Kentuckysteve 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 That is a nice shellcracker MouseManiac. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 Proper name is "Red Eared Sunfish", Steve. One of the largest of the sunfish family (barring the Black Bass branch). And those are some beautiful Read Ears, Mouse. As I said on another thread ... I'm warming up to the mop fly a little more every time I use it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MouseManiac 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 Here's some proof of the fly and a shot where you can see it. Also, here's one of the girth of one of these fish. They were a blast. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cphubert 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 Think that I may try the mop vs foam spider's, looks like a lot of fun and a good meal. have fun Mouse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MouseManiac 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 Think that I may try the mop vs foam spider's, looks like a lot of fun and a good meal. have fun Mouse. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a die hard foam spider guy. Just right now, the subsurface bite is still better. We've had a cold spell over the last week here and yesterday warmed up, so they are starting to move back shallow. Once the water temps are up and the gills are ready, I'll only fish topwater. Even for bass, when I may do better with streamers sometimes, I usually stick to poppers and mice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 I was looking at those mop flies, in fact was in a swap and got a bunch of different ties, most using weighted beads. Got to thinking about mikechell's post on caterpillars and now I have to go try winding a palmered hackle on the mop. Tie a nice hackle on a colored up mop flop and see if doesn't sink like the caterpillars. Throw it around overhanging trees where they'd be used to getting a nice tidbit once in awhile from the sky. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytyerinpa 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 I must be fishing over very smart trout, I didn't get out much this year but so far I've cough 38 trout, I fish 2 flys and had the mop fly on in different colors as my lead fly every minute I fished, score as of today 1 on the mop fly and 37 on regular flys, maybe I can catch some pan fish on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MouseManiac 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 I was looking at those mop flies, in fact was in a swap and got a bunch of different ties, most using weighted beads. Got to thinking about mikechell's post on caterpillars and now I have to go try winding a palmered hackle on the mop. Tie a nice hackle on a colored up mop flop and see if doesn't sink like the caterpillars. Throw it around overhanging trees where they'd be used to getting a nice tidbit once in awhile from the sky. T The one I was catching them on was not a bead head. I can't remember if I added some lead to that particular one or not. It did have a nice slow sink though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vicrider 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 I must be fishing over very smart trout, I didn't get out much this year but so far I've cough 38 trout, I fish 2 flys and had the mop fly on in different colors as my lead fly every minute I fished, score as of today 1 on the mop fly and 37 on regular flys, maybe I can catch some pan fish on them. ft-pa, try something next time you go out. Make the other fly the point fly and run the mop fly behind. From years of fishing different kinds of fish and different fishing systems I have found that day in and day out the second bait in line will catch far more fish the the first one. Don't know why this is but it's held true in so many situations. One good example is that I have caught many fish on spinners, the spinning kind and not the fly. Yet I've taken that same spinner and put another bait behind the spinner and suddenly they're taking the second bait and not the spinner. Give it a try and see if your trout respond to the followup mop fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytyerinpa 0 Report post Posted May 11, 2017 Thanks Vicrider, I'll give that a try, it cant hurt, the worst that can happen is I still wont catch anything on the mop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest rich mc Report post Posted May 13, 2017 cp, just tie legs on each side with clear mono and you have a slow sinking mop/spider rich mc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng2 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2017 I must be fishing over very smart trout, I didn't get out much this year but so far I've cough 38 trout, I fish 2 flys and had the mop fly on in different colors as my lead fly every minute I fished, score as of today 1 on the mop fly and 37 on regular flys, maybe I can catch some pan fish on them. ft-pa, try something next time you go out. Make the other fly the point fly and run the mop fly behind. From years of fishing different kinds of fish and different fishing systems I have found that day in and day out the second bait in line will catch far more fish the the first one. Don't know why this is but it's held true in so many situations. One good example is that I have caught many fish on spinners, the spinning kind and not the fly. Yet I've taken that same spinner and put another bait behind the spinner and suddenly they're taking the second bait and not the spinner. Give it a try and see if your trout respond to the followup mop fly.You are exactly right Vicrider.In clear water I have seen fish... especially trout do this. The first fly goes by and the fish is alerted /excited that food had just passed by. As the fish turns to pursue the first offering it sees the second fly and jumps on it. Musky fisherman use a similar tactic. They will troll near a shoreline and put a large baitfish out at a good distance. They then cast a flashy bucktail spinner in close to get the fish excited. While continuing to troll and when the baitfish is within striking distance they crush it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted May 13, 2017 vicrider I was thinking about the possibility of doing a caterpillar with the mop fly. I'm going to try the same method I use to make segmented foam bodies for damsel and dragonflies and see if I can hackle the whole mop piece before tying it on the hook and using a small piece of foam for the head. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2017 No joy with the caterpillar mop fly yet. I finally took some pictures of the ones I've been tying before I packed them away for my trip to the Poconos this weekend. Five days of fishing, hopefully the weather will cooperate. Three different types. on the left "standard" size" in the middle, bass size, and on the right mini-mops. Some are weighted some are not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng2 0 Report post Posted May 19, 2017 No joy with the caterpillar mop fly yet. I finally took some pictures of the ones I've been tying before I packed them away for my trip to the Poconos this weekend. Five days of fishing, hopefully the weather will cooperate. Three different types. on the left "standard" size" in the middle, bass size, and on the right mini-mops. Some are weighted some are not. P5180057.JPG Where did you find the mini mop material Philly? Good luck in the Poconos. 5 days....should be a great time! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites