Last time I went fishing I noticed this guy catching tilapias with small mealworms and a bobber. My first attempt to tie one of those never quite caught anything so I started to think about tying it in a different way. I used canvas yarn, which by the way is a great material for a lot of uses. Really simple, just wrapped around a curved hooked.
Since I haven’t gone fishing much I got a lot of extra time at home so while I watched an mma fight and tied a lot of colors…what do you guys think? They might not look exactly like a mealworm but I bet it’ll catch a fish or two.
I’m surprised your first ones didn catch anything their nice. i catch on them all the time with min but i use rubber bands they work great just arry the strech as you wrap to taper the body then when done add the cure youwant to the hook. works well both for fly line and spinner set got me a nice large mouth on one afer a baby small took it. was a killer catch.
Martin, those are good looking flies. I’m sure they will work. Another option is to use thin cut strips of chamois (those leather rags used for drying your car). Get them damp, wrap a grub type body, wait for it to dry and coat with Sally Hansen’s Hard As Nails. They are almost indestructible. I use curved egg hooks or a facsimile.
Those all look good to me. I’m surprised you had no joy with the original tie though. They look good. Did you get hits but no hook ups? The gap doesn’t appear to be crowded out or anything like that. If you decide to revamp the original, maybe add 4-6 fibres from a mottled partridge feather tied in as a throat, quite short, with the tips only going back to the 2nd or 3rd turn of the rib from the front. Wouldn’t be a wax worm, but it would make a good caddis grub!
Those do look good and I KNOW they will catch fish around these parts. I tie one similar to your second attempt using large half round vinyl rib in an olive color that is a killer on brookies up at Tumblesom Lake.
They look great! You might try tying some up using burlap. You can purchase burlap in tan, olive and off-white at many fabric stores. I got mine at Wal-Marts back when they had a sewing department. The lady in charge just cut a 2 inch strip off of each color and gave them to me. You can separate the material into strips and wrap/palmer them and give them a good brushing and they look good and are buggie after the brushing.
I tied the first attempt as a carp fly but I have never gotten any hits, it could be because the waters I have been fishing don’t hold a lotta fish or because the ones I use to fish were not producing a lot. I’m not saying I have given up on it but I wanted to try something else because if I don’t start catching fish soon I’ll go crazy (lol)
I found these little rolls of canvas yarn at Waly’s and bought them for a carp slider pattern (it looks like a yarn crab with a marabou tail) and found just some colors, I bought them “just in case” I tied the carp slider and loved the material, it’s really, really durable and you can give it a lot of uses. I went back to Waly’s here in Socal but the don’t carry what’s called needloft so after some research I found the company that supplied the product to them. They have some wild colors and 10 yards of it is only $ 0.45.
If you guys want I can post photos of the flies I have tied with it.
Thanks for the kind words about my flies.
I agree with you steven, carp fishing is tuff. The thing is that it’s a sight fishing kind of game so if there is no sight of them there is just no game. Maybe if I find waters with bluegills it might kill 'em.
There is a park/lake in Van Nuys, Balboa Lake Park I think (?). I go there because it’s really close to me, I live in Canoga Park and because I’m still new to the area and don’t know any other good waters near me. Yes, there’s the beach but I don’t have my waders yet and don’t want to deal with that really cold water.lol
I’ve caught them and have seen people catch some big ones, around half a pond or maybe even a pound. I called the park to ask if they put trout during Winter but they don’t…I’m going to have to buy a fishing video game
I think I’ve posted this thought before, and others may disagree, but I think the main reason waxworms and maggots and the like work well for bait is the scent/flavor more than them looking like food. A fly version can be effective but I think using something that imitates what’s naturally found in the lake or something that looks more alive would be a little more effective.
They are great looking flies though, and would be a great caddis pattern so I may have to look for some of that material.
Also, pictures of more flies never hurt anything so go ahead and share.
You know what? I totally agree with you, the scent and flavor of a bug can make fish more interested but I just don’t want to throw night crawlers. That’s what I was trying to imitate with my canvas yarn fly but it’s one of those times when you think you tie something and end up with a different result. lol
