Well my main staple is using a midge dropper under a popper or dry, usually an olive biot midge. Lately I have been trying something different that I have been getting mixed results with and not sure if it?s the weather changing or what. I created some deer/elk hair midges that I use as a trailer behind a gill buster (my newest favorite subsurface). I figure the deer hair makes it sort of float, at least it won?t sink as fast. Cast out and let the buster or bugger take it to the bottom and then slowly hop it back. Sometimes it works unbelievably well; sometimes I can?t buy a fish on it. As far as size I stick with 12 ? 16 using the later the most.
Robert,
Here are some brief instructions for the RLD:
[url=http://www.flyfishga.com/rl_dragon.htm:3df6c]http://www.flyfishga.com/rl_dragon.htm[/url:3df6c]
Thanks DBD (or is it Kevin?).
Jim Hatch,
For that Invicta Dragonfly nymph I use no weight other than metal beadchain eyes instead of the mono eyes. I tie an underbody of open-cell foam (the sinking kind) to build up the abdomen shape before the chenille overbody. I use tan or brown on a size 8 hook for our natural Dragonfly nymph we have here.
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
[This message has been edited by dixieangler (edited 07 October 2005).]
Thanks Robert,
I will try your methods this weekend and
fish them next week. I have a vague
recollection of a very similar fly in one of
my tying books only it was braided. I do
remember I thought it was a neat looking
fly but it was just shown as an example for
a braiding method without any details about
what it was. My buddy is reading it now but
soon as I get it back I’m anxious to give
the braided version a go as well.
Warm regards, Jim
Hey Mike,
I had to look up that black ghost fly to
be sure I knew what you was talking about.
That thing looks more like one of Ronn’s
art works for salmon.G You obviously set
a much better table for your crappie than I
do. Mine get a bit of chenille and artic
fox with bead chain eyes. They like it a
lot and hard as they try, they can’t hurt
it.G Good tip on the grass carp Mike. I
discovered it while trying to fish for them
with nymphs. The gills would move right in
to the cloudy waters and grab my nymphs
before the carp ever saw them.G
Otter,
I think the "big ugly" gets them up and looking and when the hares ear bounces
by thier nose they can’t resist it. Works
for me too.
Flyline,
The elk/deer hair midges behind a
weighted fly sounds interesting. I maybe
should try it with my weighted offerings
for fall. Do you have a pattern or picture
to share?
I appreciate the info you folks
are sharing. Can’t have too much! Looks
like a number of us are pursuing similar
ideas and achieving similar results. Not a
surprise, but not as much info generally
available for us warmwater types as there is
for the trouters. Please keep your ideas
and experiences coming folks. It’s very
informative and helps stir the creative
juices as well.G Warm regards, Jim
This is a very interesting thread! OK, here goes. This is what has worked for me this year [I switch around the lakes I fish quite a bit and my flies change also.]
Wooly Worms - griz/yellow, red hackle tail, tied with red thread; brn/brn, no tail, with yellow floss stripe tied down the back; crackleback ww pattern [from Feather-Craft]. All in size 14, both weighted and unweighted [weighted with 1/8" beadhead].
Scud - cream, with brown head, cream latx back. Size 12 scud hook, un weighted. Slightly weighted cooper bug, again on size 12 scud hook.
Other - gill getter from Terry Wilson’s book, chart/gray squirrel tail, legs, on #12 3XL hook, weighted with 10 turns .015 lead wire.
DJ dregger - local pattern, can furnish if anyone interested. Weighted as above and was developed for redear when they’re really deep.
Wooly Bugger - griz/white or olive. 12 3XL hook, 12 turns .15 lead wire.
I fish the scuds and unweighted wooly worms under a strike indicator usually. Everything else is fished via count-down casting.
I don’t usually suspend flies below my poppers or water spiders because I fish very small ones that will not support additional flies. Judging from the above, tho, I will probably tie up some “thread midges” for next year. I assume the pattern is just like the name - some thread on a hook??
Actually I have a lot more flies in my boxes than listed but these are the ones I been reaching for this year.
Donald
Hi Donald,
Thanks for sharing the info. Yes,
thread midges are pretty simple. A google
search will give you some good pic’s and
patterns. Warm regards, Jim
One of the things that I am blessed with is very fertile ponds. I also have a large number of ponds to go to so I am not always hitting the same water.
Rick
MY wife syas that I think like a fish.
Some more dragonfly nymph ideas.
Hum Bug (has some predominate features of the natural, two-tone, 6 legs, abdomen, thorax/head).
[url=http://shorterlink.com/?PL0PNK:591ec]http://shorterlink.com/?PL0PNK[/url:591ec]
My Dixie Bug (based on the Hum Bug) attractor is a quasi-dragonfly nymph type.
[url=http://shorterlink.com/?JRPMUP:591ec]http://shorterlink.com/?JRPMUP[/url:591ec]
Both of these do, however, lack the large eyes of the natural but the addition beadchain eyes can solve that if desired.
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
Jim
To address the core of your origional question; in years past I’ve done much better with more realistic nymphs - GRHE, PT, damsel, sparrow, soft hackles, etc. However, this year I think visibility has been the problem. With the really hot weather [yes, I know many of yo’all southern types have over 90 degree weather all the time!] we’ve have numerous algae “blooms” giving the water a real green cast. I’ve done much better this year with bright flies that the fish can see. We’re also getting a really heavy "goose trd hatch"! I think because of the builder’s ponds now and the fact that so many people feed the d** things we have them year around. They really make the water in the smaller lakes crappy [pun intended]! <G> Bright yellow has also been the “popper colour of choice” this year.
donald
Thanks Donald,
I can relate to the problem with the
geese. Some small flocks were put out here
and encouraged to winter over which they
have. They are now getting quite problematic as you mentioned. They are real
poop machines. We hope to pay some extra
attention to them this winter when the
season opens.G Warm regards, Jim
Jim, if you recall, I sent you my amalgamated scud pattern years back. I still haven’t changed my mind, it’s one of themost effective redear patterns around.
Heck RG,
I’ve got a memory like a steel trap. I
remember everything, eventually. But at the
moment I can’t remember the Almagamated Scud
Pattern. I do remember talking about scuds
on chat with ya but not the details. If ya
have a pic I’d love to see it. Warm regards
Jim
I would also be interested in learning the pattern for the amalgamated scud. Can you share???
Thanks
Jim Smith
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial”>quote:</font><HR>The elk/deer hair midges behind a
weighted fly sounds interesting. I maybe
should try it with my weighted offerings
for fall. Do you have a pattern or picture
to share?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don’t have a pic but I will work on it.
Hook: Light wire - Dry Fly
Thread: Black 8\0
Rib: Thread
Abdomen: Deer/Elk hair
Thorax: Peacock herl
Start the thread and wrap to the back leavin a length of thread for te rib.
Tie in up to 10 strand of hair (depending on thickness) at the tips using a locking style tie in. 2 wrap on top 1 under finish on top.
Wrap thread up to an eyes length away from the eye.
Wrap the hair to the thread point but not to tight you don’t want ot flatten the hair or it won’t float. Tie off hair.
Counter wrap thread for rib and tie off.
Tie in 3 strands of herl. Wrap forward to eye and tie off.
Subsurface, realistic works best for me, Jim!
[url=http://www.native-waters.com:3689a]http://www.native-waters.com[/url:3689a]
[This message has been edited by RStouff (edited 08 October 2005).]
Thanks Fly Line,
Appreciate the pattern. I’ll try to
figure it out in the morning. If you come
up with a picture, I’d love to see one. I
can look at anything and whip out a repro
pretty quick or I can design something in
my mind and see it clearly. But when I
take a pattern from someone else and try to
visualize it in my mind, it’s like one of
those little windows pops up and tells me
I don’t have a program to open that file.G
Hey RS,
I been waiting for you to chime in. I
was starting to get concerned.G I’m
gonna try me some of them jitterbees one
day. Warm regards, Jim
How do you guys go about fishing the scuds and midges. Small strips, twitches or just letting them sit still? I have to confess, I haven’t even tried them to date.
Under a popper or dry fly and letting them just sit is very effective.
All by themselves and let them sink very slowly.
Sunday I was out in the boat and it got windy so I put on a sinktip and tied 3 on and just drifted. I caught 35 ? 40 crappies in 5 drifts across this small lake. Later I tied on a double bunny and drifted the same way and got my first northern almost to the boat. Figure I must have had a bad spot in my leader.
Jim Hatch-
I can’t remember if I’ve told you this or not, but that scud pattern you like so much can be found in a book called Patent Patterns. Its available at bass pro, and has all kinds of nifty patterns in it!
Jim Smith-
You are just up the road from me! Drop me an e-mail and let’s see if we can hook up and irritate some fish sometime soon!
Swamp