Tarpon Toad Fly Tying Instructions

Big fish, including tarpon, require big flies. The problem with big flies is they can be difficult to cast with a fly rod. The strategy is to use materials that give the appearance of bulk without weight. Another consideration is the need for a fly that will stand up to a tarpon's vicious strike and fight. The Tarpon Toad has both characteristics: low weight-to-bulk ratio and necessary strength of construction. Gary Merriman is credited with developing this pattern.

  1. Tying the Tarpon Toad

    • Start with size 2/0 stainless steel hook and heavy, chartreuse saltwater fly tying thread. Make a short thread base that ends directly above the hook point. Tie in a three-inch length of chartreuse rabbit strip as a tail. Tie the rabbit strip in with the leather backing facing up. Tie in another short strip of yellow rabbit strip in front of the tail and make three turns to wrap a short body.

      Tie in a two-inch length of yellow polypropylene rope using figure-eight turns of thread. The poly sticks out at 90 degrees to the hook shank on each side of the fly. Repeat this step several more times until you have a series of five or six poly rope segments that make a thin, flat body. Trim the body segments so the front end is narrower than the back.

      Tie in a pair of monofilament eyes. Fluff out the poly rope body so it appears wide and covers the tie-in points. Whip finish. The fly is complete.

    Selecting materials

    • Stainless steel hooks are made by many manufacturers and are made in many sizes and gauges. Popular manufacturers include Gamakatsu, Owner and Mustad. In general, the larger the game fish, the larger and heavier the hook. Tarpon run up to 200 pounds so a heavy wire hook is required. It needs to be stainless steel to withstand salt water.

      Thread must also stand up to the tarpon's furious fight when hooked. Several thread material choices are available; 210 denier thread, monofilament thread and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene are all good choices because they have high strength-to-diameter ratios. Also, being man-made, they will not rot in salt water.

      Two kinds of rabbit fur strips are available. Each has its own use. The "zonker" type strip is cut in the same direction as the hair growth. The second type of rabbit strip is cut at 90 degrees to the hair growth direction. The "zonker" strip is used for tails and the "cross-cut" strips are used for wrapping bodies.