TxHCBP

Try this one: http://warmwaterflytyer.com/patterns4.asp?page=6 The BHP generally does NOT have the red bucktail, just the peacock herl following the brown hackle. However, once the BHP become the Red Butt, it is probably the most effective fly I've ever used for panfish. I remember one morning on Lake Buchanan (Granite Shoals, TX) that I caught a 10-inch 'gill on each of my first dozen casts before they got lockjaw and refused every pattern I threw at them. The Red Butt (brown- or black-hackled peacock with the red bucktail) is my favorite fly for 'gills. I've also caught bass (a couple of 3-pounders), catfish (about a 16-incher), & a 4-inch shad on them. I've had MANY frustrating experiences, however, with any floating fly with legs. The smaller 'gills like to come up and nibble on the legs, and, when I try to set the hook, it either pulls the leg out of the 'gill's mouth, or the leg separates from the body. For surface fishing for 'gills, I like just about any trout fly - Adams, any terrestrial, cahills, Griffith's Gnat, any parachute pattern...

The brown-hackled peacock has already been mentioned, but... I was doing a LOT of fishing on small ponds a while back with the BHP in #10 & #12, and decided one day that I'd mod it just a touch. I added a short (1/4-inch) butt of red bucktail. Couldn't remember ever seeing it before, so I called it the "Red Ass". Couple of days later I found out that name had been taken, so I changed it to "Red Butt". Then I found out it wasn't anything new: someone had already done it (and under that name, too). Well, however disappointed I was that it was NOT an original idea, I WAS happy with its performance: when nothing else worked, the Red Butt ALWAYS kept me from a no-hitter. I've caught a couple of 3-lb black bass, hundreds of bluegills, a catfish, and even a shad. I tie some for near-surface, but most are weighted with some heavy wire (don't know if it's actually lead, but it's close to that weight).

In my rather limited experience, I've found that the environment dictates the length of the cast. One of my favorites a few years back was a pond of roughly 100ft x 140ft, where I had only ~15ft of bank to cast from. The rest was all thick with brush and overhanging saplings (mostly willow). With my 5wt, I could reach a lot of good water, but some of that required lengthy casts. I'd stick with the line the rod was made for (6wt), but practice both short, delicate casts out to 20-30ft, as well as longer casts in the 40-60ft range. That way you're prepared for whatever you find in the way of environment/terrain. As far as delicacy or precision being required by panfish, that also has always (in my experience) been dictated at times. In a small to medium sized pond that isn't fished much, you may find the 'gills will take anything, even if it's been splashed down like someone threw in a paddleboard, or, on much-fished water, they may be really spooky, requiring a soft, quiet delivery. So be prepared for either extreme or anywhere between, but always assume they're spooky at the first, then take your lead from the fish. They'll tell you what they want & will tolerate.

Welcome, Bassic, from a long-inactive member located on the west side (barely) of Lake Buchanan. You might want to consider a 3- or 4-wt in the next couple of years for the panfish (bluegills, crappie, etc.). That would give you something to teach your young-uns and entertain them while you go for bass. Personally, I'd rather go for panfish, myself. I've spread out a bit: one each, 3-wt, 5-wt, 7-wt, & 9-wt. I figure those will cover the panfish, bass, stripers, and saltwater stuff (reds, small shark, etc.).