Just one quick question for the group. When we have a poll for favorite brim flies, lots of patterns are listed but the Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear always shows up high on the list. I like catching my brim on the top with gurgle pops but I would like to use the GRHE as a double threat either alone or as a dropper. What size would you recomend for the GRHE either alone or as a dropper fly below a gurgle pop? Thanks in advance for your help! 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
[This message has been edited by Eight Thumbs (edited 07 February 2005).]
Down here on Lake Moultrie the fly works
well for me in size 12, 14, and 16. I fish
it both on a dropper or alone. Both have
been effective at different times. I have
also had very similar results here with a
PT nymph. But most of my larger bream are
taken on scuds in similar sizes fished in
both manners. Give them all a try and see
what you think. Drop me an email if you
get down this way and I’ll put you on some
of my better holes. Warm regards, Jim
I usually use size 12 or 14, and it works more consistently for me than any other fly (I’ll have to try out using a scud, too). I did, however, tie up a couple on size 8 hooks about a month ago. I’ve only tried the size 8 once, with a size 12 of the same fly as a dropper: I caught a bunch of yellow bass, and each fly seemed to work as well as the other, but the two biggest bass bit on the larger fly. Coincidence? Probably. But in any case, it does seem to work in larger sizes.
I will usually use 12 or 14, but occasionally I will throw on a 10 or 16 and let it have some of the fun. Ok, usually that happens when I am out of 12 and 14s, because I tied three and that ought to be enough for this trip you know.
I have tried the scud option as a stand-alone fly and came up empty so far. I have yet to give it a go as a dropper, however, so I still have some level of belief in Jim’s methods.
Not my original tactics buddy.G I
took it from the trout fishing threads. It
seems that my warmwater fish seem to think
they like to eat virtually the same stuff as
the high falootin’ trout. Go figure!G
The more I fish warm water, the more
simularities I see to the cold water articles I read. And this from someone that
was taught to flyfish warmwaters strictly
with garish popping bugs that looked nothing
like anything in Gods official listing of
fish food.G Warm regards, Jim
Just funnin ya Jim. I am guessing, now that I have more experience with the WW world and still waters and all that comes with it, that when I have tried them in the past I was probably just not feeling the takes, or was moving the little buggers too fast. It has been over a year since I have really tried them seriously, but this year will (hopefully) be different!
Don
PS, I saw this fall that there are a lot of snails in the weeds also, so I may be trying something to emulate them too. . .
Our local brims seem to like bigger flies than what you guys are talking about. Size 8 or 12 for nymphs. Almost all of my Gurgle-pops are tied on size 8 hook. Is that bigger than what you find effective, eight thumbs?
Peter, my gurgler types are on size 8 and 6 also. I also tye some dragonfly/damselfly nymphs on size 8 hooks, but the Gold Ribbed Haire’s Ear and Scuds tend to immitate smaller bugs, so I tie them smaller.
Thanks to everyone for your input. It looks like we have pretty good agreement on sized #12, #14, & maybe #16. I will definitly whip up a couple of dozen GRHE in those sizes. I will also take Peter’s suggestion and try a few in larger size. I tend to agree with Peter that larger sizes can work well, plus they are more attractive to bass. Brim that can take a # 8 Wooly Bugger shouldn’t have too much trouble with a #8 GRHE.
Jim, thanks so much invitation to join you on Lake Moultrie. I would love to try out some your legendary fish and pick up a few tips from the master. I will definitely take you up on the offer this spring or early summer.
Peter, I tie my brim gurgle pops in #12 and #8. My #8s are tied with a double strip of foam to increase floating ability. They are big. I get lots of big brim and bass on them. I call the single strip gurgle pops “low riders.” I also tie bass gurgle pops in #4, #2, #1/0 and #2/0 (all with double foam strips) As you can see, I like big flies for my warmwater fishing.
Thanks again to everyone for your help and suggestions. 8T
Looks like I’m a bit late, but I’ll go ahead and jump in with my $0.02 worth. I fish PT Nymphs, Hare’s Ears, etc., also, with a heavy helping of scud and freshwater shrimp patterns. I don’t like to go smaller than #12’s because of the problem of deep hooking with the smaller flies. Sometimes it’s necessary to go to the smaller sizes, but it’s a last resort for me.
