Bob Riggins
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I fish inshore flats most of the time. You will need to start with an 8wt due to the size of the flies and wind issues. The 8wt will be much easier to cast in most conditions. A 6 wt is a good rod for smaller flies and light wind, but if you are learning to cast on the flats, it will be very frustrating in many of the conditions you will encounter.
Clay, where do you fish most of the time?
There is actually two types of tarpon fishing, backwater fishing for baby tarpon and fishing in the Gulf for big tarpon.
A bunch of us target tarpon out of kayaks in the Tampa Bay area. Mostly it involves sitting out in the Gulf waiting for something to happen, but when you get one on, it is hard core pandemonium.
The real key to being successful is preparation. Of course you have to have the right rod and reel. I usually use a 12wt for tarpon and shark, with a good shock leader. I use a 16# tarpon leader from a kayak in case I need to break them off.
You need a good stable kayak, preferably with a rudder (I don’t have a rudder on mine), a comfortable life jacket, a drift chute and a buddy in another kayak. Never target them alone. The life jacket should be worn for obvious reasons. The drift chute keeps you from ending up in Cuba. The buddy in the other kayak serves several purposes. First as a safety precaution in case things get out of hand; second, as additional drag by tying onto the back of your kayak (make sure you have a quick release line); third, as a tow boat when you are reviving the tarpon; and forth, to keep an eye out for big sharks that like to eat hooked tarpon.
I wouldn’t suggest it unless you have some experience catching and landing larger reds and snook from a kayak. Poor technique can get you in trouble real quick.
Given that list, there are three kayaks that I would recommend, most of which have already been mentioned. Niether of them are tandems, which would really restrict your choice.
Jackson Cuda 14
Native Slayer 14 (just released and is very similar to the Cuda)The only tamdem I would recommend is the Native Ultimate 14.5, but in my opinion, the only good tandem is two kayaks.
I’m going to try not to muddy the water to much, but the first thing you need to do is decide what is important to you.
If I wade over knee deep with any pants they of course fill with water.
When I get out the, water drains out slowly enough that my pant legs bulge over my socks to the point that they eventually come out.Oh. OK, I see what you are talking about draining water. I don’t tuck my pants leg in my socks, so that’s not an issue for me. I checked my Columbia pants. They are the kind that have a front fly and belt loops rather than the elastic waist type. The elastic waist type have the inside net, the kind I have do not.
The issue with felt soles is not traction but legality.
I use either a pair of Bite wading shoes or Keen H2’s depending on how much protection my feet need.
There are several things I really like about this video. (1) it is taken from the view of the person tying the fly as opposed to most videos that shoot toward them, (2) nice use of a white background, made possible by shooting away from you, (3) using a bobin on the ribbing, great idea, I always have problems with it, and (4) last but not least, great looking baby!
Simon,
Thought you might like something from the other Dunedin.
Bob
If you want to see what my Dunedin is really like, watch this:
