomas rods
any angler’s heart thumping. Dozens
designed by Joe Kononchik. When
reflect the ultimate in
or hundreds—even thousands—of
the water is cloudy, combined with
performance and aesthetic detail.
tarpon streaming by you in casting
good current, this is the fly. Low light
range is a thrill that is hard to
in the late afternoons is when this fly
describe. Some days you can pound on
really excels. I will not be without a
these schools for hours and not get a
few. (Thanks for a great pattern, Joe!)
Visit your nearest T&T retailer or write
strike. And then out of nowhere a tarpon
If I’m allowed to sneak in just one
for a copy of our full-color catalogue
will eat your fly. On those rare days
more, it would be a size 2/0 or 3/0 Thomas & Thomas
when these fish seem to be willing to
Large Dark Dredger for bridge work,
627 Barton Road
eat anything, it is possible to jump big
muds, channels and the outback. I
Greenfield, MA 01301
numbers of tarpon. The opportunity
(413) 774-5436
will not be caught without a couple of
Fax: (413) 774-5437
www.thomasandthomas.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98