Black Death Tarpon Fly

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Black Death Tarpon Fly

Part Number 217

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Legendary saltwater fly tier Stu Apte developed this fly pattern the “Black Death”. This tarpon fly has an elongated tapered head design that provides little wind resistance on long casts while at the same time the contrasting colored tailing materials seem to make this fly come alive in the water. The Black Death can be tied in two separate styles, the first combines multiple saddle hackles and marabou while the second uses rabbit strips. Both patterns can be used on the shallow water flats and the action is comparable between the different materials. Tarpon are noted as being most active in the early morning when these shallow waters are flat. This fly is the perfect go-to Tarpon fly for low light situations when a strong profile is needed. A good idea is to get out and set up early on these days so that you do not spook any of your intended targets while you are just getting into range. Accurate casts and soft presentations to these flat water fish are important to your success. Once you get the fly in the water without spooking the fish the pace and level of retrieval is critical. The fly should never get out of eye level of the tarpon. Ideally if you can keep you fly just above the fishes eye level and approximately two feet in front of its nose for a few seconds at a time, you have a great chance of hooking up for the fight of your life. These Cockroach style or Bug Style is a standard tarpon fly that has been used since we have been chasing Tarpon with fly rods and any were you will be fishing for tarpon. The history of how this style of fly evolved is long. Recently, angler Andy Mill and Pat ford put together a book on tarpon fishing, and his buddy Steve Kantner contributed a chapter on the history of tarpon flies. From their research back to 1930, Homer Rhode developed his Shrimp Fly, which was a simple streamer with splayed wings tied on at the hook bend and hackle palmer-wrapped up the entire shank to the eye. That pattern was pretty much the prototype for tarpon flies for 50 years. All flies are fine tuned for material selection and fly construction to produce a fly that will give the correct action in the water to induce a strike. All flies are made with ultra premium hooks All our flies are tied on Owner Aki or Gamakatsu hooks and materials. If you are fortunate enough to hook up with a trophy tarpon, you will not want to risk the fish on cheap flies and hooks. Get the good stuff, its worth it!