Tarpon Fly Patterns

Tarpon flies are somewhat of an ironic situation in that never have so few patterns caught so many fish. For years tarpon patterns followed a cookie-cutter like approach in that most of them looked alike. The Keys style Tarpon fly, as it became known, was very recognizable with its long nose, wrapped collar and splayed hackles.

Times have changed and we now see an array of profiles and new materials used in designing tarpon flies. Rabbit fur, yarn and synthetic fish hair are now often the recipe ingredients along with smaller hook sizes of 1/0 and 2/0.

Color schemes have also branched out with purple, chartreuse and orange making their way to the forefront. Pictured here id the famous pattern Black Death created by Stu Apt quite some time ago. It is a perfect example of a traditional Keys Style tarpon fly.

Black Death Pattern Recipe:
Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tail- Four black and two red hackles tied in with black marabou tied Keys Style right over hook point, Head/Body- Black thread built up to taper forward coated with epoxy, Eyes- Painted yellow with black pupils. Pattern Designer: Stu Apt

Big Eye Tarpon (Brown/Grizzly Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Brown 3/0, Tail- Three grizzly hackles per side tied splayed with brown calf tail, Collar- Brown dyed badger hackle wrapped in thick collar, Head- Brown thread built up and coated with epoxy, Eyes- Painted yellow with large black pupils. Pattern Designer: Bob Lemay

Cockroach (Original Black Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tail- Three grizzly hackles per side tied splayed with sparse bronze Flashabou, Collar- Natural brown bucktail wrapped in full collar, Head- Black thread built up tapered to hook eye and coated with epoxy, Eyes- Painted white with black pupils.

Orange Butt Tarpon Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC800S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tail- Tan craft fur barred with brown Pantone pen, Topping- Orange Krystal Flash, Body- Hot orange chenille, Collar- Natural Gray Squirrel tail wrapped in full collar, Head- Black thread coated with epoxy. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Poon Food (Orange/Yellow Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- Owner AKI, Thread- Orange 3/0, Tail- Orange and yellow bucktail with space orange Krystal Flash tied cocked up at about 20 degree angle for anti-fouling, Eyes- Black plastic pearls, Body- Hot orange chenille aft body and red chenille forward. Pattern Designer: Steve Huff

Sparky Tarpon Fly Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC800S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tail- Tan craft fur barred with brown Pantone pen, Hackle- Furnace palmered through entire body, Body- Pearl or orange crystal chenille, Collar- Chartreuse grizzly wound in sparse collar, Head- Olive Antron dubbing brushed out with wire brush. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski

Tarpon Glow (Bad Crab Color Scheme) Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC800S, Thread- Burnt Orange 3/0, Butt- Orange chenille, Tail- Orange and furnace hackles over red fox squirrel tail enclosed with Ringneck pheasant breast feathers, Collar- One each Orange and Furnace hackle wrapped in thick collar, Body/Head- Orange 3/0 thread built up and coated with epoxy, Eyes- Painted yellow with large black pupils. Pattern Designer: Jonathon Olch

Tarpon Worm Pattern Recipe: Hook- TMC811S, Thread- Black 3/0, Tail- Chartreuse over Tan craft fur, Hackle- Chartreuse grizzly wound in sparse collar, Head- Olive Antron dubbing brushed out with wire brush. Pattern Designer: Tim Borski