Plastic salamanders are awesome for bass when they are bedding, do you think this will work? It’s going to need a weedguard I know, I was thinks of figuring out some kinds of a swimming action on the tail too.
What are the body and tail materials that you used?
Joe
Those are really cool.
When I read plastic salimanders was thinking you weren’t fly fishing anymore :lol:!
Anything will work for bass but I really like your creation!
Are those eyes tied on top of the hook? If so it will float upside down. If you attach the tail separately by loops on the tail and the tail it will swim more. Keep playing with it until it does what you want.
I looked at your salamander fly pattern and noticed that you were using a hook with a straight eye, in alignment with the hook shank.
I think that you could avoid a weed guard, if you used a down eye hook, and jigged the pattern with a metal beadhead for the weight.
Most down eye hooks eyes are set at a 45 degree angle. If you bent the hook shank at a 45 degree angle, leaving space for the metal beadhead weight the the hook spear would be reversed and no need for a weed guard. The beadhead would move along the bottom, and the hook shank would be tipped upward slightly. This is how I tie all my patterns that run along the bottom (crayfish, chub, sculpin, small catfish, fry, & leeches)
My fly pattens do not get stuck in the rock debris or sunken logs and branches, the fly just bumps over them…
The only thing I would critique is that the tail should be shorter than the body. Most salamanders have a longer body than tail.
What are the eyes made of? If weighted, then like RC is saying, it will likely flip hook. Plastic/buoyant would be desire if those are not already so. Although maybe a hook up configuration would be better if you’re walking is across the bottom. That might lessen the need for a weed guard as weed perhaps? Just thinking out loud.
Yes I confess I am a reformed hardware chunker with 3 baitcaster and an arsenal of spinning rods, most covered in dust.
Thanks for the input, the tail is a scrap of garment grade leather, lead barbell eyes [I think I can just flip the legs over and fish it hook point up} the body, feel free to laugh, is built up from a cheap hair weave I bought at a dollar store, covered with some black yarn I inherited from a friend. The legs are rubber from a bungee cord with a sun damaged cover. The hook is No. 6 Eagle Claw Aberdeen, so I can bend the eye per Parnelli suggestion.
I like the swimming tail idea too, I have some 3 strand stainless wire leader than is good for that type of thing.
Version two will probably have a little wire weight, just enough to sink it, bead chain eyes.
Thanks again.
A little side track…
Do trout eat salamanders? Have a lake with lots of salamanders that the trout don’t seem to bother.
To be honest I was thinking warm water, but salamanders eat fish eggs & salamanders are mostly protein; trout consume protein. I am guessing yes. Remember most fish are predators, you are only safe when you are too big to be easily swallowed.
I do love them trout for the selective gentlemen they are.
Trout don’t like anything without texture,a smooth skinned amphibian for them is like a flat beer.
I do love them bass too cuz if it even remotely looks alive they’ll take a taste and there ain’t nothing like a flat beer if you’re out of sorts.
Looks like a FOTW candidate in the near future. 
Maybe these plastic curly tails? They definitely move but tend to foul a little in the hook bend.
http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=TB011
Joe
Personally, I think plastic curly tails cross the line from fly to what?
And rubber legs don’t? A rubber tail on something like this is no different then using thin skin as a wing case on a nymph or synthetic dubbing on a dry fly. Not too many all natural material flies out there when one considers the thousands and thousands of different patterns.
If you’re talking purest tying, I doubt anyone was tying salamander patterns in Izaak Walton’s time.
I don’t have a problem with synthetics…but I wouldn’t use a plastic curly tail anymore than I would a plastic salamander or worm and call it a fly, and if it ain’t a fly it ain’t fly fishing. But hey!! That’s me!!!
Uncle Jesse, if you want my thoughts they are running to “Fly of the Week”, once you get the pattern settled to your satisfaction.
Ed
P.S. I see TyroneFly beat me to it. 
Uncle Jesse:
Your salamander must be hiding under a rotting log somewhere, as it did not make it to Texas! Would like to see it. Any ideas on where best to look?
Cheers,
agedsage
Sage, I am not knowledgeable enough about network matters to know why did not make it to the Lone Star State. The image is still on my bulletin board.
This is Salamander 2.0 using a neoprene tail and plastic bead eyes with lead wire wrapped hook shank. It’s a little bit light but it may get a chance to go fishing Sunday afternoon. More to come
Probably the finest use for neoprene waders I can think of - cutting them up and using them as tails.
Joe