Float Tubing and Tackle Talk

 July 17, 2016...UPDATED April 2023

I paid a visit to the lake this morning. Up with the sun, on the water by 8 am.

    I took the Cumberland float tube to an area I've fished from shore many times. It is a small point with a boat ramp, and a tiny cove along one side. It has a small picnic site fronting the cove, and in the back, the cove is filled with driftwood that has piled in from the main lake.

   I started with surface bugs, as usual. But top-water was the wrong game. The fish weren't having my surface flies, and only once did a floating fly get a serious strike - and that fish self-released.

    But I'm no one-trick pony; I'll switch up in a minute if I need to. And this morning I needed to.

    Time to go subsurface - and that is where the bluegill were biting.

    The best fly this July morning was a small Cap Spider I first saw in the fly box of pal, Don Schmotzer. As he ties the thing, it is just a bit of fine chenille or dubbing for a body, with rubber legs and a gold bead head. I think of these as "slow sinking spiders," but Don calls 'em Cap Spiders, and that's good enough for me.

    Other flies that shared the catching duties were,

- Flash bodied soft hackle

- Wooly Nymph

- Cockatoo.... this Ward Bean wet fly is a fave of mine (You can see my history with this fly, here: The Cockaroo A link to Wards site is in the references)

    Some of the fastest action came while trolling along the rocks seen in the pics below. That is a trusted tactic once the water warms. A number of fish also came right off the end of the boat ramp, itself. You have to watch out for boats and stay clear, of course, but the ramp has a sharp drop-off on the end that attracts fish.

 
Tackle Trials
    The No Knot Eyelet Experiment kicked off today, with the eyelet holding fast, through many fish and some hefty snags.       The immediate benefit to the No Knot Eyelet is that it puts an end to hanging in the guides, like you see with looped leader connections. The last time I saw that was with super glued leader connections.

    Detractors say that the No Knot Eyelet stresses the line and causes it to crack where the eyelet is inserted. Others complain that they rust and eventually break. Those things may in fact happen with neglect, but they seem like things one can get ahead of with awareness and line maintenance.     Under the magnifier, it shows no signs of failure.
The torture test continues.

    These tackle trials also extend to my new bargain fly line, from www.discountfishingDenver.com. That line was $12 in 2016 ... in 2023, it is $19.99. My rod is designated, "5/6 wt," and the line is a WF6F... a Weight Forward, 6 wt. Floating line.

    So what does that mean? On weight forward lines, the first 30 feet are supposed to be thicker and heavier than the rest of the line. It is designed to be forward oriented on one end.     The opposite occurs with double taper (DT) lines; they are slightly thicker in the center but thin out toward either end.     The rod says, "5/6," however, so that means it is designed to use EITHER a 5 wt. double taper (DT) level line, OR.... a 6 wt. forward weighted line.    This can be taken as a general guideline. It mostly depends on how much line you have out: - Shorter casts favor a heavier front section on the line.

- Long casts require a lot of line out, so you can load the rod well without the extra front weight taper.     Such a rod might also handle line a bit higher or lower, say 4 wt. or 7 wt....  Little is absolute in fly fishing, and each rod is different. In my case, this Weight Forward (WF) 6 wt. line is just right, and it makes the line effortless to cast. In a float tube, you can closely approach your target, and that little bit of extra weight does the trick on shorter casts..

    How about that bargain line.... what do I think of it?     Well, I'm a hack - not a line expert... I can't really give a hardcore line report. What I can say is it flows easily through the guides and is maybe smoother than my Scientific Angler lines. That may also be because it's new.

    But it lays nicely in the stripping apron, is quite supple and has no tendency to kink or twist. In short, the line was trouble free. I never had to worry about it, and I suppose that says something.

    On that subject, I've also started using Scientific Angler's pure silicone fly line dressing. I applied it to this line right away, before using it. It seems to have made little practical difference that I can tell over the bare line.     But I feel that using it gives an overall improvement in line performance and longevity, too. So I'll keep putting it on.     In fact, I put it on all sorts of things. My only regret is it comes in such a teensy bottle!

PS I get no sponsor kickbacks for mentioning this stuff. I just like it. If you know of something comparable, please let me know.

Random Pics

From L to R: Cockaroo, well chewed
Red Cap Spider
Flash Body Hackle Fly
Cork Popper

The Wooly Nymph mentioned in the narrative is not shown, and is a mystery to me, today - that was seven years ago, after all...

But the large popper was NOT the one to use on a late July morning.

Regardless, this inspires me to tie up some July Bluegill Kits!

Thanks for reading!

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Writers should always strive for a job well done... especially mediocre writers like me. So if you found value in this article, please like, comment, and share it. 

Do you want to add the catching flies seen here to your own fly or tackle box? Do you have questions, gripes, or suggestions?
If so, email me at...dahutist@gmail.com

If you appreciate a no-drama, no-hype Facebook group, follow this link and come join us at: 

Palmetto Fly n Fish

Thanks so much for reading, and...

Tight Lines,

Dave Hutton

© All rights reserved, David Hutton/Palmetto Fly N Fish 2023 

References

1. http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com

2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/flyfishingsouthcarolina

3. https://www.discountfishingdenver.com

The Cockaroo

 

    I'm very fortunate to be admin for the best Facebook fishing group going, ""Palmetto Fly N Fish..., and still going strong after 8 years. This is one my most gratifying achievements, and in the world of social media user groups, eight years just may be a record!

    A blessing that comes with such longevity is that a lot of archived content accumulates across the years.

    Our group has the best members from around the world, and they add content. Much of the content is added by me, something I love to do. The Blogger page you are reading now is also under the PFnF umbrella - with its own content.
    Taken together,... well, 8 years of content is a lot! 

    Due to recent health issues in the family, my outdoor fishing adventures are curtailed for the foreseeable future, and new content from that direction is on hold.
But, with 8 years of collected content at my fingertips, I have plenty in the "database" to fall back on.
    Whenever a topic comes up, I just go through the old posts and see what turns up. 90% of the time, I find something useful, and today's featured fly is no exception. A number of posts were there and waiting, about Ward Bean's, "Cockaroo." 

- All photos and flies by the author, except where noted 

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Cockaroos, flat wing, and tented

In the Creators Words
    Ward Bean may not be a household name, but in the world of warm-water fly tying and fishing, he is a big deal. This is largely thanks to his wonderful site, "Warm Water Fly Tyer." 
    I consider it a staple among internet fly fishing sites, and if you want to take part in this activity, you must check it out. Among the many useful patterns found there, Ward includes our subject, "The Cockaroo."

    He says this about the pattern... 

"The Cockaroo wet fly, so named because it's tail and wing come from a rooster Ringneck Pheasant, is one of my favorite panfish flies. Bluegills, especially love to eat this chubby little critter."

Cockaroo by Ward Bean
http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/patterns4.asp?page=3

    I couldn't have said it better myself - the Cockaroo is one of the best sub-surface patterns I have used!     And I'm not the only one to say that. Bart Lombardo, the driving force behind another must-see site, "Panfish On The Fly," he offers this:

"During a recent exchange with a gentleman by the name of David Hutton on Facebook, I was reacquainted with this particular fly.         David posted a picture of a 'Cockaroo' that he had tied and was fishing. There was immediately something familiar about the pattern - I had seen it before. David quickly pointed me to his source for the fly pattern, and all the pieces fell into place....     To address those that say panfish will take any fly, I did a side by side test with my usual early season wet flies. Both versions of the Cockaroo took far more fish than the other wet flies, when fished together on a tandem rig.

    A scientific study? No, but enough for me to add this pattern to my early season arsenal as well as my regular wet fly box!"     That's ample recommendation in my book, and Bart even called me a "gentleman."     Considering the rarity of THAT..., I'll take it.

The Cockaroo For Bart 

In My Own Experience     Lets look back at a few of the Palmetto Fly n Fish archive posts where I featured the Cockaroo to glean some more gems about it:

-> "The trusty Cockaroo was cast way back into the head of a pocket, maybe a foot of water was there. The fly hit the surface, sank, and was swarmed the instant I moved it. The bluegill was feisty, hand-sized, with vibrant colors. I got the pic at the waters edge, before working out the hook. Once freed, it went back quickly, unscathed."

-> "Donald Charles Schmotzer (one of the best fishing buddies anyone could have) will remember this is the fly that took a grass-bed bass early in the season. It was a surprise to him, as he was sure floating spiders were the way to go."

-> "It was raining and cool over the last week, but a little break was all I needed... and I hooked a substantial bass straightaway on a #8 Cockaroo.

    This is a routine I see repeated often: Bass taking lilliputian, insect-like flies, those intended more for bluegill or trout.

    Of even greater interest, is that the take is subtle. If on a surface fly, it is just an uncertain disturbance where your fly USED TO BE ... if it is a sub-surface fly, like the excellent Cockaroo, your line just stops and you think you've snagged a bit of weed."

-> "I took off early for a little shore stumbling around the Riverbend. I spent 60% of my time roll casting from overhanging banks; my timing was a little off at first, but no tangles or break-offs occurred!

The flies that caught fish:

Red Head Cockaroo - subsurface

Moodah Poodah - topwater"

Cockaroo Variations, at Random     

Here's a fairly rough version of the, "Cockaroo." Alright, a legitimately rough version. Okay.... Let's be honest; a bad copy of his version.






"Back Shank Cockaroo," the fly tied to the rear of the hook shank to discourage deep hooking

Redhead Cockaroo

    There you have it, "The Cockaroo" - a most excellent fly that YOU, too, should have!
    

    See what I mean about looking at things that came before? It can be time well spent!

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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 the catching pattern seen here to your own fly or tackle box? Got questions, gripes, or suggestions?
If so, email me at...dahutist@gmail.com

If you appreciate a no-drama, no-hype Facebook group, follow this link and come join us at: 

Palmetto Fly n Fish

Thanks so much for reading, and...

Tight Lines,

Dave Hutton

© All rights reserved, David Hutton/Palmetto Fly N Fish 2023 

References

1. http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/patterns4.asp?page=3

2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/flyfishingsouthcarolina

3. https://www.panfishonthefly.com

PHANTOM WOOLY WORM

EARLY SEASON TROUT AND THE PHANTOM WOOLY WORM

Unlike men, who are inclined to go out too early in the year and freeze their butts off, trout know how to find comfort in the high, cold water of the early season:

- They stick close to the bottom, away from the heavy current. 

- They congregate in backwater eddies where they don't have to exert themselves.

-  Trout aren't inclined to move much out of their way to take a fly in opening day water.

To be successful, the fisherman needs to know where the preferred eddies are, they must use a fly that is visible to trout in murky water, and they should fish it slow and deep. 

Building a little weight into the fly helps it sink properly, and permits easier casting than weighting the leader above the fly. 

A sinking line may help, but only where enough line can be extended to pull the fly deep. However, on small streams, where little more than the leader is cast, the sinking line has a minimal effect on the fly's depth.

One of our early season favorites is a wet fly we call, “The Phantom Wooly Worm,” a variation of the popular western pattern. 

The fly utilizes a palmered badger hackle, the black center of which blends with the black chenille or wool body, making the white tips of the hackle fibers appear to be detached from the fly. 

This creates a “ghost-like'' halo effect in the water, inspiring the fly's name. 

The fly shows up well in off-color water and the trout are fond of it.

The Phantom Wooly is a fly even beginners can tie easily. Try a few for your fly box.

TIPS - 

- 3 or 4 peacock sword fibers for the tail, with a tiny false tail of red wool tied over the top as a tag.

- A piece of lead wire is tied lengthwise along the shank

- Prior to tying in, stroke the badger hackle fibers backward on the feather shaft, so they stand 90 degrees from the stem.

In the foto, you can see the result!

- Hook sizes #6-14

- Note in the foto caption, Mr. Lively also recommends this fly as one the BASS love

CHAUNCY K. LIVELY,  APRIL 1965 PA Angler 

Updated Jan 2020

Bass and Panfish Top To Bottom - Make a List!

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. 

        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.

    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...

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.

 

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....   
 

    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

    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!"

    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.

    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

• SURFACE PATTERNS

Foam Spiders and terrestrial bugs: gurglers, beetles, Taylor Bluegill Spider ....

Marv Taylor Inspired Bluegill Fly

The Fliedermouse:  Harrison Steeves foam-and-deer hair creature pattern ....

Fliedermouse

The Sneaky Duck: a stacked foam disc, floating-diving pattern

Our good friend, Don Schmotzer, discusses this one:

Ultralight Fly Fishing: Sneaky Duck

Poppers - styrofoam, stacked craft foam, Flip Flop Popper

Flip-Flop Poppers

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

Nymphs - 3-Way Nymphs, "Faux Fur Casual Dress" ....

Faux Fur Nymph 

- 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:

  

- 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

If you appreciate a no-drama, no-hype Facebook group, follow this link and come join us at:  Palmetto Fly n Fish

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://thebluegillpond.com/product/mini-minnie/

- www. pinterest.com

- http://www.tomsutcliffe.co.za/fly-fishing/fly-tying/item/219-la-fontaines-air-head.html