David Hutton
October 8, 2018
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As an angler, you put a lot of effort into your pastime. Just getting ready to go fishing means gathering gear, arranging travel and schedules, maybe preparing food or drink... and that's before you leave the house!
This means it is important that you also spend some time listing what worked, what didn't, and what might be improved for the future.
Most of those that take this advice will have long lists of what went wrong. For most of us, this kind of "failure analysis" tends to be our go-to... it is cultural to do it this way.
And after all, who doesn't like lists?
But we can probably do more to aid our future success if we organize our lists around what has worked, and build from there.
And after all, who doesn't like lists?
But we can probably do more to aid our future success if we organize our lists around what has worked, and build from there.
So from time to time, I root around in my fly wallets, the articles I've written, and the many tying room boxes to make a list of flies that work as hard as I do....
Where They Work
The water I fish most often is Lake Murray, S.C.
It covers about 50,000 acres, 600 miles of shoreline and is home to three distinct biotope zones. It is 12 minutes from home, and it has everything from large stripers to the teeniest minnow. With all this going on, my flies have to make the cut to be considered keepers.
It covers about 50,000 acres, 600 miles of shoreline and is home to three distinct biotope zones. It is 12 minutes from home, and it has everything from large stripers to the teeniest minnow. With all this going on, my flies have to make the cut to be considered keepers.
I mainly focus on largemouth bass and the numerous panfish species found in the lake. Striper burst in now and then to mess with the real fishing; they are the rowdy teenagers of my fishing word. But I have only passing interest in them.
My kind of fishing is more laid back, more artful... that is what I tell myself, at least. And it centers around a one-two punch to the fish...
My kind of fishing is more laid back, more artful... that is what I tell myself, at least. And it centers around a one-two punch to the fish...
Step 1. Top water, first
Step 2. Sub-surface, second.
This is cerebral fishing, where one works the entire water column - top to bottom. It follows the process laid down by Bill Byrd, Georgia's ultralight fly-fishing master. It is methodical, warm-water panfishing, and that suits me.*
Top Water
This "system" normally starts with fishing surface flies. That's easy enough, right?
The truth is, fly fishing is primarily a surface oriented activity, anyway. We love the surface bite, floating lines are the most popular, and who doesn't drool over the latest bugs and poppers?
To go well below the surface with flies requires tackle change ups, an increased mental focus, and a certain "instinct," or "feel" that takes time and effort to develop.
What a pain!
So a great many fly anglers just stick to the surface, and near-surface water for their fly fishing action.
So a great many fly anglers just stick to the surface, and near-surface water for their fly fishing action.
Sub-surface
But we have a conundrum with all this top water business:
The fish we most often seek don't live at the surface -
they just visit there
The bad news is that the top-water bite only accounts for maybe 10% of the fish's feeding; 90% of the time, they live and feed below the surface.
Knowing this, one might wonder why we shouldn't just go straight to the subsurface fly.... and sometimes that's exactly what I do.
But unless there is some obvious reason to do that, I begin every session with Step 1,... top water flies and presentations.
If that is working, I stay with it, because it is awesome!
But when it stops working, well....
But when it stops working, well....
Unfortunately, you will find times when you can't buy a bite on the surface. You get a lot of casting practice, but not so much catching.
repeat...repeat
Hey, don't act like you've never done it.
But you already know the answer to your question...where they went is below somewhere, and you have to switch up flies and tactics to find them.
repeat...repeat
Eventually, frustration grabs you, and you mutter aloud, "Where did they go?! They were just here!" Some yelling, cussing and hair tearing may accompany this outburst. You might even start calling softly,... "Here fishy, fishy, fishy!"
But you already know the answer to your question...where they went is below somewhere, and you have to switch up flies and tactics to find them.
Because fly fishing folk hit this wall often, the top question they have is almost always, "What flies?"
They are interested in rods, and reels, and which logo is on your hat, too. But the business end of the thing is usually uppermost in their mind.
Having dug through my written musings, all my dusty fly boxes and crates, I am now prepared to list some of the surface and subsurface patterns I have used with good effect.
It is not a long list - but it IS a list.
And who doesn't like lists, after all?
Bass and Panfish Flies, Top To Bottom
They are interested in rods, and reels, and which logo is on your hat, too. But the business end of the thing is usually uppermost in their mind.
Having dug through my written musings, all my dusty fly boxes and crates, I am now prepared to list some of the surface and subsurface patterns I have used with good effect.
It is not a long list - but it IS a list.
And who doesn't like lists, after all?
Bass and Panfish Flies, Top To Bottom
- SURFACE PATTERNS
Foam Spiders and terrestrial bugs: gurglers, beetles, Taylor Bluegill Spider ....
The Fliedermouse: Harrison Steeves foam-and-deer hair creature pattern ....
The Sneaky Duck: a stacked foam disc, floating-diving pattern
Our good friend, Don Schmotzer, discusses this one:
Poppers - styrofoam, stacked craft foam, Flip Flop Popper
Dry Flies - standard trout dry flies, tied large and small. This is an often overlooked group.
- SUBSURFACE PATTERNS
"Murray Hackle Fly"... Murray Hackle Fly
"The Briminator" ... The Briminator
Bart Lombardo's, "Creature" .... The Creature
"The Cockaroo" - Ward Bean sub-surface pattern using pheasant feathers... The Cockaroo
"The Cockaroo" - Ward Bean sub-surface pattern using pheasant feathers... The Cockaroo
Nymphs - 3-Way Nymphs, "Faux Fur Casual Dress" ....
- Honorable Mentions
"Dixie Finn" - color variation of the classic Mickey Finn, with Chartreuse/White, Chartreuse/black, Chartreuse/brown
"Because in the South, if it aint chartreuse - it aint no use."
"Woolly Buggers" - for bass and panfish, grey/brown, sizes 2-6
"Soft hackles" - sparse body and hackle - good for near-surface panfish
"SMP" Skip Morris Panfish fly - a Crazy Charlie tied with marabou.
Flies For The Future
We could probably all do better behind the fishing rod if we focused more on consistently finding fish, rather than keying on flies. But anglers don't think that way - we never stop seeking the next magical, fish catching pattern.
And I'm no different... there is always a new pattern I want to try. In fact, I can name three of them:
And I'm no different... there is always a new pattern I want to try. In fact, I can name three of them:
- Gary La Fontaines, "Airhead"... a simple surface pattern of dubbing, deer hair, and closed cell packing foam
- Bob Clouser's, "Swimming Nymph" - I view nymphs as the single best pattern type for my style of fishing. This one looks like a dandy.
- Mini Minnie - This streamer-like pattern from Terry and Roxanne Wilson uses a weighted dubbing material for the body
There you have it - a short list of flies that have worked for my warm water fly fishing.
Are there others? Of course - I simply cant show them all in a single blog post.
Can some of these cross over into other waters, for other species? Yes - fish pretty much eat the same things wherever they live... only the details change a little.
But I promised you a list, and, well, who doesn't love a good list?
* NOTE: Sadly, Bill Byrd passed away in 2021. With no one to keep paying the bill, his internet site has fallen into the Dead Domain Zone.
While he was still alive, Bill gave me direct permission to use his articles and writings, and I make sure his memory lives on...
you can read my tribute to him, and access an archived version of his writings here: Bill Byrd Tribute
If you find value in Bills archived writing, I urge you to copy and file what you like. It may not exist forever.
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Writers should always strive for a job well done... even mediocre ones like me. So if you found value in this article, please like, comment, and share it.
Would like to add any of the catching flies seen here to your own fly or tackle box? Got questions, gripes, or suggestions?
If so, email me at...dahutist@gmail.com
Thanks so much for reading, and...
Tight Lines,
Dave Hutton
© All rights reserved, David Hutton/Palmetto Fly N Fish 2023
References
- https://palmettoflynfish.blogspot.com/
- https://palmettoflynfish.blogspot.com/
- https://thebluegillpond.com/product/mini-minnie/
- www. pinterest.com
- http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-fishing/fly-tying/item/219-la-fontaines-air-head.html
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