How To Tie The Millhouse Tarpon Toad

Words by Sam Wike

WHAT MAKES A GREAT TARPON FLY?

I think the answer could be as simple as this: a great angler. And the best tarpon angler is, no doubt, Andy Mill. 

If you haven’t heard of Andy Mill, you’ve never researched tarpon fishing.  Mill, literally, wrote the book on the subject, “A Passion for Tarpon”, which was originally published in 2010 (Wild River Press). President George W. Bush wrote the foreword. Mill has won the Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament, which is the pinnacle of tarpon tournaments (the equivalent of the Masters in golf), five times. He’s also won the Golden Fly and Don Hawley tournaments, along with numerous other prestigious events where only the best of the best show up.

Not impressed?  Mill was an Olympic downhill ski racer who took sixth place at the 1976 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria (while dealing with a severely sprained ankle). Later, he married tennis superstar Chris Everet.  And, he fly-fished with the late president Jimmy Carter. Mic Drop.

Mill and his son, Nicky, who’s also a very accomplished angler, run the Millhouse Podcast.  In my opinion “The Millhouse” is, without question, the best fly-fishing podcast out there‑-it offers a deep dive into tarpon culture with guests who are deeply entwined in the South Florida fly-fishing scene. The podcast is full of stories from legends like Steve Huff, Flip Pallot, and Stu Apte, as well as up-and-coming guides and, occasionally, just an interesting humans that they happen to know.  I also enjoy their dedication to advertising Papa’s Pilar Rum and Wickles Pickles. 

Andy Mill put his name on this version of the Tarpon Toad.  Did he invent it?  I’d argue that’s a stretch.  So, who did invent it?  I think that’s a story for another time, but if you’re curious I would start with the names Del Brown, Harry Spears, and Gary Merriman.  What we do know is that Mill fishes it . . . and that’ s enough for me to want to know how to tie it.

Materials

The Best Tarpon Hook - The (305) - https://flyproject.us/genryuu-305hw-saltwater-hook

Raid Zap - https://flyproject.us/raidzap-thin

Semperfli Nano Silk - https://flyproject.us/semperfli-nanosilk

EC Hair - https://flyproject.us/catalogsearch/result/?q=EC+Hair+Blend

Rabbit Strips - https://flyproject.us/rabbit-zonker-strips

Marabou - https://flyproject.us/nature-s-spirit-blood-quill-marabou-feathers