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Casting 12 weight - Tarpon fishing technique
Hey Sushi
Who is this guide?
It sounds like he is trying to come up with excuses if you don't catch anything. Making it your fault.
Don't worry about your loops. I am a pretty crappy caster and can still catch tarpon. You just need to get the fly in front of the fish and move it.
Expect a few refusals though, as you will see a whole armada of skiffs casting at the migrating fish.
Who is this guide?
It sounds like he is trying to come up with excuses if you don't catch anything. Making it your fault.
Don't worry about your loops. I am a pretty crappy caster and can still catch tarpon. You just need to get the fly in front of the fish and move it.
Expect a few refusals though, as you will see a whole armada of skiffs casting at the migrating fish.
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The guide's name is Russ Shirley from Tampa, FL. I was given 3 names from Tampa Fly shop and he has youtube videos of his guiding. Here is one of them.
http://youtu.be/g7WwdtOaVL4
Great James, but the problem is although I have a left hand retrieve Orvis Mach VI, he has a right handed Tibor reel that probably will do a better job. I think I fight the fish better with right hand on the rod, and left on the reel.
So, no taking DIY reel to skiff? Whew, hard to carry on plane is my thought.
http://youtu.be/g7WwdtOaVL4
Great James, but the problem is although I have a left hand retrieve Orvis Mach VI, he has a right handed Tibor reel that probably will do a better job. I think I fight the fish better with right hand on the rod, and left on the reel.
So, no taking DIY reel to skiff? Whew, hard to carry on plane is my thought.
Sushi:
I think you are overanalyzing this. Totally understandable. I think we all do that from time-to-time. Just find some gear to practice casting with ( before the trip) and don't worry about reels and dominant hands. The first hour or so on the deck of the boat will work out most of the mental bugs. The first take and resulting mayhem will take care of the rest....
Think of it as sight nymphing to ridiculously oversized trout and you will do fine.
Rob
I think you are overanalyzing this. Totally understandable. I think we all do that from time-to-time. Just find some gear to practice casting with ( before the trip) and don't worry about reels and dominant hands. The first hour or so on the deck of the boat will work out most of the mental bugs. The first take and resulting mayhem will take care of the rest....
Think of it as sight nymphing to ridiculously oversized trout and you will do fine.
Rob
- Bernd
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Changing hands is definitely the very last thing I ever would recommend to my client!
While fighting Tarpon you need all your concentration on the fish not on how to handle your tackle due to changing hands after probably being using your technique for years.
As a guide I would change the reel to secure you will use your technique in order to provide you best changes in such strong fights.
I too never would change on such huge fighters!
While fighting Tarpon you need all your concentration on the fish not on how to handle your tackle due to changing hands after probably being using your technique for years.
As a guide I would change the reel to secure you will use your technique in order to provide you best changes in such strong fights.
I too never would change on such huge fighters!
Bernd Ziesche
www.first-cast.de
www.first-cast.de
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Sushi
I do not know the guide but I was rather upset to see the video of the tarpon thrashing around in the boat. None of the guides I know would allow that.
With regard to changing hands, I cast with my right hand and reel with my right hand so I change hands. There are a number of reasons why I do this. I think there was a thread here somewhere discussing that.
Don't worry too much. Have fun. If the guide gives you shit just remember who is paying for the trip and maybe remind the guide.
Pete
I do not know the guide but I was rather upset to see the video of the tarpon thrashing around in the boat. None of the guides I know would allow that.
With regard to changing hands, I cast with my right hand and reel with my right hand so I change hands. There are a number of reasons why I do this. I think there was a thread here somewhere discussing that.
Don't worry too much. Have fun. If the guide gives you shit just remember who is paying for the trip and maybe remind the guide.

Pete
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Yeah Pete, sometimes the guides can live too vicariously through their clients they forget who is paying for the trip. Hate to spend $500 only to feel you are in the boat with a bully.
Yes, I saw the video and I didn't like the trashing tarpon in his skiff. Almost like he wanted more footage time for his kicks or self promotion material. But to his credit, he spent 1-1/2hours reviving it and releasing it. But the damage to the protective slime was not factored in.
Yes, I saw the video and I didn't like the trashing tarpon in his skiff. Almost like he wanted more footage time for his kicks or self promotion material. But to his credit, he spent 1-1/2hours reviving it and releasing it. But the damage to the protective slime was not factored in.
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- mattklara
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Practice the quick cast.
Locate the fish, but then look at the spot where you want your fly to land. If you stare at the fish, you will hit the fish with the fly. This will not work out for you.
Don't let the guide mess with you. And don't worry about his fish handling tactics. If you are fortunate enough to get a big tarpon to hand, make sure the guide knows you do not want them to come in the boat, and that you don't want any gaffs. If you break the fish off, it's ok. Clean hand release is best.
Be prepared to pull very hard on the fish. Watch Andy Mill in Chasing Silver for some thoughts. Or get Andy's book.
Don't let the guide switch your reeling. Ask him to please find you a left hand wind reel for your trip. Tell him that you feel more comfortable that way. I lost my first tarpon because of this exact thing. That should be easy for him to do for you. I could find a left or right hand wind tarpon reel in 1 day between the guys I know here in OR, and none of us are tarpon guides.
Locate the fish, but then look at the spot where you want your fly to land. If you stare at the fish, you will hit the fish with the fly. This will not work out for you.

Don't let the guide mess with you. And don't worry about his fish handling tactics. If you are fortunate enough to get a big tarpon to hand, make sure the guide knows you do not want them to come in the boat, and that you don't want any gaffs. If you break the fish off, it's ok. Clean hand release is best.
Be prepared to pull very hard on the fish. Watch Andy Mill in Chasing Silver for some thoughts. Or get Andy's book.
Don't let the guide switch your reeling. Ask him to please find you a left hand wind reel for your trip. Tell him that you feel more comfortable that way. I lost my first tarpon because of this exact thing. That should be easy for him to do for you. I could find a left or right hand wind tarpon reel in 1 day between the guys I know here in OR, and none of us are tarpon guides.
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- Bernd
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I haven't been down the Florida Keys for a while. Do most guides still stick to the IGFA leader rules in order to set records - meaning a break point in the leader which will make a maximum fast fight almost impossible?
I would never use such a leader again.
Greets
Bernd
I would never use such a leader again.
Greets
Bernd
Bernd Ziesche
www.first-cast.de
www.first-cast.de
- mattklara
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Zoran, I'll bet it isn't going to be that bad.
Sushi, you will have a real learning experience on this trip for sure. Enjoy it!!
All in the learning process.
Sushi, you will have a real learning experience on this trip for sure. Enjoy it!!
All in the learning process.
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- wjc
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Hi Sushi,
Likely the reason he wants you to wind on the right side is because he only has one 12wt reel set up. It isn't hard to change the wind direction on a Tibor, but it's a real production to remove all the backing and wind in on in a different direction on the spool unless you have a spool winder - especially with gell spun backing.
As far as the tarpon in the boat, I think it probably jumped into the boat as stated under the video. It's illegal to boat a tarpon down here now without a kill permit in the first place, and I really doubt he'd do that on purpose even if it weren't.
With tarpon, a sharp, loud rap on the gunwales with a wooden pipe
or a gas tank stick will usually scare them away so they don't go under the boat or into it when they are not done yet and in too close to the boat. The guide should do that if he's not taking videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeskJ_NFRgM
I bow to them when they are at a distance, but rarely when they are close unless the leader is in a bind and then you can ease off the pressure if you need to real fast.
I also do as Bernd does when the current doesn't prevent it, and keep a lot of line out in the water straight out then back to the fly in my line hand so I can get a long cast off with only one forward false cast and two backcasts. I don't like holding loops of line in my hand - especially with the wind blowing.
You'll be fine, just don't overthink it like Rob said and have a good time.
The only tip I have is to try not to look at the fish after he figures out he's hooked and starts racing around, but at the line on the deck (assuming there's a pile there) so it doesn't get tangled.
If you do get an asshole in the line, hold the rod pointed at the fish with the guides on top (pointed up), and it usually will run right through the guides without a problem.
Cheers,
Jim
Likely the reason he wants you to wind on the right side is because he only has one 12wt reel set up. It isn't hard to change the wind direction on a Tibor, but it's a real production to remove all the backing and wind in on in a different direction on the spool unless you have a spool winder - especially with gell spun backing.
As far as the tarpon in the boat, I think it probably jumped into the boat as stated under the video. It's illegal to boat a tarpon down here now without a kill permit in the first place, and I really doubt he'd do that on purpose even if it weren't.
With tarpon, a sharp, loud rap on the gunwales with a wooden pipe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeskJ_NFRgM
Also, I have seen bowing to a leaping tarpon. I understand this is to avoid break offs. But wouldn't this also depend how much line is sunk?
I bow to them when they are at a distance, but rarely when they are close unless the leader is in a bind and then you can ease off the pressure if you need to real fast.
I also do as Bernd does when the current doesn't prevent it, and keep a lot of line out in the water straight out then back to the fly in my line hand so I can get a long cast off with only one forward false cast and two backcasts. I don't like holding loops of line in my hand - especially with the wind blowing.
You'll be fine, just don't overthink it like Rob said and have a good time.
The only tip I have is to try not to look at the fish after he figures out he's hooked and starts racing around, but at the line on the deck (assuming there's a pile there) so it doesn't get tangled.
If you do get an asshole in the line, hold the rod pointed at the fish with the guides on top (pointed up), and it usually will run right through the guides without a problem.
Cheers,
Jim
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Thanks all for the responses. Incidentally, I got this from the guide in response to my asking for a Left Hand wind reel:
Trust me, if you're tarpon fishing, and these are large fish, I will show you why you WILL want right hand. It's not only for endurance reeling (with no muscle atrophy), but it's also so you can use your dominant hand in extreme pulling and simultaneously stopping the line from pulling drag.
This is not anything you probably have had to deal with in any of your fly fishing, remember, this is a big, tough, kick-your-butt,
prehistoric fish, that pulls like a small truck. I have yet to see a left hand reeling experienced tarpon fly angler pull hard enough or reel fast enough.
Trust me, if you're tarpon fishing, and these are large fish, I will show you why you WILL want right hand. It's not only for endurance reeling (with no muscle atrophy), but it's also so you can use your dominant hand in extreme pulling and simultaneously stopping the line from pulling drag.
This is not anything you probably have had to deal with in any of your fly fishing, remember, this is a big, tough, kick-your-butt,
prehistoric fish, that pulls like a small truck. I have yet to see a left hand reeling experienced tarpon fly angler pull hard enough or reel fast enough.
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