Bodkin / Patterns

Marabou Toad

Attractor · Tarpon · Snook · Redfish · Intermediate · 1 version

Reference Recipe

  • Hook Saltwater/tarpon hook (e.g. Gamakatsu SC15), 1-2
  • Thread Black 6/0

Materials

  • Plastic bead-chain eyes Black mono eyes small
  • Extra-select marabou Black marabou (tail + collar)
  • Crystal flash Red holographic tinsel
  • Marabou Red marabou (collar)
  • EP fiber Black ep fiber (head)

How to tie it

  1. Place a Gamakatsu SC15 (size 1) in the vise and start black thread. Tie in a set of light plastic bead-chain eyes just behind the hook eye with cross-wraps; the thread bites into the plastic so they seat firmly with only a few wraps.
  2. Wrap a thread base rearward toward the hook bend, covering the shank to keep it from flashing through the black thread.
  3. Tie in a full black marabou quill as the tail at the bend, extending about 2.5" past the bend; add a few wraps beneath it so it kicks up and resists fouling around the bend.
  4. Tie one strand of red crystal flash along each side, trimmed a little shorter than the tail.
  5. Pluck the delicate tips off a black marabou quill, tie it in and palmer three to four turns, stroking the fibers back, keeping the collar in the space between the hook point and bend; tie off and trim.
  6. Tie in a red marabou quill the same way just ahead and palmer it to add a red band to the collar, again stroking fibers back.
  7. Spin/stack black EP fiber to form the classic flat tarpon-toad head between the collar and the eye, packing it, then trim it to the toad-head profile.
  8. Whip finish at the eye and cement.

Tying videos

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