West Coast Transplant Living in Kansas

[NeophyteOutdoor]

Hello,

As stated I am a west coast transplant living in Kansas because the Army is afraid we will lose the great plains if I am not here. As a life long fly fisherman I want to target crappie this spring. Anyone got a go-to fly they use and are willing to share. Materials and any special tying or fishing techniques are appreciated but a picture is just fine as I can probably muddle through the first couple.

Thanks,

Neo

[deathb4disco]

Hello,

As stated I am a west coast transplant living in Kansas because the Army is afraid we will lose the great plains if I am not here.

Hey, I saw Red Dawn. Kansas is probably at the top of the commie's list.

Welcome aboard!

[deathb4disco]

I have never targeted crappie with the fly rod, but my guess is any small baitfish imitation or a chartreuse woolly bugger would be good.

[Clint]

Like D4D said - Wooly Bugger or a Wolly Worm work well. When the water gets a little warmer I go to Mickey Finns and Crappie Candys.

I fish a floating weight forward line with a Flourocarbon leader in 4# about the length of the depth the crappie and/or bluegill are holding, which may often be found together.

[NeophyteOutdoor]

[/QUOTE]I fish a floating weight forward line with a Flourocarbon leader in 4# about the length of the depth the crappie and/or bluegill are holding, which may often be found together.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the tip on the flies. Are you using a heavy bead head or weighting the fly with wire before tying? With a floating line I am wondering about sink rate to get down 10 feet or so. I suppose split shot is always an option.

Also, when fishing are you just letting the fly sink or are you giving it some kind of action, and if so, what?

[deathb4disco]

Are you using a heavy bead head or weighting the fly with wire before tying? With a floating line I am wondering about sink rate to get down 10 feet or so. I suppose split shot is always an option.

Also, when fishing are you just letting the fly sink or are you giving it some kind of action, and if so, what?

I'm sure Clint will weigh in, but I always fish bead heads. Sometimes I will add a tiny split shot. I use a slow, hand-twist retrieve. (I posted a video in here a few days ago.)

[Clint]

Are you using a heavy bead head or weighting the fly with wire before tying?

Yes and No - I tie some with bead heads and some I weight. However I also tie some with no weight so I can use a very small BB split shot to give the fly a Carolina Rig type action.

With a floating line I am wondering about sink rate to get down 10 feet or so. I suppose split shot is always an option.

While I don't fish sinking lines, a FF buddy swears by sinking tip lines. I don't normally fish water over 5 or 6 feet deep so the fluorocarbon leader is plenty. And yes split shot works either a few feet above (as I mentioned above) or right up against the eye of the fly.

Also, when fishing are you just letting the fly sink or are you giving it some kind of action, and if so, what?

Yes - it depends on the water and the fish. I usually start with an unweighted fly and just let it sink - s l o w l y - and then retrieve it, again
- s l o w l y - in short - s l o w - strips. If that does not work I start to work up in weight and speed. With the weighted Crappie Candy or Mickey Finns I let it sink to the bottom and retrieve it in short hops.

You just have to experiment and let the fish tell you what they prefer.

[addictedangler]

No mater what species you have to get your offer in the strike zone. This can vary a lot. Water temps. clarity and how aggressive the targeted species is.Finding the right depth is critical after locating the fish. Yes a weighted fly for crappie is usually the best to start with. Crappie can be easy to target at times. I usually fish a minnow pattern or insect and usually both. My point fly is usually a weighted white streamer. If you like yellow or green normally then give it a try. The dropper is usually a caddis larva or a may fly nymph or wet. I experiment with weighted flys and small shot. A floating line will work to about 4 or 5 feet down then it becomes very difficult for the flys to be fished due to the angle of the floating line to leader to fly.Assuming you are fishing a 7 1/2 ft leader. You can use a little longer leader and get down a little more also. Next would be a sinking tip line for greater depth. I try to start out with a streamer with bead chain eyes. This is some weight but not so heavy that it sinks like a rock. Use a countdown method to determine the depth your fly is at and when fish start to bite you can be at the same depth every cast or adjust accordingly. Early in the year most insects will be dark and as the year progresses they tend to get lighter. Not 100% true but a good starting point to remember. I post some aquatic information on the trout thread a few days ago if interested.

[Clint]

Another resource that I find valuable is a website named

Fly Anglers OnLine, Your Complete Internet Flyfishing Resource.

On the left is button labeled "FOTW" (Fly Of The Week) . Click that and search any of the many pages for "Rick Zieger" who is a warm water FFer from Iowa. He has many warm water flies that will be exactly for what you are looking.

There is also a Bulletin Board (forum) that while is mostly trout has a warm water section and some great fly tying tips and instructions. If you should happen to join the forum I am there as Bluegill Budd.

[deathb4disco]

There is also a Bulletin Board (forum) that while is mostly trout has a warm water section and some great fly tying tips and instructions. If you should happen to join the forum I am there as Bluegill Budd.

I am there as "deathb4disco".