deeky 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 It seems like discussion of predominant prey species always comes up when stocking is going on, particularly stocking of the larger predators. For example, the walleye fishermen don't want the muskies because they are afraid the muskies eat all of the smaller walleyes. The musky supporters argue that muskies far and away eat more rough species than they do the other game species. And so on and so on. Now, we all know the Large Mouth like the Gills. Other than that, what has been your experience with baitfish patterns? Do you lean to imitating the other 'game fish' species, or do you go to the 'rough species' colorations (think carp, suckers, etc.)? And of course, there are those forage species (shiners, etc.) that I would probably throw in the middle - not exactly game species, but not exatcly 'rough species' either. What do you tie? What have been your experiences on the water? I'm sure we all like to cover all of our possible bases, but where do you go first when throwing imitative flies? Deeky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 ok great topic for me if I am fishing pike I tend to try with perch or blue gill first unless the water is cloudy then I do really well on sucker or golden shiner patterns for smallies I try emerald shiners first Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Williams 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 Interesting topic. I always feel like the Gills are always pushed for LMB, but then i feel like I always see a lo more shad and baitfish colorations than I ever do say bluegill. I especially see that in conventional tackle. To be honest I never really fish with a panfish imitation, they are always more of the minnow type baitfish side of the spectrum. I am interested to see what everyone else says. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eastern fly 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 This should get lots of hits. I tend to ues the smaller minnow coloations like Fatheads and Creek Chubs more often. Then move up to Yellow Perch for LM bass. For SM I do well with Fatheads, Emerald Shiners and common Shinner types. Kevin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest rich mc Report post Posted April 7, 2012 i think size is more important but coloring does come into play. i use minnow colors in creeks and small rivers i will be using some bluegill colored pigboat flies for when the bass are chasing gills in lakes and ponds very soon. rich Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fred H. 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 When LMB's are on their beds I like to throw salamander or bluegill imitations. Both are known to feed on eggs. But lately I've been throwing just shinner and minnow patterns . Not that I don't think other patterns wont work. With a minnow immitation I will get takes from LMB , crappie and larger bluegill and redears. Fred Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 When LMB's are on their beds I like to throw salamander or bluegill imitations. Both are known to feed on eggs. But lately I've been throwing just shinner and minnow patterns . Not that I don't think other patterns wont work. With a minnow immitation I will get takes from LMB , crappie and larger bluegill and redears. Fred and what fly should we use to catch gators? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fred H. 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 When LMB's are on their beds I like to throw salamander or bluegill imitations. Both are known to feed on eggs. But lately I've been throwing just shinner and minnow patterns . Not that I don't think other patterns wont work. With a minnow immitation I will get takes from LMB , crappie and larger bluegill and redears. Fred and what fly should we use to catch gators? Any large popper will do as long as you follow it up with a Remington 270..........choot um!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2012 It's been my experience that the majority of times, specific color imitations have not been necessary, particularly for bass so I tend to tie generic patterns that may imitate a variety of possible prey species. For example, a white belly & gray or olive back streamer (Deceiver, Clouser, whatever, etc.) will give a general coloration found in many baitfish, and the specific pattern type will provide various profiles. There have been times that specific colors have worked better for me, for example a yellow perch pattern, so I can only speculate that the bass were keying on something at that time, that had similar colors, but not necessarily yellow perch, although it could also have been that they just saw those colors better at that time. Most of the time I stick to basic prey coloration & don't get too wrapped up in exact "matching the hatch" for bass. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2012 For me, it actually changes based on where I am fishing. In dirtier water with less visibility, my flies don't typically look like anything real. Solid white, chartreuse/white, and other eye-catching colors seem to work well for me. I'll start getting specific with color patterns when I am fishing cleaner, clear water when the fish seem to have more time to examine the fly as opposed to simply reacting to it. In those situations, I love the EP peanut-butter style streamers in shad, perch, and sunfish colorations. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lykos33 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Myself, I tend towards more natural coloring, with an occasional "firetiger" to stimulate a strike out of "anger" or aggression. I do have a question to add to the discussion (hope it's not considered hijacking). We all strive to tie smooth even bodies without bumps or rises or irregularities. But, in nature, aren't the minnows that are damaged or deformed or in some way different then the rest normally the first ones to get whacked? When you use a live "shiner" for bass fishing, his erratic and desperate attempts to flee the hook impaling him draw a bass' attention from across the lake...maybe a fly that doesn't track as true as a live baitfish is a good idea? Murray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2012 maybe a fly that doesn't track as true as a live baitfish is a good idea? Your idea about this is certainly valid, but I think the real problem is not trying to tie such an "injured" fly, but in casting it & retrieving it without causing it to spin. If it won't track in water, it won't in air either. Personally, the times I've tried to intentionally add such a feature that creates that wounded appearance, it didn't perform as expected. I feel that the manipulation we add with the line & rod is a better way to give that desired action. There are flies that take advantage of the "wounded" look. The old Gurbubble Bug is a good example. It's a topwater fly, originally intended to look like a small Crappie that had gone thru the turbines of an electro power dam and was stunned & laying on it's side. There are other patterns that simulate such a posture. Even flies such as a Crease fly can be used in a manner that makes it appear wounded. By using a sinking line & getting the fly down, it will dart & have an erratic action, partly due to it's shape & materials & what is done with the retrieve. There's another fly that's tied to look like a baitfish laying on it's side. I used to supply them to a local shop but I can't recall the name of the fly. It's tied with a deer hair head, and tied perpendicular to the bend of the hook. It can also be used below the surface, and can be made to look like it's injured. Here's a picture of a Gurbubble Bug: The original was made with a painted white body & had black markings, and tied with natural grizzly hackle to imitate an injured Crappie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeky 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2012 As far as the movement, I think you make a good point. If you have ever watched a dying fish, they deffinitely have their own movement. I would say use a fly that is lightly weighted at most. The dying fish I have seen jerk and then hang in the water column, so you want something close to neutral bouyancy. Also, use an open loop or even a snap for the connection to allow the fly to swing freely. Sharp tugs with a pause will often give it herky-jerky movement. Deeky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted April 10, 2012 When LMB's are on their beds I like to throw salamander or bluegill imitations. Both are known to feed on eggs. But lately I've been throwing just shinner and minnow patterns . Not that I don't think other patterns wont work. With a minnow immitation I will get takes from LMB , crappie and larger bluegill and redears. Fred and what fly should we use to catch gators? Any large popper will do as long as you follow it up with a Remington 270..........choot um!!!!!!! ohhhhh I'm telling Troy your qouting him Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites