Shmang 0 Report post Posted June 17, 2020 Hey all I have a quick question for you: Do you add a weed guard to your Craw flies? I have been trying a batch of lead eye craws lately and while they are not super difficult to create they take 10-15 minutes each for me to knock one out. I have a mini Smallie trip this weekend and I got to thinking that I better add a rock/weed guard since these will be bouncing around on the bottom for the most part. When I go online almost none of the craw patterns feature any snag protection. I pour a small plastic craw imitation for the spinning rod and ONLY fish it on a weedless hook. I use a tiny piece of 40 ln mono - it is stiff enough to walk through rocks and wood but flexes on the hook set. I thought I might try that for my flies. What say you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Mad Duck 0 Report post Posted June 17, 2020 If I am going to be fishing a coastal river where there is a lot of different grasses, yes. If I'm fishing a mountain river in NC no, Not so much grass to contend with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted June 17, 2020 I don't fish weed guards on anything under any circumstance or condition. No reason, I just don't and never have. I don't worry or sweat losing tackle when it's cheap to produce and I've got plenty of time and material to tie more if needed. I look at like the more I lose the more I lower my tying start up costs so with each one I lose I'm making the next one for less cost then the previous. At least that's what I've convinced my wife of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve sparkie 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2020 Hi tie your flies hook point up and tie your lead eye's underneath the other alternative to weighting the fly is to use flat lead on the fly to fish hook point up then dress it with some of the rubber legs around the hook bend another way is to use an unweighted fly dressed on a heavy hook hope this helps weed guards tend to reduce your hook up success Kind regards Steve 😉 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2020 I don't use weed guards on my crayfish patterns, most of the streams I fish are rocky. Really don't use them on any of warm water or salt water patterns. I either use a jig hook or if I use a standard hook some type of weight tied on the side or top of the shank so the fly rides hook up. The last couple I've tied I've use large rattles to add some sound to the pattern and give the illusion of a tail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2020 I don't use big, heavy flies very often. When I do, I'm fishing for Largemouth Bass. I'm pulling the fly through lily pads or lay-downs/submerged timber. I use wire weed guards to make the fly a little less snag-able. I get Poopdeck's lack of concern over losing inexpensive flies ... but some of the places I drag through, I'd be tying a new fly on every cast, without weed guards. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shmang 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2020 Thanks for everyone's thoughts - it is appreciated. I am with Mikechell - I am going to add them or it will be a knot tying event as the stream is rocky with some deeper 8 ft holes. I know I will be donating a few to the stream bottom but if I can get 3-4 fish per fly before losing it I will be content. My hope is that I can get the fish to chase the craw fly like the conventional gear guys do a swim jig. That would eliminate the bottom hopping / snagging. I will report back on Monday............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shmang 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2020 Trip recap: The fishing was great this weekend. I was able to catch seven species on the craw pattern over two days: Smallmouth, Largemouth, Spotted Bass, Sunfish, White Bass, Drum, and Rock Bass. The primary catch was Smallies and Rock Bass. Nothing over 17 inches but a dozen or more between 13 to 16 inches which is relatively strong for this water as usually you encounter maybe two in that range per trip. Numbers wise I had two great days with over 35 fish each day. Keep in mind some of the Rock Bass and Sunfish were little ones, but On the weed guard question it was a no brainer: a weed guard is a must for this water. Without a snag deterrent I could not fish the fly effectively or efficiently - it was a constant being hung up situation. I caught fish wiithout the snag guard but that was the exception as I was too busy wading out to get unbuttoned. When I switched to a craw pattern with a weedguard it went from "fishing" to "catching" . In one eddy area off a current seam (about the size of two pick up trucks) I managed 5 Rock Bass and 3 Smallies in a dozen casts. I was able to slowly fish the craw with slow hops, long pauses, in a lift and drop presentation. It was money as the fish really were in tune with it and crushed it before it got in to the current. I could focus on the retrieve instread of trying to NOT get snagged. I stayed with that pattern the rest of the weekend and had suceess in all water types. For my weedguard I used about a one inch piece of 40 Lb mono. It was plenty stiff to maneauver through the substrate but did not signifigantly cause hooking woes. I did lose some fish but I think it may have had more to do to the size of the fish being smaller rather than the weedguard blocking the barb. I appreciate everyone's input and suggestions. For me this was a good learning exercise and I learned alot - but more importantly I caught alot. Take care Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2020 Nice report! Well done on the fly tying, selection, use and success at catching fish !!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2020 Very nice, thanks for the results. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2020 I don't. I lose some, cost of doing business on the bottom. Paying the tax. One bit of advice I didn't see here, if you do fish without a weed guard and fish rocky areas, invest in a small hook file. Hook it to your pack on a zinger and keep it handy. Check your hook point often. A few "half snags" and I typically find a damaged hook point. A few quick passes on a notched hook file and you're good as new. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites