Mike G

I am cleaning up some old book Marks. The original Morrish Mouse always looked good to me. They have a mouse, dragon fly, or frog look to me. I tied some but have not used them yet. Now this "Less Mess" version falls in the category of "I shudda thought of that." The foam gives all the flotation you need and a bunny strip body would be more active than the traditional Deer Hair.

So the title of the article caught my eye. http://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/nymphing-method-shocked-fly-fishing-world/?adv=352841&cm_mmc=linkshare-_-je6NUbpObpQ-_-1-_-352841 Would something like this work on bass?

No, Rob, you didn't. It sounds really interesting. What happened?

Though I think of lefty as a great tyer, I rack my brain to find more than 4 patterns that are specifically Lefty's, the Bug, the Red and White, the Deceiver, and the Half and Half-a collaboration with Bob Closer. On the other hand, having four in my top ten is not so bad. My other six in no special order are the Blockhead,the Stealth Bomber, the Hairy Fodder, the Ultimate Worm, the Foxy Craw, the Clouser Minnow. Lots of runner ups.

Large available tied or head only: http://www.flybass.com/roadkill-blockhead-poppers-12-pack-4-colors-3-sizes/

Here's an interesting conversation between Lefty and Dan Blanton. Be aware that it included some sobering events. http://www.danblanton.com/viewmessage.php?id=207429 Though he has problems, Lefty's spirits are good. So prayers and best wishes for his future. It is impossible to overestimate Lefty's importance for Smallmouth Bass fishing. He is a major force in promoting Fly Fishing for SM and LM Bass. Guys like him, Bob Clouser and many others got fly fishing out of its trout fixation. Sometime we ought to have a Lefty Fly swap.

Thanks Tom. It is a good reminder that simpler is often better. John, I also remember that they had to have gold hooks to work. Bucktail still works even without a minnow. Does anyone know the MIL Spec number for the survival kit jig? Recalling the $500 ashtray from the '80s, I bet it would cost $25 to tye a '40s MIL Spec jig today.

Mark, I own three. 2 of the 7-8 models and 1 of the 5-6 models. A year or two ago I recommended the reel on this site based on the one I owned. Bought two more since then. I would call it a good smooth reel for casual fishing. I stand by my recommendation. I use 8 and 9 weight lines for bass and sometimes drop down to a 7 for bass and pan fish. It is rare for me to get a fish that takes me into the backing. The WR-3 easily holds 200 ft of 20# backing and an 8 or 9 wt WFW line. I put my 7 wt line on the WR-2 with backing. Though bass are not known for running into the backing, it is nice to know it is there. Backing also fills the reel for easier reeling. It has a good one way drag and there is no spool wobble. If you were to encounter wobble or binding, Cabelas would replace it. You will notice that they do not list a spare spool. Since the price of the reel is less than the cost of an average spare spool for other reels, you just buy another reel. Other Pros -nice finish, nice eifel tower look. Other Con -whoops, made in China, not South Korea like most of the reels used in the US.

A while back rich sent me samples of Yarn Bee Snuggle Up eye lash yarn that included pink and black. From my fertile mind came the Ultimate Bungee Fly at 5.5 inches in classic two tone 50s color. If you were born in the 50s it is possible that you owe your life to this color combination. Your mom wore a a black poodle skirt with a pink sweater; your dad wore a black shirt with a pink knit tie. They were the stars of the hop; everyone said they belonged together; they got together; and then there was you. (Now today we anglers would call this color "B and B" (Black and Bubblegum) since no self respectin' angler would buy a pink bait.) I really like how these new materials from rich work especially the nice barred effect that I get when I furl different colors together. rich was saddened when Paton discontinued Bohemian Chenille, but this stuff might take up the slack.

Rob, Thanks for being the Guinea pig on this one. Your report of a failed experiment advances the science.:-) We all learn from your mistake.

My old tablet would not play Rob's suggestion, but YouTube suggested this one. This man knows what bad hair means.

Working here on Kindle Silk browser.

Thanks, Tom.

I am calling the 4.5 the Bungee Fly after the Bungee Worm once produced by Berkley. I CAN REPORT that it really worked Thursday. Even with a maximum range of 30 ft with my Tenkara fishing from shore, I got 3 12" LMs in about 15 mins from Lake Summerset. That's not bad for mid August. The two tone tail and train wreck effect really make it look alive.

good point, rich. When the picture was taken the white fly and the grey two tone fly had not been in the water. I think they really do not look as good as the other two. These flies need to be prewashed like fashion jean.

The Feed, Part 2, Common Myths Here I will use the Summer Peak, Summer Doldrums, and the Fall Feed Bag as examples. All three are terms that entered our vocabulary through Outdoor writers. The Summer Peak came from the Lindners. They talk about it as if it were a specific calendar period. But all it is is a continuation of the Feed continued. There is a pickup in bass feeding after they get over the stress of spawning which is heightened by an increase in water temperature to the Bass's favorite about 75 degrees F. As you can imagine this "Summer" Peak can happen in April down south. The Doldrums are a common excuse for bad luck in late Summer. The Bass continue to feed but conditions make them move to places less accessible to the everyday angler. Bass move deeper to avoid the warm surface water. So I can't catch fish from easily spotted targets near the surface. Another doldrum scenario occurs in shallow lakes where the entire mass of water is heated into the high 80s. Fish become lethargic due to low oxygen levels. (In rivers turbulent water often supplies oxygen so the Doldrums might not even occur at high water temps.) One way or another I experience a period of tough fishing, and the guy at the bait shop blames it on the Doldrums. That is all for now. I guess The Fall Feedbag will be in part three.

Rob, Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like reinventing the Fly of the Day worked out well. I was also concerned about the size of the flies. And I have a friend new to fly fishing that has trouble casting the Ultimate Worm due to its bulk. So I went to work to lengthen the Leech. I got 3.5 and 4.5 inch versions. The longer one it two toned by furling two different colors. I have not used that one yet. The Blue has a nice undulating motion in the water. And it has a great train wreck effect. After the strip the lighter slimmer tail plies up on the bulkier head which stops first. On gear I have been getting bass on a 5" straight worm; so I hope my long worm has similar effects.

A lot of people like the 60 degree hooks for Clousers and similar flies. The EC 410 and 413 come to mind.

Thanks Josh. I am wondering if Gander in Rockford has something similar. Terry, Jude, Tim?

Rob, How did they work?

Two firsts in this article. First he begins by saying he took up fly rods to be able to cast small lures and ends singingthe praise of 7 inch flies. Second he reveals his Brutus length. http://midcurrent.com/techniques/interview-lefty-kreh-on-a-lifetime-of-smallmouth-fishing/?utm_source=MidCurrent+Fly+Fishing+Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b2be49656e-MidCurrent_August_2_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8efbf3b958-b2be49656e-18956357

Reporting from the Driftless Area 20 miles NW of Rockford. Another 1/2 inch of rain fell yesterday afternoon.

Anybody who does not believe in the Easter Bunny deserves whatever he gets

The Feed, Part 1, Basic Fish Behavior All fish activity can be explained with a simple model: "Eat to survive, survive to reproduce." A fish does not do anything that does not involve eating surviving, and/or reproducing. Some like bass do this over and over on an annual cycle while others like the Pacific salmons get only one spectacular three year cycle. For all fish feeding occupies a large portion of the cycle. For bass it begins after the spawn is over and continues till the next year's spawn. Things like the summer peak, summer doldrums, Fall Feedbag, hibernation, and Prespawn are figures of speech to describe variations in the apparent feeding activity of the bass. Though the terms describe human activity almost as if they were seasons like Christmas and Easter, the bass are not having similar experiences. Their activity is not calendar driven. They react to water temperature, water clarity, presence/absence of bait, available oxygen, barometric pressure, and the solar angle as spring approaches. That is the basic theory. Next I will explain why creative writers use figures of speech like Summer Peak and Fall Feedbag to spice up their articles.

Overnight 7/26-27 the Great Thunderer dropped another 1 inch 20 miles NW of Rockford. While the flood is receding there is still time to talk about the Feed Bag. Though the Fall Feed Bag is a myth, I believe in the Feed Bag. For bass the Feed Bag starts right after spawn and continues till the next spawn. All the fish have to do is eat to get ready to reproduce next time. I will get back to this theory soon.