Friends,
Haven’t gotten responses yet on my post in the Fly Angler’s section, so forgive me if you’ve read this one:
Trout season is done for a while here in Rhode Island. I’ve heard there may be some bass/pickerel/pike activity in some ponds, but I don’t usually target them. Thinking of giving it a shot Sunday, so I’d like some suggestions about what to tie.
Thanks!
Hugh
Although I grew up fishing for bass and pickerel in New England, I didn’t fly fish for them back then. I know that pickerel really like lots of gold flash and the colors red and yellow in combination. I would tie up streamers with these colors with gold flashaboo mixed in. For bass, I find that they prefer large leech patterns tied in all black or with a red beadhead in the early season. Then around mid to late June they switch over to preferring streamer patterns, probably because the small fish are on the menu by then. I tie my bass patterns with polarfiber olive (very light) over chartruese over white. I add just a bit of silver flashaboo under the olive Polarfiber. I tie them using the Hi-Ti method similar to baby bunkers for saltwater. I also put 3D eyes on almost all my streamers, probably more for me that for the fish:)
We don’t have many pickerel down here in Georgia and the two that I have caught were referred to as Jacks and they were only 12-13 inches long. I really do miss the lightening fast slashing strikes that pickerel make, especially when you drag something past the weedbeds they’re laying in.
Good Luck.
Jim Smith
At this time of year I expect the bass will be deep and lethargic. The pike might be more active during ice-out as that is when they mate in the shallows. The one simple fly in two versions would be a woolly bugger. For bass it should be dark, with lead or a conehead, and tied on a hook the size of a Mustad 79580 #6. For this you will want at least a 6wt rod. Pike will want something larger and brighter - easier to see, something tied on a #2 hook (if not larger) and about 5" long. A white or yellow WB would work, but for a fly this size synthetics are easier to cast - so probably some streamer would be better. For this you would want at least a 7wt rod, if not an 8wt.
Mickey Fins and Clousers.
Regards,
Scott
Any trout streamer will work. I’ve had luck on Pickerel with a Black-nosed Dace. They like flash. But any bugger, bucktail or clouser will do, as will mohair leeches.
Good ideas, y’all! Still listenin’ if you’re postin’!
Hugh,
Never dealt with pickeral.
Your basic streamers will all take pike. Early season throw the big, flashy ones.
Bass won’t be too active in your neck of the woods until the water temps reach the high 40s. Then, start out on steep main lake points and fish slowly with a large fly on a sinking line. 'Buggers tied on #2 or #1 6xl hooks, large leeches, etc., will work fine. Try to fish flies at least 3-4 inches long. Dark colors are best. Hard to beat black, black & red, olives. Depth and speed are more important than fly choice.
Good Luck!
Buddy
Bunny strips, in greens and oranges with a bit of flash.
What part of RI are you from? You can fish Stafford, Lincoln Woods,
March is pickerel season where I live and where I live is about 3 miles from the RI state line. 
Pickerel are aggressive predators so mostly what’s needed is to present the fly where they can see it and then have them notice
Simple flies are good as you will loose some to their pointy teeth.
Bucktails like the mickyfinn or a Brooks blond are fine tied in bright noticeable colors. Red/yellow, red/white, green/yellow, the colors of Dardevle spoons
On nice days I’ll even try a top-water like a sneakypete. If you get bit off, watch for the bug to surface. they often spit them out. The little “hammer handles” are especially a nuisance like this.
I’m in Richmond, RI. I thinking of going out on Worden’s Pond, but haven’t settled yet. Still like hearing the suggestions, b/c I’m sure to go more than once between now and opening day!
Teach… I’ll re-post on this thread as per your request. We seemed to have lost the other. Looks like you have some good suggestions. I begin to target big bass immediately after ice out. My first advice is don’t be afraid to go big. Many of my bass flies will be up to 8". Big Clousers - Big Woolly Buggers and, my favorite, out-sized Bunny Leeches. I should warn you - all my flies come with the discalaimer: “This is my variation of:” 
These are mostly tied on 1/0 Gamakatsu S15. Fish them close to the bottom and sloooowwwww.
Here’s some of “my” leeches -
They work. The day before I caught this fish there were geese standing on the ice.
I’d go with a good leader/tippet as I’ll bet the pike will like them too. Good luck.
It’s been a long time since I’ve fished Worden’s, but I’m pretty sure that there’s pike in there too
Great advice, everyone. And Hidehunter: that is one NICE bass! If I start catching those, I may think twice about returning to trout!
