Fly Fishing for Tiny Tarpon texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout Late spring and the King is on the prowl. Tarpon, a.k.a. Silver Kings, have begun popping up on flats and in bays and passes across the Gulf. A good number of saltwater fly rodders have yet to cast a fly in the direction of a tarpon. Many will not even entertain the thought, simply dismissing the notion due to a lack of experience and/or tackle. This is a real shame because, despite their majestic appearance and well-earned reputation for defeating fly fishers, it really is not as difficult to get in the game as most anglers think. Since tackle is the most often cited reason for not attempting tarpon, we will address that issue first. To begin with tarpon, like all fish, come in a variety of sizes. Simply going tarpon fishing does not necessarily mean close encounters with man-sized beasts. True, there are many a six-foot tarpon roaming the salty Gulf waters. But, for every triple-digit fish, there is a plethora of two-footers that eagerly grab flies tossed into canals, back lakes or along jetties. Best of all, the majority of the puny `poons can be handled on a standard redfish stick. Considering the majority of flats stalkers own an eight or nine weight rod, the largest piece of tackle is already taken care of. Pairing this rod with an intermediate line results in an excellent small tarpon outfit. If you don't have an intermediate line, a floating will get the job done. However, investing in an intermediate will pay dividends in the bay as well. To finish out the terminal rig all that is needed is a handful of nine-foot leaders. Class tippets should be either 16 or 20 pounds. It is necessary to use a length of shock tippet for even the smallest of tarpon, however this need not be the 100 pound cord that is used on the goliaths. Most two to four foot fish can be handled on 40 or 50 pound shock. If you are surrounded by even smaller fish, 30 or 35 pound test will be sufficient. Although the shock is necessary, don't overdo it. Unless you are in an area where big fish are known to roam, go with the lighter shock. It is much easier to work with and can usually be straightened by hand, if it needs straightening at all. Gathering up the necessary flies isn't much of a chore either. Odds are you already have everything you need. Most juvenile fish will eat a variety of shrimp, baitfish and simulator patterns. Sea-Ducers tied on size 2, 1, 1/0 or 2/0 hooks are perfect for this occasion. Deceivers and Clousers, in the same sizes, will also attract plenty of attention. If you feel the need for “true” tarpon flies, it is hard to go wrong with any of the “bunny” patterns. For the traditional look, pick up a few cockroach patterns. Again, keep the hook size modest. Even the largest of tarpon can be taken on 2/0 or 3/0 hooks. For the smaller fish stick to the 2, 1 and 1/0 models if possible. The smaller the hook, the easier it is to penetrate with a light rod. Regardless of size, tarpon hooks must be extremely sharp. Even tiny tarpon have rock hard mouths. Make sure sharpen hooks prior to your session and keep a hook hone handy for on-the-water touch-ups. One last note on hooks, go with tinned as opposed to stainless if at all possible. Stainless hooks tend to “open up” under pressure. Tinned hooks are not pliable and will retain their shape. This isn't as much of an issue with fish under two-feet. However, any tarpon three foot or longer is more than capable of stretching the gap on a stainless hook. As you can see, practically everything that is needed to gain introduction to the world of fly rodding for tarpon is probably already in your tackle room. And, those few items that you don't already have handy among your redfish tackle really don't cost that much. Once the tackle is gathered, it is time to hit the water. Unfortunately, we don't have space to discuss all the nuances of fighting a tarpon in a single column. That will be covered more in depth in next month's issue. However, that is another great thing about starting with small tarpon - you can make some mistakes and still land the fish. Just remember to “bow to the king.” That is, allow for slack in the line when a tarpon goes airborne. This prevents the fish from landing on a taut line and breaking the tippet or, even worse, the rod. Short of breaking your rod, there isn't much a tiny tarpon can due to inflict pain and suffering on an angler. But, believe me, there is plenty that two-foot of whirring silver scales can do to get you exciting when tethered to the end of your eight weight. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout