Ruger,

It sounds like you want to fish a fly rod bait that will work like a soft jerk bait. Something that will 'sink' slowly while fishing with a floating line and let you retrieve it in errative jerks and pauses. A fly rod 'version' if you will, of the Slug-go/Bass Assassin type lures.

You want 'two' things to happen with such a bait. First, it has to slowly sink. This means a weighted fly of some kind, yet with enough 'bulk' or 'floatation' to keep it from plumeting down like a jig. That part is easy.

Next, you want the 'erratic' action, something that will dart to one side or the other when you jerk on it. Tougher, but still possible.

Easiest one I've found (I've tried over a hundred different 'prototypes' to get this done) is a weighted variation of the Wigglebug (you can find the basic tie in the archives here on FAOL).

To get it to 'sink', I add lead dumbbell eyes to the underside of the hook shank prior to wrapping the plastic chenile. You may need one, two, or three of the dumbbells, depending on the size of foam you use, the size of the hook, and the weight of the eyes you have.

Shorten the 'lip' a bit, use a wider piece of foam, and make the tail longer (use bucktail with some flash in it, the finished bait on a #2 (Mustad 3366 or 'worm style') hook should be at least 5 inches long).

This will give you an erratic wobbling/darting action on a ROD TIP JERK. Jerk HARD, and you will get pretty close to what you can do with a soft plastic jerkbait (If you just strip it, and it will act like a crankbait).

You can use a floating version of the same bait with a sinking line. I still weight them, it helps keep them running right, just use less weight. Same retrieve.

Another one that works pretty well, but requires spinning some hair. Tie a simple deer hair diver then add enough split shot a foot above the hook to sink it down. When you trim the head, try to make it triangular. This will add some to the erratic action when you jerk it. Use bucktail with some flash in it (or any suitable synthetic material) for the tail here as well. You want to extend the length of the bait and you don't want any 'flare' on the tail.

You can also do pretty with a with a Crease Fly on a sinking line (or with split shot).

For a sinking line for bass fishing at ANY depth where depth control is what you want, get the fastest sinking line you can throw with your rod. You can control the depth by counting down and by the speed of your retrieve. Some of the slower sinking lines have small niche applications, but a basic floating and a fast sink line will cover everything you really 'need' to do. If you are hitting bottom, speed up, start the retrieve sooner, or switch to the floating line and a weighted fly...

For a leader on a sinking line, 3 feet of level mono is plenty of leader. 2 feet is okay, but I tend to fish clear water and like a bit more distance between the fly line and the fly (probably doesn't matter to the fish, but since I 'think' about it, it matters to me...). Longer is up to you, play with it and find what works for you.

Good Luck!

Buddy

P.S., if you try tinkering with this and come up with something that you like, please share it here....BS.

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