Although I’m new to fly tying, and have only 5 years experience flyfishing (one year experience 5 times? ) I’ve been a fisherman for more than 50 years. This undoubtedly shapes the way I look at fly fishing.
Given the fact that tadpoles, especially small ones, are an eagerly sought prey by bass, why are there so few tying patterns for tadpoles? A search of the FAOL archives yielded just one, and it is far bigger than I’d prefer. I’d think a tiny tadpole pattern – big black or black/brown head and skinny tail on a #12, #10, or #8 streamer hook – would be very effective in shallow water during the spring. Any of you guys tie a tadpole pattern that works for you?
Check out Harry Murray’s site - he has a #4 Tadpole, but I think a black or brown Marauder (seen just below the Tadpole) might work and they come in the sizes you want. Hope this helps. http://www.murraysflyshop.com/fliessmallmouth.html
I had a friend use live tadpoles as bait a few times. Oddly enough, he couldn’t have bought a “bite” on one of them. I’ve always wondered how other people have fared using them, whether it be bait or flies.
I’ll happily debate the original premise you stated, that tadpoles are an ‘eagerly sought prey’ by bass.
My experience is that this just isn’t so.
Bass will go through a thick layer of grass to get to a frog, but I’ve seen them swim THROUGH a cloud of tadpoles to get at a baby bluegill or shore minnow.
Maybe RG/AR is correct, and there is some chemical reason, but I’ve never seen a bass eat one of the things. AND, I was the kid with the cup cacthing and using them for bait. Never worked for me.
In any event, bass just aren’t that fly pattern picky anyway. A wooly bugger in a similar color to your naturals would be close enough if you really want to fish something that resembles a tadpole.
I don’t know how true it is, but I was once told or read (sorry don’t rememer which)that certain tadpoles don’t taste good to bass, therefore they don’t eat them. The adults on the other hand are a different story. I forget what type of tadpoles exactly, but part of me thinks bullfrogs were one of them.
Well, gentlemen, it’s happened to me again. One of these days I’ll learn that it isn’t the things I don’t know that mess me up, it’s the things I’m absolutely certain about that turn out to be wrong! :oops:
I’d have sworn that many years ago I witnessed a bass ravaging a cloud of tiny black tadpoles. Now you guys have me wondering if that cloud wasn’t bullhead fry.
Do any of you tie a bullhead fry pattern that works well for you? <Insert tongue-in-cheek smilie here>
Interesting this would come up. As a kid I drowned tadpoles by the dozen and I don’t remember ever catching a bass on one. I even baited a trotline with them and couldn’t catch a catish on one. I came to the conclusion they must taste bad.
This year, while icefishing, I caught a bass about a pound and a half and while lying on the ice he disgorged a pretty good sized one. I would guess it was a bullfrog tadpole. I released him but he had a pretty full belly on him and I would gues that is what was in him.
So - they will eat them - but, imho, I don’t think too often.
Page 37 from Harry Murray’s Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass, “This juvenile stage of the frog was once the well guarded secret bait of of Mr. Will, a local angler acclaimed for his consistent catches of big bass. One day I accidentally discovered his secret and was instantly sworn to secrecy.” If Harry believes it, that is good enough for me.
This isn’t really a tadpole, and it really isn’t a leech, but it’s a darned effective fly called a Gill Buster. If you’re a tyer, tie on an hourglass weight or beadchain Clouser style, then lay down a thin zonker strip over the top. Wrap the thread to just above the hook point and wrap it down back and over to the eye and tie it off. Incredibly effective in black for bass and bluegill. I match the thread with the zonker color. I also match the weight to the water temperature and other conditions. Mostly I’ll use the beadchain get up because it’s so much lighter and still does the same dance. In fast moving or cold water I’ll use the hourglass weights. Tied in white it becomes a dangerous walleye fly, and white, yellow and black have all caught crappies. Olive, orange and black are very effective on smallies. I guess if I were starving and had just one fly to choose to feed my wife and I, I’d take a black Gill Buster over every other fly ever tied. I know it works in Nebraska waters, and those ponds down off the Interstate by Kearney are proof! JGW
) I’ve been a fisherman for more than 50 years. This undoubtedly shapes the way I look at fly fishing.