Tarpon Toad questions

[stevekale]

Hi

Here are a couple of pics of my first tarpon toad. I'm unsure about proportions, how tightly to cut the McFylon and how to shape it (square or rounded front etc). Any help appreciated.

Steve

Tail: chartreuse ostrich herl
Collar: grizzly hen saddle dyed yellow
Head: fl. green McFlylon
Eyes: stainless steel bead chain eyes
Thread: UTC 170 fl chartreuse

[tanjipete]

hi steve, member 2604. (alan) has just tied up for me some really excellent toads ,the best ive seen ,maybe if you contact him here he may be able to help he is a real gentleman im sure he would help cheers pete

[2604]

Hi Steve,

Nice fly. I normally cut the fibres on an angle from front to back. Narrow at the front, wide at the back. I use the edge of the eyes as a starting point for cutting then trim on an angle.

I think it is down to preference. Some people trim them like a merkin crab fly, rounded at the edges.

I think if the fibres are left longer you could see how they perform then trim them whilst fishing if needed.

Cheers,

Alan

[stevekale]

Thanks Alan. Any other tips or tricks? Favourite colours? I will be fishing in what's not the clearest of water in Vero Beach, Florida. I guess I need to also do some in darker colours... (black and purple etc).

Have you ever used EP fibres for the head?

[2604]

Hi Steve,

I would say Purple and Black, Orange and Black, Red and Black, Pink and White and Brown and Tan.

I use the puglisi myself. I think they are the best and you also get some good colours especially the 3d. WCB who is a member on the forum sells a similar material to Puglisi but at half the price. I have not used it myself but i will be purchasing some soon to try.

I would also tye some up using nylon eyes so they will fish a little higher in the water.

I use Marabou for the tail as I think it has more movement. Thats just my opinion. I have not tried the ostrich yet, but apparently it works just as good.

Cheers,

Alan

[stevekale]

Cheers. I have EP fibres coming out my ears as I tie a lot of his baitfish and floating flies so it's good to hear it works well.

To be honest, I didn't think the weight of the bead chain would amount to much but I'll give the nylon eyes a go as well. I assume you mean eyes from simply melting the ends of a strip of nylon to a bubble.

[langland_fisher]

I tied some Tarpon Toads using sculpin wool for the body - trimmed to the shape of a merkin fly with ostrich herl tails. I got matching sculpin wool and marabou from Lakeland. I used lead dumbbell eyes. Yellow and Green, purple and black worked for me in Little Caymen in terms of getting strikes from tarpon, successfully hooking up and getting them to the boat was another matter.
It was definitely a good pattern though. I was fishing in murky water - I've read that there is a distinction between fishing in murky and clear water in terms of fly pattern. In clear water I think the flies with the long coloured, epoxy covered noses and hair or hackle tails are used.
Hope that the above is of interest.
Cheers

[2604]

Hi steve,

You can buy the nylon eyes in various sizes depending on the size of hook you are using. They are cheap enough about £2 for 24. If you pm me your address i can send you some.

Cheers,

Alan

[stevekale]

Alan, PM sent.

Langland_Fisher - thanks for that. It is helpful. Re fighting them, the need to "bow to the King" is definitely the best advice I can give as well as fight them "down 'n dirty" (rod hard over to your side opposite the path of the fish).

BTW I decided these look a lot better on a short shank hook and have switched to the Gamakatsu SC15 (size 1/0). (Don't tell my wife whom I made pick up some SP11-3L3H hooks in Florida over the weekend....)