What are some good dropper flies for panfish? Would a beedhead renegade work well?
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
There’s a thread about this around here somewhere. My all time favorite dropper for panfish is a PT nymph but I think most nymph types will work.
Scuds, nymphs, and soft hackles all serve as great droppers.
Swamp
Scuds are my favorite dropper; followed by a local fly called a “Dredger”.
Donald
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear for me. For some reason the bream and crappie will not touch a Pheasant Tail but will usually nail the Hare’s Ear.
bd
Killer Caddis in green or red, or a TransparAnt. I tie the Ant in a fluorescent green that is real effective. TransparAnt doesn’t sink like the Caddis it kind of suspends.
I tried some Green Weenies last year for the first time and they were deadly on panfish. I’ve also used size 10 GRHE, Black Flymphs, large PT Nymphs and some real small minnow/fry patterns, tied on size 10 and 12 4XL.
I tried some Green Weenies last year for the first time and they were deadly on panfish. I’ve also used size 10 GRHE, Black Flymphs, large PT Nymphs and some real small minnow/fry patterns, tied on size 10 and 12 4XL.
Midges in size 18-22 have worked well for me.
Rick
Guys - This is an interesting thread. A nymph on a dropper is what I use 80-90% of the time after the summer heat sets in. It’s great to see what other people use! The scud I use is cream - I call it the Bambi Scud - that I developed for my son who uses it ice fishing. It passes for a “beemoth” - to non ice fishers read “maggot”! Bluegill and redear hit it like bait. I sometimes feel guilty using it.
Donald
So is it just a white scud. Mabey i could tie some up for my little cusins. I usually buy a cup of beemoths for them and the gills usually take it within no time at all.
Post the recipe if you will.
-Zac
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
Bass Anglerb 04 -
Pattern is:
hook: scud [like 2487] size 12.
thread: white, 6/0.
body: dubbing, caddis life cycle, cream. Dub shaggy body from half-way around the hook bend to head.
ribbing: white 6/0 thread tied in at beginning of the tying process.
back: medical latex glove material. This has a slight creamy colour and is somewhat heavier than the throwaway gloves.
Tie in the white 6/0, making a 2-3" dubbing loop. Cut one side of the loop. This is your ribbing material. Tie in a 1/8 wide strip of the glove next. Dub the body fairly tightly but shaggy. [You can use a dubbing loop or single thread dubbing.] Pull the latex strip over the back and tie down at head of fly. Spiral the ribbing forward in about 3 or 4 turns. Tie off at head. Whip finish. Tease out “legs” on bottom of fly with teaser or velcro hook part. Colour the head with Sharpie dark brown marker. [This is completely waterproof.] Don’t worry about the smell - it has now bothered the fishies!
The “legs” and the brown head are important to the pattern. Don’t omit.
Fish under a popper or stike indicator. Cast close to the weedline. Just leave it alone or move very, very slowly. When the indicator dips, set the hook. Enjoy.
Like I said, the fish take it like bait. Make sure you have some small forceps for hook removal because they’ll swallow it if you’re slow.
Luck.
Donald
Bass Angler 04 -
Almost forgot. If you’re going to use this with a spinning outfit use an ice fishing bobber - one that will support 2 or 3 BB split shot. This will cast OK with 4 or 6# line [Magnathin or similiar] and is very, very sensitive.
Donald
Bass Angler 04 -
Jeez - ya jis can’t finds good help anymores!! Take my proofreader - please!
Where the first post says “colour with Sharpie dark brown…don’t worry about the smell - it does NOT bother the fishies.”
Donald
Thanks alot for posting it beadleech sounds like a great pattern.
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly
Zac,
I have had some look with using a Prince nymph in sizes 10 - 14 with BH and without. Also have used the old stanby Pheasant Tail nymph in sizes 10 - 16. And finally one that has worked in the past down in southern Louisiana is what I have been told is called a chenille gnat.
Recipe for a chenielle gnat:
Hook: 2X long standard nymph/wet type hook in sizes 8 - 16
Thread: Black, Olive, Red 6/0 or 8/0
Weight: small amount of .015 lead wire
Tail: Small amount of Marabou featheres in red, black, olive, chatruese or bright green, blue, just about whatever you can come up with!
Body: Standard or small Chenielle in colors like the tail. Or if feeling spunky, use peacock herl in either natural or dyed colors!
Ribbing (optional): fine gold wire
1.First start thread one eye width rear of eye and wrap to bend.
2. Wrap and tie in a small amount of lead wire for weight (if needed, it generally will sink without any but not very deep.)
3.Tie in a small amount of Marabou for a tail. Tail should be no longer than hook shank, with most of my tails being 3/4 to 1/2 shank.
4. Tie in ribbing (if used) and chenielle (or herl) at hook bend. Move thread forward to one eye width back from eye. Wrap chenielle (or herl) and ribbing (if used) to thread and tie off and trim tag end.
5. Form SMALL head and whip finish! DONE!!!
For colors, I like to use red, blue and bright green material for tail with a black body. My favorite for louisiana is using a green tail with a olive or dull green body using ultra or small chenielle, this imitates grass shrimp if tied in sizes 14 and smaller in louisiana! I have had luck last fall with using a purple dyed peacock herl body and green or red tailed on with a little weight on the fron of the hook shank , here in the louisville area! Every now and then, I will tie in a 1 or 2 wraps of hackle (brown or black)in appropriate size near head, but remember to use it sparingly!!!
The key to the chenielle gnat is to imitate something that you can by for spinning gear! Go to any fishing gear and tackle shop and you will find small plastic tube jigs for bluegill and crappie in all kinds of colors! Normally these are sold in lengths about 3/4" - 1" long. They work well for spinning gear! I can’t remember a time in louisiana that we didn’t have a few packs in the tackle box for bluegill and crappie! This fly is extremely user friendly and flexible!!!
As soon as I can get the digital camera back from my better half, and learn how to load pics on here, I’ll post a few of my favorites!!!
Sincerely,
Reg
PS Zac, are you getting as frustrated at the weather in the kentuckiana area as I am??? ARGH!!!
[This message has been edited by RCaillouet3 (edited 28 February 2005).]
[This message has been edited by RCaillouet3 (edited 28 February 2005).]
Thanks alot ill tie up a couple of those that you posted about. Yah i know what you mean about the weather. It just now stopped snowing after all that excellent weather over the weekend. Its driving me crazy.
-Zac
The way to a flyfisherman’s heart is through his fly