Team FAOLA friend is travelling to Maine and will be trolling for smallies in JulyI would like to tie him up some flies.. Any proven patterns and sizes you would like to share.Thanks in advance
Team FAOLA friend is travelling to Maine and will be trolling for smallies in JulyI would like to tie him up some flies.. Any proven patterns and sizes you would like to share.Thanks in advance
Stage 1, I admit that I haven't fished in Maine or trolled, but if I might be so bold as to suggest, some of the classics like the Rangely Lakes streamers, Mickie Finn, Alexandra, Hornerg, etc... might work well. Also, you might check out the Maine FF board, if it is still up. I don't have the URL but Google might.
Ed
I have fished smallies for a long time - although in Ontario, not Maine, but I can't believe they behave much differently there. I can probably help with specifics, but would first like to know how he will be moving through the water - boat, pontoon, tube? And will he be flyfishing or using spinning gear.
Generally however: brown over yellow Clousers with gold flash (even if the minnows aren't that colour - in 'my' lake they're green over silver/white); black or olive BH wooly buggers; crayfish patterns in the rocks (a variation of a brown WB will work - use squirrel for the tail/claws instead of marabou); and frog imitations in the shallows, but only in the morning; and SMALL white minnows in the evening where the bass are herding fry of the year near the surface (often more in the middle of bays over weeds). If you want specific patterns for these ideas, let me know.
On July 1 I expect most smallies to be between 3-10 ft down, even if the bottom is deeper.
a great variation of a woolybugger i use for crayfish is i tie a few peacock herl in on top of the tail and ill tie the marabou tail split into 2 clumps on the sides and more weight towards the eye its really simple and works has a nice profile too you can also use olive too
Any pics available so I can copy Thks in advance
Hi Stage 1;
I live about 10 miles from Little Ossipee, I haven't fished there in over 10 years. I know there are Brown Trout, Togue, Land Lock Salmon, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Pickerel, and some Large Mouth Bass. But I have never heard of any Smallmouth coming out of there.
If I were to troll on that lake I would use tandem hook streamers, on lead core line. Just a thought. Any Carries Stevens type Rangley fly should work.
Flies I would try;
King Smelt
Black Ghost
Arnold
Nine Three
Govenor Aiken
Mickey Finn
Montreal Whore
I hope your friend has a great time, and caches his share of fish.
Last edited by MSD53X; 06-23-2011 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Ossipee Lake is in New Hampshire, but same streamers should work fine
Thanks team
I am not the one fishin but I will be doing the tying
If you are trolling, the super long shanked flies do well. 8x and above.