Rabid Dog

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

I called this fly that because of its erratic action when stripped, it darts around as it dips under the surface and can be kept below by repetitive short strips depending on the cadence you use. Only took six months to get consistent results but I figured it out - guess I'm a slow learner cause there really ain't nuttin to it except getting it to sit at about a 45 degree angle with only a quarter inch of the nose sticking out of the water. Caught a whole bunch of bass on it last year.

Now, I've got to try it on the redfish, I did a few that will be heading to the Keys for a friend of mine to toss them at some tarpon.

 

Here's a link to my photobucket album that shows more color and size patterns.

 

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q195/kirkdiet/Poppers/Rabid%20Dogs/

 

Kirk

 

 

[Glista 0]

Very interesting bug Kirk!

 

How about some construction details? Hook size, body material and so on?

[agn54 0]

That is awesome, Kirk. I would love to see it in the water. Is the body weighted a certain way to get the action?

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

Glista, I'll try to post it in the Pattern page with some instructions.

 

Thanks AGN, basically and this may answer part of Glista's question about construction. I tie a piece of .020 lead wire to the bottom of the shank from about mid shank to the end of the shank just before the bend. Then glue the body on and paint and epoxy it. Plop it in a cup of water, if it floats to parallel to the surface, I tie a chunk of lead on behind the body and plop it in the cup. When I get it where it floats at about a 40 -45 degree angle and a small piece of the face floats out the water, I'm done and tie a piece of feather. With that amount of body under the surface, when you strip it, it dips under but wants to float back up when it goes under it kind of flashes its sides kind of like a wobble but not a wiggle like a crankbait - if that makes sense.

Think about those tear drop shaped bobbers you canepole fish with that float just above the surface from having the splitshot hold them vertical, when you tug it to make your bait below move, the bobber kind of dances around and bobbles. Pretty much a similar action except underwater.

When I take my pool cover off in the next week or two, I'll have to do a little video clip.

 

Kirk

[fshrmanms 0]

Those are really nice. glad all your research paid off!

[Panama Red 0]

Kirk, must be hard to be burdened with so much talent...A burden you bear well!

 

BTW, Last time I posted a link to my photobucket account...naked pictures of my flies started showing up all over the net.

 

Great stuff Bro

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

Neat-O Kirk! I see you did all the R&D to create this and it's just the fly i have been thinking about latey, certainly need a few for the box, in the salt on the flats i wouldn't be surprised if you could make this look like a tiny fleeting shrimp too.

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

Ooops double post!

[Chefben4 0]

AMAZING. Thats all I have to say!

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

Fshrmns, thanks. It can be frustrating but when it finally does what you want, the thought and re-tying and testing is worth it. Even though it was a span of about 6 months, there was a lot of other stuff going on including tying and testing other flies. I guess this went through about six or seven prototypes.

 

Red, thanks - to kind but I don't know about that, I'm just a tinkerer that is never satisfied. Naked flies, didn't think about that when I posted the bare balsa one, that may go viral! You should try having an email named after a popular baitfish; my first email was cockahoe@hotmail. You wouldn't believe the amount of porn spam I got even with security settings on high!

 

Jam, thanks you S.O.B. I like the shrimp idea! Now I have to go back to the drawing board but at least I have a canvas to work on. Guess I'll call it Jam's Rabid Shrimp if I get it; just hope it doesn't take another 6 months.

 

Chef, thanks too.

 

Kirk

[Bloop 0]

As if I dont have enough to tie this winter and you go and post these. I will have to try them.

 

Nice work!!!

[Glista 0]

As if I dont have enough to tie this winter and you go and post these.

 

Ha! That is what I was thinking. I'm like a crack addict with this stuff. Cool fly like that and I have to try and make it.

[lykos33 0]

So it has the action of a Zara Spook from the bass casters arsenal...a killer plug for casting enthusiast from way back...now you have put fly fisherfolk on an even playing field with the plug chuckers...SAWEEEETTTT FLY!!!

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

Bloop/Glista, thanks. Check out the pattern database, I just loaded "tying" instructions up yesterday for it just so you won't have an excuse not to try making them.

 

Lykos, thanks. Well, I started out trying to make a little spook and if you don't put a tail on it, it acts pretty close. Then, I noticed that when it dipped under and I kept it below with successive strips, it really went crazy and triggered the fish. However, I really wanted to put a tail on to make it more of a "fly" or "bug". Well, that kind of kills the surface only side to side and I needed a little more weight to make it dip under easier to start dancing, I actually prefer it to the surface only side to side. However, if you want the surface only, play with the weight, you may not want it at a 45 deg orientation in the water and leave off the tail.

 

Kirk

[FlyFishin'Jam 0]

I keep coming back to look at this fly in all its glory while i contemplate setting up to tie a box, i rekon tho the buoyancy in salt may be a little more than in fresh so weight to your fishing conditions?

 

Does remind me of this little plug (well a little bit) http://www.saiko.com.au/WebRoot/ntdb3/Shops/sasa8685/4CEC/8F95/E2F4/51FB/7DE7/C0A8/F1B4/F6D4/green_0020_prawn.png