How to tie a Great Bonefish Fly

This Great Bonefish Fly works like a charm in every bonefish situation I have been in.  I have tied this fly big and small, with more or less weight, and I have experimented with a few colors. This Bonefish Pattern is very easy to tie, uses less materials than many other bonefish flies and the fish will bite it.

Click here to learn a little more about Bonefish.

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Watch how to tie this fly:

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~Click on any image to enlarge~

Materials List:

Bonefish are strong fish.  Bonefish flies should have strong hooks.  I used a Gamakatsu SL12S size 2 for this fly.

Click here to buy Bonefish Hooks

For this pattern I used a small set of weighted eyes.  I have also found that bead chain eyes work quite well for shallow or spooky fish.

Click here to buy Weighted Eyes

The body of this Great Bonefish Fly is tied with Marabou.  I like to use lighter colors more often than not.

Click here to buy Marabou

I use permanent markers to make this fly look like a little shrimp. A little contrast goes a long way in the world of a bonefish.

Click here to buy Permanent Markers 

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie a Great Bonefish Fly
 

Start by slightly bending
the eye of a hook






Tie on eyes








Add a clump of marabou








Whip finish








Use a marker to color the fly








Primp and complete

Great Bonefish Fly

RipLips.com

 Capt Matt guides for Giant Tarpon in the Lower Keys, near Key West, FL.  If you would like to fly fish for tarpon during the spring tarpon migration, go to http://riplips.com/floridaguidepage.html



"How to tie a
Great Bonefish Fly"
by Capt. Matt Thomas

How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Fly

This Black and Purple Tarpon Fly is perfect for situations where the fly needs to stay near the surface or suspend as the tarpon approach.  Tarpon Flies like this have been used for decades and continue to catch big fish, cast after cast. Black and Purple Tarpon Flies work best on the migrating tarpon of the Florida Keys Back Country.

Click here to learn a little more about Tarpon.

 
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Watch how to tie this fly:




RipLips.com

 ~ Click on any image to enlarge ~
 
Materials List:

Because of the nature of tarpon, tarpon flies need to be sharp and strong.  I prefer a Gamakatsu SL12S size 1/0 for all of my tarpon flies.
 Click here to buy Tarpon Hooks

I used red thread for this particular tarpon pattern. I have not found that one color works better than another, this fly can be tied with any strong thread.
Click here to buy strong Fly Tying Thread

The tail of this black and purple tarpon fly is tied with strung purple chicken feathers.  You can use any purple chicken feathers you like for this pattern.
 Click here to buy Purple Hackles

Finally, the collar of this tarpon fly is tied with black marabou.  I use both marabou blood quills and regular marabou without a challenge.
Click here to buy Black Marabou

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Fly



Start a hook








Add a tail of purple feathers
Tie them up to keep them from
wrapping around the hook
(Snarfle Guard)





Tie in a black marabou collar








Trim, whip finish and complete your

Black and Purple Tarpon Fly

RipLips.com


 

 Capt Matt Guides in the Florida Keys, Near Keys West during the Spring Tarpon Migration.  This is an exciting time with plenty of opportunity for an angler casting Black and Purple Tarpon Flies.  If you have always wanted to catch giant tarpon on flies, contact Capt Matt at http://riplips.com/floridaguidepage.html

"How to tie a
Black and Purple Tarpon Fly"

by Capt. Matt Thomas

How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Toad

Very few Tarpon Flies work as well as a Black and Purple Tarpon Toad. This tarpon pattern uses bead chain eyes to add a little weight. I like to use a strong 1/0 big game hook and 80 lb bite when I fish a Black and Slurple Tarpon Toad, because I expect to get a big fish to bite it.

Click here to learn a little more about Tarpon.

 

Hand Printed Long Sleeve 

Fishing Shirts For Sale, $25

Watch how to tie this fly:

RipLips.com

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Materials List:

I use the best tarpon hook I can for all of my Tarpon Toad Flies. The one I like is Gamakatsu SL12S 1/0

Click here to buy Tarpon Hooks

I use strong, dark colored thread for this particular tarpon fly, but any strong thread will do.

Click here to buy strong Fly Tying Thread

The tail of this saltwater pattern is tied with purple rabbit strips.

Click here to buy Purple Rabbit Strips

The collar of this fly is tied with black marabou. i have also experimented with black rabbit and find it works pretty well too.

Click here to buy Black Marabou

The wide head of this Tarpon Toad is tied with Black EP-Fibers.  However, I am finding more and more synthetic tying fibers that bring my tarpon flies to life.

Click here to buy Synthetic Fly Tying Fibers

Finally, this tarpon fly is tipped with a set of large bead chain eyes.  The beauty of tying a Balck and Purple Tarpon Toad is that you can weight it any way you like.

Click here to by Weighted Fly Tying Eyes

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Toad



Start a hook








Tie in a strip of purple rabbit
for the tail







Wrap the tail with thread
to keep the fly from
getting caught on itself
(Snarfle Guard)






Tie in a marabou collar








Tie in a few body segments







Tie in bead chain eyes








Trim the body of the fly








Glue and complete your

Black and Purple Tarpon Toad





RipLips.com

 

Capt Matt guides fly fishermen for giant tarpon in the Florida Keys.  Tarpon Toads work very well for delivering hooks into tarpon's mouths.  If you want to cast your Black and Slurple Tarpon Toads at giant swimming fish, go to http://riplips.com/floridaguidepage.html

"How to tie a
Black and Purple Tarpon Toad"

by Capt. Matt Thomas

How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny

The Black and Purple Tarpon Flies are a favorite tarpon fly color combo of tarpon fishers around the globe.  "Black and Slurple" is easy to tie and tarpon love to inhale it.  This particular fly is tied with a 1/0 tarpon hook and tends to be a slow sinking fly unless you add weight.

Click here to learn a little more about Tarpon.

Hand Printed Long Sleeve 

Fishing Shirts For Sale, $25

Watch how to tie this fly:

RipLips.com

~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Materials List:

You can expect this tarpon fly to get a lot of attention if the tarpon are in town. Be sure to use the right hook, I prefer a Gamakatsu SL12S 1/0.
Click here to buy Tarpon Hooks

I use strong thread when I tie all of my tarpon flies.  For this Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny I chose to use red thread.
Click here to buy strong Fly Tying Thread

Of course this tarpon pattern calls for purple rabbit strips.
Click to buy Purple Rabbit Strips




Finally, a Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny would not be complete without black rabbit strips.
Click here to buy Black Rabbit Strips











~ Click on any image to enlarge ~

Step By Step: How to tie a Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny




Start a hook and tie in a rabbit strip.
Wrap the strip into a post to prevent
it from wrapping on the hook
(Snarfle Guard)




Tie in a rabbit strip collar. Be sure to
"lock the strip with a few wraps in the
middle of the hook.






Whip finish and complete the fly.

Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny

 

RipLips.com

 Capt Matt Guides for Giant Tarpon During the Spring Migration in the Florida Keys.  Black and Slurple is a common fly to use for tarpon in the Keys Backcountry.  If you would like to book a 3 or 4 day tarpon fly fishing charter, please go to http://riplips.com/floridaguidepage.html

"How to tie a
Black and Purple Tarpon Bunny"

By Capt. Matt Thomas