Planning A Successful Tarpon Fly Fishing Trip In The Florida Keys
Nothing will help ensure you have a great tarpon fly fishing trip like a little careful planning. You have laid awake at night dreaming about seeing a tarpon rocket into the air on the flats of the Florida Keys. Finally you got up the nerve and save your hard earned money to go fly fish for tarpon in the keys. You wonder to yourself, will I be ready when it’s time to step up on the bow of the skiff? That all depends if you put your time in ahead of your trip. Especially for those new to saltwater fly fishing, it can seem a little daunting to say the least. I am going to tell you how to prepare, so when it’s crunch time you will knock it out of the park.
Fly Casting For Tarpon On The Flats
The most critical aspect of tarpon fly fishing is presenting the fly. This is the number one factor to success on the Florida Keys flats. The Keys are the Carnegie Hall of fly fishing. How do you get to Carnegie Hall you ask? Practice. Weeks, if not months before your trip you need to start a practice regimen. Get a Hula hoop or something similar and practice putting the fly in there at distances of forty to sixty feet. The Florida Keys are notoriously windy in the spring, so you need to practice when it’s windy. A quick efficient cast catches more tarpon. Here is a great fly casting video from Flip Pallot.
The next thing you need to practice is casting backhand. There isn’t always time to spin the boat for the perfect shot, so being able to present the fly backhanded is a must. Practice doing this into the wind, and with the wind at your back. If you aren’t familiar with a backhand cast, here is a great video from Gink and Gasoline.
Florida Keys Tarpon Fly Fishing Tackle Tips
A good saltwater fly rod in a 10,11 or 12 weight is a must. You can always use my equipment, but it’s nice to be able to fish the rod you practice with. Stick with 4 piece rods in the fast to moderately fast range. This will be key in windy conditions on the flats. Get as comfortable as you can with your tarpon rod before your trip. I suggest carrying your rod on board the plane to avoid it being misplaced during travel.
A fly reel for tarpon in the Florida Keys must have two things. A smooth strong drag, and plenty of backing capacity. A minimum of 300 yards of 30 lb. backing is suggested. It also needs to be a saltwater specific reel. The flats environment will trash almost any freshwater fly reel.
One of the most overlooked items is your fly line. It is your best friend on the flats. A tropical weight forward fly line in the appropriate weight is a must. I prefer Scientific Anglers, but Orvis, Airflo, and Rio all make good lines. Get a new line and fly line dressing. After each day of fishing clean your line that night. That way it is slick and ready to make the cast the following day. If you need advice on choosing tackle for your tarpon fly fishing in the Keys, you can contact me here.
Travel Tips For Tarpon Season In The Keys
Book your lodging early. Spring is a popular time in the Florida Keys. Hotels can fill up, especially in April and May. I am happy to recommend places to stay. Try to avoid the party spots such as Duval Street in Key West. It’s hard to get a good nights sleep with people partying outside your window at 3 am. Getting a good nights sleep is important before long days on the flats. If you drink, don’t overdo it at night. Save that for the celebration of a great tarpon fly fishing trip to the Florida Keys.