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Tying the Toad

This simple fly caught on in the 1990s in the Florida Keys. Since then, a number of variations have been successful for tarpon.
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Click through the full-size images above, or see step-by-step listed instruction below:

Materials
Hook: Angler’s choice. Generally a 1/0, 2/0 or 3/0 for tarpon and offshore, smaller for redfish, snook and bonefish Tail: One or two marabou quills Collar: Thin-cut zonker rabbit strip Thread: Roman Moser Power Silk, 10/0. Body: Floating poly yarn Eyes: Mono nymph eyes, black Head cement: Hard As Hull or five-minute epoxy

Step 1: For tarpon, place a short-shanked hook in the vise. Vary hook/fly size for other species. Tie in one or two quality marabou feathers just before the bend in the hook. Wrap the marabou shaft five or six times with thread to raise the tail and prevent fouling.


Step 2: Palmer a zonker strip of contrasting color two or three times just forward of the marabou tail, finishing it off with several wraps of thread and head cement.

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Step 3: Tie in segments of floating poly yarn to form a standard crab-style body.

Step 4: Trim the yarn body to shape with scissors. Add black monofilament eyes for floating/subsurface patterns or lead eyes for sinking patterns.

Step 5: Coat head and body wraps with head cement. Add a weed guard of 16-pound mason hard mono (optional).

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Tying the Toad

Tying the Toad

Step 1: For tarpon, place a short-shanked hook in the vise. Vary hook/fly size for other species. Tie in one or two quality marabou feathers just before the bend in the hook. Wrap the marabou shaft five or six times with thread to raise the tail and prevent fouling.
Tying the Toad

Tying the Toad

Step 2: Palmer a zonker strip of contrasting color two or three times just forward of the marabou tail, finishing it off with several wraps of thread and head cement.
Tying the Toad

Tying the Toad

Step 3: Tie in segments of floating poly yarn to form a standard crab-style body.
Tying the Toad

Tying the Toad

Step 4: Trim the yarn body to shape with scissors. Add black monofilament eyes for floating/subsurface patterns or lead eyes for sinking patterns.
Tying the Toad

Tying the Toad

Step 5: Coat head and body wraps with head cement. Add a weed guard of 16-pound mason hard mono (optional).
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