1. Practice casting accuracy before coming to fish. Start by holding fly then hitting a target 60ft away within 10 seconds making as few false casts as possible (ideally one or two). Tarpon will not move very far to take a fly. Your fly must land in front or just to the front side of a fish and swim away from it, not toward it.

 

2. Strip fly with a steady, medium retrieve. Slightly increase speed  when tarpon starts tracking fly.

 

3. Grip rod and line firmly so a strong strip strike can be made to drive the hook into their very hard mouth, and make sure your hook points are sharp by running fly over your thumb nail. If it does not dig in, then sharpen it.

 

4. You must be prepared to strip strike every second the fly is in the water.

 

5. Be prepared to strip strike when you feel the line tighten up by giving 1 or 2 longer, faster strips. DO NOT SWEEP ROD, KEEP IT POINTED AT FISH!

 

6. When a tarpon boils on your fly keep stripping until you feel him, then strip strike.

 

7. Retrieve fly all the way back to the boat as tarpon will often strike within a few feet of the boat. You may have to dance the fly away from the fish by sweeping the rod to induce a strike but the odds of a good hook-up diminish as you sweep the rod.

 

8. When fishing to rolling tarpon in brackish, off color water or under very low light conditions where you cannot see the fish watch the bubbles that come up a few seconds after the fish rolls and cast to them.

 

9. When hooked a tarpon will jump several times. Bow to the fish every time to prevent breaking your leader or rod.

 

10. Most importantly, listen to your guide and follow his instructions.

 

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