Urbs

27 minutes ago, VanH said:

Nice flies!  You should do very well tomorrow with that selection. 

thanks! just one decent fish is all I ask…

9 minutes ago, VanH said:

Thanks.  I have my doubts on the wings durability after a few fish but I will find soon. 

it’ll be a good problem to have!

these are great!

One of my favorite ways to pass the time is to tie with a beer while watching a movie or something (in this case “Gentleman in Moscow.” excellent). These are flies tied over the past few days. No real rhyme or reason just tying what I think they’ll eat.

Sorry for the link; I don’t know how to quickly reduce an image file size.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e5Vi9GsFFFaj4S2a_W7xmcwg

I’ll be fishing these tomorrow around Rock Creek. white baseball cap if you’re out there; say hello!

9 minutes ago, Terry Dodge said:

Last Fall I came up with the idea of creating what I call, Organic Flies, using whatever kind of foliage and such, that I could find in my backyard or along my daily walks.  I first snatched a milkweed pod that was just beginning to burst.  Then I grabbed a pine cone from my back yard and also snapped off a foxtail from a weed. There is a ton of interesting stuff  you can find growing that could be used as material.  I plan to find something natural for a bigger head to mimic a cicada. Hopefully in the next few days. 
Milkweed Silk, Pine Cone Peddles, Weed Foxtail, on a size 6 Stnger hook. 

that’s actually incredibly interesting! maybe a cat tail floats like a cork? 

13 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

@John Gillio did you really do that well last time the cicadas came? Only ask because threads on others forums indicate it wasn't a feeding frenzy/bonanza. And nice flies!

@Urbs nice flies! I assume the shiny is for the wings. However it reminds me of the belly of the "zombie" cicadas I read about.  The Massospora fungus takes over like the lower third of the cicadas belly and pumps them full of amphetamine and psilocybin so they don't feel anything. Nature is such a trip!!

I thought about picking up some MB sigletts but I didn't see any in the smaller size.

yes exactly, for the wing. just enough of an impression. 

i could probably add red eyes but figure this is a close enough imitation: fat, black, orange wiggly legs with a wing!

6 hours ago, John Gillio said:

I would think those should work quite well. These are Stealth Bombers. I usually tie them completely black and have had very good luck with them over the years for grass carp, smallies, and the occasional big sunfish. I added red eyes, orange legs, and some orange in the wing to better represent the brood. It’s actually a gurgler that when stripped quickly dives, makes a nice gurgling sound and leaves a nice stream of bubbles behind it. I dead drift them for the carp. Any movement in the fly seems to spook them. I hope my streams are at a level I can wade in when these things start to emerge. Last time it was a blast. 

those definitely will work well. i feel like a fly that has the right profile, that has some black/orange, and lands with a satisfying “plop” should get a look. 

i have seen online that folks near springfield are seeing them. my understanding is ground temps need to average 65 or so for several days and then they emerge. should be very fun 

Not too much longer now…

43 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

I got bit by the BFS bug and trout fishing about 6 years ago. There's a glass rod that Daiwa makes that I'm drooling over.... wife would be okay with it but i need to convince myself haha

i’m not ashamed to admit best day i’ve ever had in the driftless was on panther martins! it is a blast  

34 minutes ago, Ben K. said:

There’s some serious ground between a 6w and 9w.  Don’t count out a 7 or 8 weight for potential trophy bass on decent sized water. They are ideal for casting heavy or bushy predator flys. 

i hear ya. but from the euro rods and small crick driftless glass rods i’ve bought lately i’m getting serious stink eye from my old lady!

8 minutes ago, Ben K. said:

Nice bugger.  Weight might be an issue, but casting and casting well are two different things. Flipping these out from the bank might be all you need with a 9ft rod. Now if you’re looking for a big double haul cast… try not to ping it off your rod…  I’ve got a 7w on its way to TFO, I’m speaking  from experience. 
 

that estaz looks pretty bushy but I’d still try and wrap the hackle feather from the tail to the head instead of just a collar. It helps give the fly more body and taper.  Looking good tho! Report back on how it goes. 

 

yea i got lazy and didn’t feel like counter wrapping with wire. 

i hear you on the double haul. i’d also like to not smack myself in the back of the head!

28 minutes ago, Kev-mo said:

Those look really good! I'd be curious on weight... they look 1/16 or 1/8. How heavy of stuff can you guys throw? I mean I get that it's all related/relative (line, rod etc.) working together. But at what point would you be better off just using spinning or baitcasting gear? Or would you just up a rod and line rating to be able to throw a heavier fly?

I think you’re correct at 1/16th. 

and great point. i’ve seen a lot of use of the “mono rig” lately. like a 50 foot section of 8 pound mono so that the fly line never leaves the reel. in order to cast need more weight. but aren’t we converging on spin casting?

and for me personally: this is as heavy of a fly as I’ll use. the cast is not pretty: at this point i’m “water loading” on the back cast. probably the word “flinging” is the best description. I go as high as using a 6 weight rod. for me that rod is as heavy as I want to use (from the level of enjoyment). I have a 10 foot 9 weight that is a broomstick. 

the hooks are jig hooks from cabelas. can’t remember the weight but heavier than any tungsten beads I have around. 

with all this rain I may shoot these near the soft(ish) stuff near the banks this weekend. 

9 minutes ago, Ben K. said:

Confidence is key! Or it just sits in the box. Looks real nice. 

yessir agree!

Just now, Mike G said:

Good to see a Galloup fly here.

they are very gnarly looking. gives me confidence just by its swagger!

9 minutes ago, John Gillio said:

I used 12# also. I’ve had good luck in the past with a small articulated seducer with the back hook cut off at the bend, unweighted, in shallow quiet pools or drifted slowly along shallow downed logs. The trombone is the first weighted articulated fly I’ve tied. It looks to be the same size as yours. I’m Interested in seeing how well it works.

the lead eyes here will get it down but with all the material certainly takes a bit to get down. bet your trombone works great!

30 minutes ago, John Gillio said:

Fine looking fly. Looks very similar to the Rusty trombone I just tied a couple weeks back. I used the same colors for the most part. I used a glass bead and mono to articulate the fly. Wondering how you did yours?

exactly: couple of glass beads and 12pb Ultragreen. and yes very similar to a rusty trombone. difference is lead eyes and fiber brush 

Hello all, hope everyone is doing well. I’ve got that smallmouth itch. Tying these makes me yearn for the soon to be warmer days. 

6 hours ago, John Gillio said:

I agree, a nice looking craw for sure.

thank you!

12 hours ago, rich mc said:

nice strong hook,  what size ?     could also be cast with spinning gear once it gets wet too.

I believe this is a size 2. and yes: I bet if I added some lead wire to the shank you could cast this a country mile. and frankly, probably more effective on a spinning rod especially in the winter

8 minutes ago, Rob G said:

Very nice craw ! 

I don't know why but I stink at fishing craws, I'm probably just not patient enough to work something slowly and I hate not seeing the take as so often I set the hook well before I feel anything but rather the moment my baitfish "disappears".

thank you!  honestly baitfish are much more fun to fish but I figure I’d better have a few of these if it’s “one of those days.” but again: seeing them ambush a baitfish never gets old

Simple craw pattern. Krystal flash, rabbit strip claws, Chockletts for body, rubber legs with lead eyes. I don’t fish enough of these. 

On 5/16/2023 at 10:10 PM, Rob G said:

Finally got a chance to christen the new glass rod that I built this winter.  No pigs like some of you have landed recently but I'll take fat 17's all day long on glass.  Lotta fun.  

 

Very nice; I have the 5 weight Moonlit S-Glass (8 foot in blue). Paired it with their $45 ShadowCAST rod. Very fun rod. 

very nice! 

1 hour ago, Tom L said:

For those that want to play around with this, this is want I used: Amazon.com : 300 Pieces Fly Fishing Snaps Stainless Steel Fly Fishing Snap Hooks Fast Change Fly Hook Lure Snaps for Flies Hook and Jigs, Mixed Sizes : Sports & Outdoors

300 pcs for $11. Comes in 3 sizes: s = 7mm; m = 8mm; l = 9mm. There is an xl = 11mm size which I didn't get.

thanks for the tip!