Thoughts?

Hi, new here.
I’m just getting back into fly fishing again. Long story short…
I’ll be at the Colorado River (Southern) and want to try fly fish for some of the large mouth Bass that always jump between dawn and sunrise where I camp.
If not on the water fishing, I study them from camp with one of our dogs and my coffee.
This trip I plan to try fly fishing for them. And my Brother-In-Law wants to try for some Crappy or Blue Gills for a fish fry.
What are your thoughts on flies to try for the trip?
I’m partial to Adams and Caddis flies, but open to suggestions.
It’s usually hotter than Hades there during the day this time of year so I plan on morning and late afternoon fishing.

I have been fishing lakes and backwaters from Lake Martinez south to Squaw lake for a week each spring and fall for the last four years. This is what I use out there:

Topwater: gurglers, dahlberg divers, deer hair bugs, and small pencil poppers fished on a floating line. These are most effective early and late. They should have weed guards as the weed growth can be really thick in the lakes. For bluegill use smaller bluegill size poppers and typical trout dry fly patterns and some damselfly nymph patterns.

Near surface work: I use Lefty’s Deceivers and Blanton’s Flashtail whistlers in smaller sizes such as 2,1, and 1/0 fished on a floating line and toss them around trees, tules and other structure where the weeds allow, or retrieve them over the tops of the weeds where they do not reach the surface. I tie my own and add weed guards to all of these two reduce the incidences of fouling on the vegitation. I also use woolly buggers, again tied with weed guards, in black, olive, and white.

Deeper work in lakes and in the river: Same flies as above, along with clouser minnows in various colors, fished on a sinking line.

Crappie in the lakes: Small streamers and woolly buggers in light and dark colors fished on both sinking lines and floating lines. When fished on a floating line, I like to use and adjustable indicator to control depth and detect light strikes while drifting through areas where I think I might find crappie. I usually find crappie by watching for anlgers who are specifically targeting them.

I have not fished out there from June through September, however some locals have told me that it is not unusual to catch a couple of dozen bass around dawn and sunset with topwater flies during the hot summer months if you find the right locations. I have encountered this type of action in October. I have also seen wide open catching in a spot one evening then nothing in the same spot on the next 2 or 3 nights, so it pays to try different spots. Oh, and you may run into some striped bass too.

Whew! That’s a lot to digest for this Ol phart. I’m going to have to do some homework. LOL
I have some gear on the way to get back into tying, hopefully I can mimic some of those choices you gave me, and pick some up as well before I go on the 19th.
I’ll be upstream a ways though. Parker strip area. It’s not really a fishing area, but we do what we can. As long as I can get the kids on a fish now and then I can’t ask for anything more. There are some respectable fish to be played there.
I’m hoping to play some on the old fly rods.
I’m off to try and find examples of those patterns you shared, Thank You!

Converted from a creek fisherman to a boating fisherman by time and age. :roll:
Pictures to share.

Welcome here Sonny. You just found the best and most friendly adn helpful fly fishing site on the web.

Make sure you check out the Warm Water and Panfish article archives here on FAOL (links below). There are enough articles there to keep you going for months. Lots of info about fishing for Crappie, Bluegill, Redear, and Largemouth.

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/warmwater/archive.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/panfish/archive.php

Man I guess there’s enough to keep me going for months!
Still figuring my way around the site. :smiley:
Like I’ve said, just getting back into fly fishing. I remember those times when a trout would rise and take down the fly I was working and the heart pounding rush of the rod bending as the fish took off and fought.
I have a bit of rust to work off, but I figure it’ll be like riding a bicycle.
I’m looking forward to getting back out on the water again. But when not…
This is a very nice place to browse and hang out!