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On advice from this forum, I avoided the Shakespeare fly fishing combo and bought a Scientific Anglers kit. Now that I have the basics, can anyone recommend some good dry flies and poppers? I saw a fella at the lake last summer with a floating cricket that did very well. This cricket lure looked very realistic- where can I buy some?
Smart move.Quote:
Originally Posted by nralover
Spiders:Quote:
Originally Posted by nralover
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3
Accardo poppers:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3
Betts poppers:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...002000_175-2-3
Walmart and Sports Authority usually carry flies like these, also.
Enjoy! Gills really smack these things.
If you can get some casting lessons from a good instructor, that will really help. If not, pick up a casting video by one of the following:
Joan Wulff
Mel Krieger
Lefty Kreh
Tom White
Bass Pro also sells a Scientific Anglers video on FF for bass and panfish. It's done by Larry Dahlberg (the "Hunt for Big Fish" guy on TV), and it's excellent.
like deathb4disco said, the selection of small poppers sold at WalMart and KMart are good poppers: they catch fish and are inexpensive. Plus catching any kind of fish on the surface, from stripers to bluegills, is a blast. If you tie your own, there's a fly called the Madame X that is killer for Summer sunfish, which imitates a grasshopper. It can also be tied in black to imitate a cricket.
PM me your address and I will send you a good bluegill fly that one the guys on crappie.com tied for me.
PM Skiptomylou on the fly tying forum. He makes nice little critters and poppers for Bream.Quote:
Originally Posted by nralover
I've been fly fishing for decades with an outfit thats practically antique. I use an old Heddon glass rod (yes, metal ferals) and an Ocean City #76 fly reel. Found the reel at a yard sale, encrusted in grime and the line was partially melted to the spool. It cleaned up perfectly and I've never thought to look for a new one since its performed so well. The rod is heavy enough to handle big bass (7 1/2lber largest so far) yet limber enough to enjoy the panfish.
As for flies, right out of the box you cant beat Betts. I hate going out without a selection of their "Slim Jim" and "Miss Prissy". I will occasionaly go with a wet fly and float tab when surface action is slow.
I fish crappie and gills in 15 - 20 ft. of water using wet flies, after they bed, and find I catch bigger fish than in the shallows using popper's during the bed period. With a wet fly many times they will take the fly while the fly is dropping at the depth they are suspended.
Flyrod man, do you use a sink tip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Badcast
good question!
We fish with a fly tied on jigs for bream and use a float. Very effective way to catch bluegills and redears.
This is my first post. I too have used the clear water weighted floats with flies.Quote:
Originally Posted by parrotheadcrb
I just got back from Cabelas and had a look at the Stowaway 7s. Does anyone have any thoughts on them?
I hear nothing but good things about them. I ordered a 6wt Stowaway 7 for a January trip to Utah. Unfortunately, they were on backorder so I couldn't get it in time for my trip, and I had to cancel my order. I was looking forward to fishing it, though!Quote:
Originally Posted by pondpro08
Cast one if you can. If you don't mind only four pieces, the TFO Pro's are very good rods at a similar price.
NO. Buy BEAD HEADS (flies) and use them. Be patient on the drop, count to 30, and just SLOWLY-SLOWLy twitch on the retreive. Panfish suspend, esp over deep structure. I only use sinktip in fast streams steelheading and if I need a fast sink with big flies like for N/Pike. To much work throwing that line. I'm getting old!
I do a lot of bluegill & bass fishing with my flyrod. I like to tie a small wet fly (an ant or a "bream getter") on a leader attached to the hook of the popper. Its a little tricky to cast with two lures but you get the best of both worlds with a popper and a wet fly. I have caught many doubles on this rig, not to mention a lot of big bass that just arent turned on enough to hit the popper, but when they see that fat bug sinking in the water they sometimes get hungry!
Saw your answere about Not using a sink-tip flyline, and just curious as to how long of a leader do you use when fishing this way, and do you use any kind of strike indicater, or just watch the leader. THANKSQuote:
Originally Posted by Flyrod Man
I use a 9 ft. leader, (3 lb tippet) on a 4wgt 7-1/2 ft or a 5wgt 8-1/2 ft rod. Don't need a strike indicator, most of the time the slack line while sinking will shoot out on the take or I can feel the hit with my fly rods - graphite rods. Loomis and Penn International Gold.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyrod Man
Thanks
Randy
Here's some poppers I make for gills and then tie a dropper off the hook bend such as a bead head nymph. These are easy to make.foam sheets,contact cement, and punches
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/f...Picture061.jpg
For the gills I did really good with gurglers. Beadhead nymphs are great also for bluegills.
Quote:
Originally Posted by flytyfish
Nice job on the poppers!
I think accardo distributes it now. I like the black w/white rubber legs. Cast it out, and don't twitch it, just let it sink really slow. Works great in clear water when they are bedding. If water is not real clear or is fairly deep you might wanna use a strike indicator. I'm sure ther are other companies or flytiers on the site that make something similar.
If you are into tying/making your own flies, these links might be helpful:
Making Foam Plugs for the Foam Sandal Popper
CLP Cheap Little Popper
CLP (Cleap Little Popper)
Or if you want to get fancy, you can use a Dremel lathe to shape foam with an emery board:
Creative Foam Fly Tying - Dremel Bugs
Size 8 Aberdeen Yellow Nymphomie Pusher
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...her_resize.JPG
Size 8 Aberdeen Green Chartreuse Nymphomie Pusher
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...her_resize.JPG
Used to do it all the time out on the canoe or at ponds. They seem to like the ugliest looking flies and poppers, maybe because all the pretty looking baits has hooked them a time or two :p
Quote:
Originally Posted by Supracerxtreme
Those are some nice gills!
Here two flies that work really well for me:
Myakka Minnow
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../DSC_0010a.jpg
No. 12 bead-head nymph
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../DSC_0022a.jpg
Robert,Quote:
Originally Posted by dixieangler
The Nymphomie Pushers look really good!
Recipe?
Don't worry, Steve. I am sending you two like the ones pictured above.:D
They are Dremel Foam Bugs. The hook is a size 8 Aberdeen. The tail is short marabou. The round head is a foam core plug that is shaped on the Dremel with an emery board. The body is punched out foam discs from a foam sheet. One or two turns of hackle between the body and the head. Add plastic half round eyes. Loctite Super Glue in the Easy Brush bottle locks all the parts in place.
Nymphomie Pusher
Hook: #8 Aberdeen
Tail: Marabou short
Body: About four foam discs from a foam sheet
Hackle Collar: Dry fly (rooster), about two turns
Head: Round shaped foam core plug
Eyes: Black plastic half rounds
Glue: Loctite Super Glue
Body/Head Overcoat: Clear Sally Hansen Hard As Nails or clear epoxy