Sometimes you’re looking for tarpon, and you might see one roll, or a free jumper, and everyone takes their battle stations, you loosen up a fly rod, your guide starts poling and you see big wakes and tails everywhere. Big, broad flat tails waving in the sunshine, and it’s then you remember fishing rule seventeen: sometimes you just have to fish for what’s there. Here’s Mike Smith with the result of the proper application of rule seventeen.
Ned, Mike
Nice drum. Sounds like it was in some shallow water. What fly did it take?
Regarding rule #17 – its the only way to go. The philosopher Stephen Stills said it well, “…if you can’t be with the one you love honey, Love the one you’re with.”
Comment by John McMinn — January 31, 2009 @ 11:18 am
Hey John,
They were in about three feet and there was a lot of them, some were absolutely humongous. Getting them to eat wasn’t easy, we tried many flies and finally got some takes with a ‘Thing,’ it’s a weighted fly I made for tarpon in deep water. It’s basically an upside down hook with weighted eyes and rabbit strip wing and flared collar of arctic fox. One of these years I’ll get it on the fly page. Speaking of flies, ‘Ned’s Lookdown,’ is getting a lot of attention from my guide friends, several people are tying them and somehow when my pals come over I always seem too ‘loose’ a few! I’ll be looking forward to our rondeszvous in tarpon season.
Ned
Comment by Captain Ned Small — February 1, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
Ned,
We have some big ones up our way, too. One day I cast for about an hour into a school of black drum that had to average 25 lbs. Some of the fish were so much bigger – I don’t want to sound crazy, but I’m guessing over 50. I tried every fly that I thought might work – I mean emptied a fly box on them. But not one take. Since then I’m always looking for something that they might find irresistable, in case I see that school again.
Two and half lunar cycles and we’ll be with you. Stay well ’til then.
John
Comment by John McMinn — February 2, 2009 @ 7:20 pm