Spring/Summer time is big tarpon time for saltwater fly rodders! No matter if you’re casting the fly to giant river tarpon in Belize or migrating tarpon in the Keys the best way to subdue these monsters is to “Bow, Tip and Roll.”
The sight of a tarpon, no matter its size, jumping and twisting and gyrating into the air, in its attempt to dislodge a fly, is a jaw-dropping experience. Few fish rival the strength and acrobatics a tarpon brings to saltwater fly fishing.
Bow to the Silver King
Since they are hooked at relatively close range, it’s important the moment the tarpon makes its initial leap that the angler points his fly rod directly at the tarpon which puts slack in his line, creating a shock absorber for the tippet. This fishing-saving move is called “bowing.” Once hooked, a tarpon’s first reaction to being hooked is to run for cover, followed by numerous rod-jolting jumps as it attempts to rid its mouth of the annoying hook. If the angler is unprepared for this frantic behavior and fails to “bow,” the tarpon will hightail-it away from the boat, causing extreme pressure on the tippet, a mistake that often results in a disjointed tippet, a lost fish and a disgruntled fly fisherman.
To avoid this problem, the angler must anticipate when the tarpon will jump, not an easy task but one a successful tarpon angler must master.
Another way to anticipate the jump is listening for the sound of the reel’s drag during the fish’s run; when the sound reaches an ear-torturing howl, be alert as the jump is but the blink-of-an-eye from happening.
Tip and Roll
Tipping is something you do after a great meal at a restaurant, however in the case of saltwater fly fishing it’s what the angler does towards the end of a fight with a big game fish on the fly rod.
When a large saltwater game fish (in this case tarpon) makes a run directly in front of the angler and there is not a good angle to apply pressure to move the fishes head to change its direction, we do something called “tipping the fish.”
First, the angler tips the fly rod upside down lowering the tip of the fly rod into the water applying pressure to the fish as the fish moves away. This pressure will, in most cases, stop the fish dead in its tracks and rolls the fish over.
Once the fish has rolled over the angler can retrieve line while moving close to the fish (on foot or in a boat). Many times the fish will concede for a short time which will give the angler time to regain some line.
The “Tip and Roll” is always performed close to the end of a fight. It is a great way to get a fish to the boat quickly for a safe release.
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