Fly Rods For Tarpon

For tarpon, it is important to have a rod with enough backbone to actually move the fish during the fight. The ideal rod for the larger sized tarpon is a 10 wt. For fish under 90 lbs. you can get away with a stiff 9 wt., but if you hook a hundred plus pound fish or your guide asks you to cast a 3/0 fly in a 20 knot breeze, you might wish you had the backbone of a heavier rod. The rods listed in the bonefish section in 9 wt. or 10 wt. are ideal. Many of these rods also come in a model with a beefed up butt section for added power.