mannym Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 I am finally getting time on the fly bench. Wondering what everyone uses for winter time river smallies? I was going to start with the standard Clouser and meat whistle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 Lots of good info here: http://www.fishthefox.com/float-n-fly.html You can also take a look at the sizes and patterns here: https://punisherlures.com/collections/float-fly/products/float-fly-hair-jigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 I've had luck with the foat-n-flies in Eric's post. Also, I have used the crappie candy fly tied on a jig hook similar to what Tom Loo's foxie is tied on. Use pull chain for the eyes at the 90 degree bend in the shank. Bend the hook eye slightly back toward the hook point and it will sit horizontally in the water under the float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich mc Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 the shannon streamer does best in cold water, it sinks slowly after its good and wet.anglers fish is almost deadstick style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Are we talking flies for "float and fly" fishing or flies to be cast with a fly rod? Just curious, and I have nothing to add here since I'm a wuss sitting in my warm den with a cup of hot tea and tying flies for next summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 I have used the float-n-fly jig with fly and spin gear. For the fly rod I tie them on a less heavy jig. The crappie candy fly I have only used with a fly rod, but it should work fine with spin gear. I haven't fished other flies for bass in the winter months, only these two, and both have caught fish. Mostly in the winter I'm like Rob, in a cozy warm spot sipping coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich mc Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 another option is to tie a balanced leech or minnow pattern this is made for indicator fishing phil rowling has several u tubes on tying and fishing them. rich mc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Although my goal is to catch on the fly, I expect to have a spin cast outfit handy for a float and fly rig. Rich, Yes, Indicator is a great idea. It is a similar presentation as the float and fly. I plan to hit the bench later today. I believe I have all the materials mentioned. Craft fur, jig hooks, pull chain eyes, etc. With any luck, I will have a few fly pictures to post this evening. Thanks Folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 3, 2018 Report Share Posted January 3, 2018 Manny, You are right. This thread needs pictures. Here's one of the balance leeches that rich mentioned. Here is a link to an article that shows how to use a straight pin to create that front extension/ http://www.flycraftangling.com/index.asp?p=145&szArticleButtonCommand=view&nArticleID=59 A while ago we had a similar discussion. From that one I recovered some of my pictures that were buried in mud by Photobucket. Bending a 90 deg jig hook back to form a 120 deg hook lets you tie one of Holschlag's Winter streamer. Eagle Claw Aberdeens are soft enough that you can bend the shank to the right angle. I used round nosed pliers to avoid a sharp bend that might break. My "think out of the box" contribution to the discussion is the Wacky Fly. Here's a Hornberg Wacky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 The Balanced Leech is well within my skillset It is on my list. I used my cabela's gift card to order more dubbing. I realized I only have four colors, none of which were black. To my order, I added: Mustad 3407 #4 hooks, Umpqua U555 60 degree #6 jig hooks, more beadheads, dumbell eyes, and a dubbing twister I long desired. And just like that, a $75 gift card was gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2018 While waiting for Cabelas to ship my new materials, I gave it a shot using whatever I had at hand. I used: #8 jig hooks with either rabbit zonker or chenille for a body. Both had zonker tails. I didn't quite get them to land flat. But I see how easy it is to make the adjustment. I am going to try some minnow colors next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 This evening, I gave it another go. So far, none are perfectly horizontal. But I have been trying to avoid adding any more weight. Perhaps replacing the rabbit zonker body with dubbing will work for this size cone head. I may tie a few with Marabou to see how that goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom L Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Good start and good looking flies. Try hanging them in water to know for sure if they will stay horizontal. Some materials (e.i. Zonker strip) are buoyant in nature and will lift the tail up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Have you ever heard the rule that for each 1 degree off of true horizontal that the hook shank is deflected, you reduce your chance of catching a fish by 10 per cent. I haven't either. By the time your float and fly is engaged in current and wave action, moments when your fly lies perfecttly horizontal will be rare indeed. Go fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Thanks Tom. Water helped, but not completely. Seems I am still a shade off. (Most people who know me, can confirm this, hehe) I may try a few other patterns mentioned in this thread this evening. Hope everyone is staying warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 1 minute ago, Mike G said: Have you ever heard the rule that for each 1 degree off of true horizontal that the hook shank is deflected, you reduce your chance of catching a fish by 10 per cent. I haven't either. By the time your float and fly is engaged in current and wave action, moments when your fly lies perfecttly horizontal will be rare indeed. Go fish. Now that is funny yet so true. I often ask myself if the art of fly tying is more for the guy at the bench than the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 In the spirit of my original comment, I can answer your question. "Neither." The purpose of the art of fly tying is to produce bugs that show well in the shop and fool fools like me into buying them. The guy at bench has to decide between tying scruffy things that fish eat and creating works of art that sell well anywhere in the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 A balanced Meat Whistle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 The idea of a horizontal presentation is interesting. This past November I spent a few days trout fishing with a friend of mine up north. He is an excellent fisherman and kicked my booty in landing numbers of fish. Where I used more standard fare such as scuds and nymphs, he used these small micro jigs that he tied up along with an indicator. He feels the horizontal presentation offered by those size 12, 1/100 oz. micro jigs made all the difference. I finally succumbed and started using a few that he had tied and lo and behold my catch rate increased. Then it became only a challenge to see which color they preferred, and color did seem to make a distinct difference. He swears by that same configuration for crappie as well and believe me, this fine fellow takes more than his share of those slabs. Btw, l like that meat whistle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 Rob, though I have a thing about throwing wets and streamers for southern Wisconsin trout, I have had some considerable luck with micro jigs under an indicator. The chubs like them too . My pref for streamers has nothing to do with numbers. Yellow seems to be a good bet for me. Was yellow working for you guys. I have somewhat limited experience with wild trout but for numbers the micro jig has produced fish. Nice ties Manny! Are you planning on using these on some of the river pools near you if open water shows it's face? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted January 5, 2018 Report Share Posted January 5, 2018 20 minutes ago, John Gillio said: The chubs like them too . My pref for streamers has nothing to do with numbers. Yellow seems to be a good bet for me. Was yellow working for you guys. I have somewhat limited experience with wild I should have known, Johnny G. the ole' Chub Master As to the favorite color, two really stood out and I shall take to the grave with me their identities.....errr that is unless you want to go up there with me sometime for a day or two Ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted January 6, 2018 Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 5 hours ago, Rob G said: I should have known, Johnny G. the ole' Chub Master As to the favorite color, two really stood out and I shall take to the grave with me their identities.....errr that is unless you want to go up there with me sometime for a day or two Ha That I would love to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2018 On 1/5/2018 at 5:05 PM, John Gillio said: Rob, though I have a thing about throwing wets and streamers for southern Wisconsin trout, I have had some considerable luck with micro jigs under an indicator. The chubs like them too . My pref for streamers has nothing to do with numbers. Yellow seems to be a good bet for me. Was yellow working for you guys. I have somewhat limited experience with wild trout but for numbers the micro jig has produced fish. Nice ties Manny! Are you planning on using these on some of the river pools near you if open water shows it's face? Most definitely.I have 6-7 spots near me with deeper slack water. I also want to check that little stream across the big river. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannym Posted January 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Received my cabelas order and hit the bench right after dinner. I haven't dubbed much but happy with how it turned out. I.should ask a smallie for a second opinion. Hook- #6 60degree jig hook Small brass bead 6 wraps of .025 lead wire Rabbit tail Purple flash Black ice dub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted January 10, 2018 Report Share Posted January 10, 2018 Right. Warm days for winter now. You should be field testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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