The Hairy Fodder is an excellent smallmouth fly pattern that you can tie or buy. http://www.warmfly.com/smf/index.php?topic=460.0. I tie this pattern with the cross cut bunny strips and I also a tie a version that uses Enrico Puglisi Streamer Brush with Legs as a replacement for the bunny strips.http://www.saltwaterflytyers.com/syn...ith-micro-legs. The bunny strip flies have great action but the flies tied with the Puglisi streamer brushes hold much less water, are much easier to cast and seem to work very well.

I often fish weighted crayfish type flies with a fast sinking leader and short tippet which makes it easier to keep the fly on or close the bottom.