Before Kelly was tying articulated patterns (Please understand, I mean no disrespect to Kelly.), many others had paved the way. One of the best of these tyers was the late, great, innovative tyer and instructor, Michael Verduin. Amongst Micheal’s original patterns was the "Ball Joint Popper", which is an extremely effective articulated bass fly.
http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/wp...r-ball-bug.jpghair-ball-bug.jpg
Even though they got the name wrong, the photo above is of a Ball Joint Popper tyed by Michael Verduin from the Fly Fisher's Republic article on this pattern: http://www.flyfishersrepublic.com/pa...hair-ball-bug/
Terry and Roxanne Wilson have written about a number of Micheal’s patterns in their warm water oriented books and articles: Bluegill Fly Fishing & Flies, Largemouth Bass Fly-Fishing: Beyond the Basics, Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing: A Practical Guide. (I have all three books and they are all great!).
One of the Wilson's articles concerning this fly is quoted below:
"An alternative to conventional poppers came to us through the creative mind of the late Michael Verduin. A master tyer and well known to Federation conclave attendees, Michael created the “Ball-Joint Popper” to deal with those difficult mossed-in ponds of his native Texas in summer. First, he clipped a deer hair ball then attached splayed feathers to a shank of .014 stainless wire leader. He created a 3/16-inch diameter oval by putting both tag ends in the vice, and used a small Phillips screwdriver to form a loop in the wire. The feathered tail section is attached to the ball by a loop of 20-pound test mono. With very little manipulation the fly rocks and rolls within the weed pocket with the slightest rod tip twitch providing action to the feathered trailer even after action to the ball is suspended. That tantalizing action within the confines of a small weed pocket is a powerful inducement for big bass to attack the writhing mixture of feathers and deer hair."
http://thebluegillpond.com/archived-...outhBuffet.pdf
Here is a short piece of video showing a Ball Joint Popper:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Verduin's+Ball+joint+bass+popper&view=det ail&mid=3C4736E4544DE71C72AB3C4736E4544DE71C72AB&f irst=0