I know some places where Tarpon, Baby Tarpon like to be when the Gulf water is cold. So, when my friend Norm and Diane said they'd like to ride down the Trail to see some Gators, I suggested we bring along our fishing tackle. Norm and Diane loaded the truck with spin tackle and I brought a nine-weight fly rod. A few miles past Wooten's Air Boat Rides, there's a creek where I've seen Manatees and Alligators, so we pulled in and sure enough, Diane saw her first Manatees rolling and spouting.

We rigged our gear up and I warned Di and Norm to be cautious and watch the shoreline where they walk.



As we walked the shoreline, casting blind, we came upon several large Gators who were laid up uder the grass. Some of them immedately spooked when they saw us, making a huge crashing swirl as they bolted for deeper water. Other Gators like the one pictured above just moved off slowly, eying us suspiciously.

After a half hour of serious observation, I noticed some feeding fish, not the familiar Mullet who were surfacing here and there, but the aggressive swirls of larger fish on the attack. There were schools of glass minnows in the shallows and I suspected that the larger fish would be harrassing them.

I made a cast to the far bank under the overhanging trees in the shadows and as I slowly stripped in the fly, I was rewarded with a yanking pull. I set the hook hard and the 30-inch Baby Tarpon lept into the air 4 feet. He ran deep, then vaulted airborne again and again. I muscled him toward the shoreline and he surfaced, turned to wink at me and then he let go of the fly.

I exhaled, catching my breath, excited that I'd hooked and played such a great game fish, my first Tarpon on the fly this winter. I looked to where I'd cast under the bank and there on the far side of the creek lay the Gator, floating where the Tarpon were! Seems I'd rung the dinner bell for the chompers.

After awhile, the Gator moved on and several Tarpon returned to the shadows for three more hook ups and three more battles, each fight ultimately won by the Tarpon.

My leader and shock tippet were chafed but I was a happy angler. Diane and Norm who had watched the action from the other side of the creek, were fishless but happy to have seen the battles. Norm had a big pull on a lure, but the fish, whatever it was yaked the lure off.

Here's a picture of the Glass Minnow.



2-part Epoxy and turning the glued fly with forceps fashions a nicely tapered fly....just perfect for fishing the creeks right now.

Marshall D

p.s. Curtis Grant's tying flies and talking about fishing this Wednesday night 6PM til 8PM at the Everglades Angler Shop. He will be happy to show all of us new tricks and tips for tying Glass Minnows. Come join us!

hey marsh - that is an awesome story! 4 baby tarpon hook ups while wading - SWEEET! I am so jealous - now I really want to get down there. Will ya take me on a wading guide trip with you? Sounds like you are starting some find some of your own secret spots.

now - go back out there - and land one of those woulda ya!

ps - in case you did not know this is jeremy (jac are my initials)

Nice pics Marsh, I just returned to Maine and it's cold. I had Tom and his son with me and didn't have any time. Will give you a call as I am coming back in Feb.

Marshall
Please take some pictures of the Tarpon next time you're out. The only thing we are catching in Maine right now is cold.
Alan

like the picture of the gator also neat looking fly as the rest of the guys said it cold up here oh well 65 days to the frist of april tight lines