Excuse my ignorance, but is there a list of panfish flies for tying on our site? I can’t seem to find any. Sorry if it escaped my eyes.
Thanks,
Bruce
FishDave is my go to guy for panfish info. Hopefully he will chime in and share his Obiwon knowledge. ![]()
I realize this isn’t a good time to begin something new, but maybe in the future we could begin a section of patterns just for bass and panfish?
check the panfish archives for a lot of panfish flies as well as manyof the flies of the week.
If you go to the main page, click features, click panfish, then click the archive of panfish articles, theres 2 articles for Rick’s favorite bluegill flies and 2 for crappie flies. Thats a good 24 patterns to start with. The articles are about halfway down the page or just use control f to find the word favorite on that page.
Thanks Clay! ![]()
Actually, you can search the Panfish and Warmwater articles from the Home Page. As Joe Cool pointed out, Rick Zieger wrote a pair of very good articles on his favorite bluegills flies, and another pair on his favorite crappie flies. Of those, my favorite is his Boa Yarn Leech pattern, which has caught hundreds of fish for me (bass, bluegills, crappies, and even catfish). It works great!
In addition to those, another good resource is Ward Bean’s Warmwater Fly Tyer website:
http//:www.warmwaterflytyer.com/
There are a number of patterns in the FOTW archives on this website that will catch bluegills. Woolly buggers of various sizes and colors work really well for panfish. And a variety of the SHWAPF pattern has done really well for me, especially early in the year right after ice-out. Small foam topwaters, like a gurgler or any foam bug, will work, especially those with rubber legs! Mohair leeches are another favorite of mine.
The main thing about bluegill flies is for the fly to be “buggy” looking, good action from rubber legs or rabbit/marabou tails…and KEEP THE TAILS SHORT. Bluegills are notorious for short-biting due to their small mouths. I try to keep any tail materials about 1/4" long.
Hook sizes I use most are generally 8-12, and will often make a point to bend the barb down before tying the fly. Makes hook removal from the fish so much easier.
Good Luck!! ![]()
Thanks. I’m going to tie a few up and head to a lake this weekend.
There have been many articles by Rick Z. and other’s in the Panfishand Warmwatersections that list their favorite flies. Browse through these archives and you will find tons of great info and tips. Month’s upon month’s of valuable reading there.
Some of Rick’s
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/part302.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/part303.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/part304.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/part305.php
Another one
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/part258.php
Staples in my panfish box (aka Altoids tin):
Boa yarn leech
damsel nymph off Ward Bean’s website
Crappie candy
Gurgle pop
orange beadhead mohair leech (i like brown/maroon)
look up cap spiders also… simple pattern that’s effective
simple soft hackles in bright colors
Hi Lastchance,
Joe Hyde really likes the #10 gold ribbed hare’s ear flash back. He recently told friend Kevin and myself that all fish have and do eat nymphs. He has had great success with it on a large variety of panfish.
Regards,
Gandolf
Thanks to everyone. I’ve been so tuned into trout for the past 25 years this is like a new thing to me.
any trout fly will catch panfish
Also look for the Goldie Jr in the FOTWQ archives.
Look for “My Furled tail Leech” article
Both flies have done well for me this year.
They would be in my Favorites now.
Rick
i’ve been killing them this spring on a bead head red squirrel nymph with pumpkin colored legs.
Everyone I’ve given a Boudreaux to (or shown the pattern recipe) is now a true convert.
See http://flyanglersonline.com/features/bobboese/112408.php
I’m going to tie some Boudreaux’s, furled leeches, etc. etc. It seems the list is large and I have much experimenting to complete.
Thanks,
Bruce
I’ve also had fantastic success this year with the red fox squirrel nymph. Instead of a bead head I have lead wire wrapped around the shank and add a soft hackle.
I’ve never seen pumpkin colored legs. Is that a common color to find?
I don’t ever go fishing for brim and bass without a box full of Pete Fraily’s Gurgle Pops in size #12, #10, and #8. White, yellow, chartreuse, green and black are all good colors. Gurgle Pops are easy to tie, cheap to make, effective and durable. You can’t ask for much more than that. They also make a great float for dropper flies like a Brassie or Hare’s Ear. Try 'um, you’ll like 'um! 8T ![]()
I have to agree with 8T. The Gurgle is a great all around fly to use and a really easy tie. I tied a few with some hackle wrapped round the segments before bring the foam over the top, to add some movement, and caught some nice bass with’em. Bullgills with hit big time on a smaller hook too.
Mike
What size hook do you tie the gurglers on for bluegills and crappies? Won’t the rubber legs hinder the gills swallowing the gurgler?