Hey guys, im in need of finding a material that floats well and can be tied on thinly. Im looking to tie up some willow grubs and the fish are being very fussy. The grubs float on there side and fish rarely take the sinking ones, so that makes things quite difficult.
You have tried foam?
DazWah,
Is this the Willow Grub your trying to copy?: http://www.padil.gov.au/img.aspx?id=1486&s=s
http://www.padil.gov.au/img.aspx?id=1488&s=l
Doug
I have tried foam, but to get the body in the right shape, it needs to be compressed and it will no longer float. Attached is a picture of the grubs.
What do you think about this pattern?: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wildflies.co.nz/_images/Willow-Grub.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wildflies.co.nz/nymphs/jelly-grub.html&usg=__4ejovK3py3MEgsbO1Mbgc8YZT9Y=&h=355&w=500&sz=59&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=ZxfZdp54CgErGM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgrub%2Bflies%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
Doug
how about a green inchworm
http://www.theflystop.com/store-page-products_detail-pid-56-dry-flies-terrestrials.html
Here is another pattern: http://www.thetroutbum.com/Bilder/summer2002/nye_fluebilder/aura_larva.jpg
Before wrapping the dubbing, maybe you could use foam for the underbody.
Doug
Thin strip of Razor foam will do the trick with underbody of poly yarn.
Flyfish Dog, send me an IM with your address and I’ll send ya a fly that I tied I’d like you to try out, they may work or not, either way you’ll have a couple extra flie’s on hand…
Tim
Just my 2 cents, but I would use poly yarn. I also think a modified green weenie might imitate that grub pretty good. John
A green inchworm tied with cylindrical foam should do the trick. I use them with with great sucess all the time. I buy my foam from Bill Skilton. They come in a pack and are called “Cylinder Inch Worm”. They may not be the same color but Bill may have something closer in another cylinder type.
To tie an inchworm with cylindrical foam the trick is to keep it simple, NOT compress the foam along the length of the body and NOT use too heavy a hook. I use a regular dry fly hook like a Daiichi 1180 but I will use a size or two smaller than I would normally use for the body length I am after since the foam cylinder can be left as long as you need it. These are a super easy tie and you can tie a dozen in about 20 minutes or less. My example above is tied by basically wrapping the hook shank with a matching thread color and then lashing the foam on the hook fore & aft just like a San Juan Worm and then cut to length.
You can add a hump in the middle to simulate the curve of the natural if you want or try and keep it straight.
Try them, they work REAL good and float like a cork!
I used to ‘spin’ deer hair on the hook (like a bass bug), then trim it very short to be the size of the worm. Oddly, found that yellow worked as well as green. Anyhow, dress them well and they will float like a cork. Be sure to trim the hair on the bottom really close or you can’t hook anything.
Hi,
Here in NZ willow grub patterns are typically tied with pale yellow bodies and black heads. Just smooth floss or thread bodies, around size 18, on a dry fly hook. Then, uses as long and fine a tippet that you can and still present the fly softly. Greese up to about 20 cm from the fly. Then, prepare for an exercise in patience. Willow grubbing trout can be very tricky, mostly because they aren’t going to move far (at all really) for one, so you need to get every aspect of the drift perfect.
I’ve read in the NZ best flies book that some of our top anglers disregard the idea that the fish only take the floating ones and they will deliberately fish their willow grub patterns sub-surface.
And, check out the FOTW for the water cricket. You could drop the black rib and try either the yellow or a green version?
- Jeff
thanks guys/gals ive got a few ideas to try and tie for next time i head to the river. Ill let you knwo what works
So many possibilities! I use that fine hollow plastic tubing (larva lace style) over the top of some green silk. It can be as thin as you like depending on how much you stretch it. If you need it to be a bit “fuzzy” you can roll it in some dubbing first. If you want to fatten it up or make it float like a cork you can tie one end off and then inject some air into it, wind it on and tie off.
I would also try using some of that Water Shed. It doesn’t take much of the stuff and it will waterproof your fly. I have not used it much yet, but I did put some on a couple of flies to try it out and it is not greasy or oily and only takes a drop or two.
Skip
Use ultra chenille and treat it with watershed. Floats well, and works for fish taking these small caterpillars.
These are not actually caterpillar ( grub) patterns, but you should get the idea;
http://www.wild-fishing-scotland.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=4435.0
TL
MC
I like this idea given your picture of the real thing.
And because time isn’t really a factor for me I would first do some segmenting of the body …placing the foam cylinder on a needle…then mounting it.
And I would try some using a glass bead for the head…I don’t believe it would hurt the floatability…because of the foam.
Edit: Just noted you were looking for material…You can punch your own foam from flip flops, kneeling pad water floats etc.
There’s lots of foam out there. I use close cell 1/8’’ vinyl top foam because I’m an upholsterer and have a big roll of it. I no longer install vinyl tops and have to use it up some way. I color it with indelible markers. It comes in white. Just my penny’s worth. Jim
Have you tried using Rainy’s Parachute posts?? they have it in the green your bug is. You could thread it on the hook and just whip finish the tip to hold it on.
Here’s the link for the posts
https://madriveroutfitters.com/pc-666-303-foam-parachute-posts.aspx
Fatman