As fly fishermen we are always in search of perfection — the perfect drift, the perfect presentation or the perfect fly. That search for something better helped inspire my new pattern.

When most of us picture a tarpon fly, we imagine Stu Apte-style or Keys-style patterns. But here Florida’s east coast, our migrating tarpon feed mostly on baitfish — mainly scaled sardines, or to use the local term, pilchards. Pilchards are high-protein baitfish found on the menus of most gamefish, especially snook and tarpon. For as long as I have fished for tarpon in the Stuart, Fla., area, we have always thrown baitfish patterns. The colors vary from time to time, but the patterns always imitate baitfish.

This and 13 other articles can be found in the 2010 Issue of Hatches Magazine(will be published September 1st)