Odds -n- ends

[AtticaFish]

Have had the long rod out a little more recently and got to making up some different flies......

Searched through my fly boxes and only found a few traditional clousers so figured i better make up some as the SMB are starting to switch over to minnow patterns as it gets late into the season. I think i still made them tied too full even though i made a concious effort NOT to.
#4 Mustad 3366's
1/50oz. Hourglass Eyes

Tied this one after reading an article in the FTJ magazine about 3D streamers using mallard to create flatwing style streamers - reminded me of the flashducks that i see on here but tied as a fly.
#6 Mustad 3366
Dubbed & ribbed body
Mallard flank flatwing
Gray squirell tail upper wing

Last ones here i tied thinking of using them in a specific lake that has a good population of channel catfish. Have not caught too many cats in open water on the fly.... wanting to test out the 'yellow' theory with the fly rod also.
Some buggy ones on various sized caddis hooks:

Some yellow clouser minnows also. Top one is on a #6 with the 1/50oz eye and the bottom is on a #4 O'Shaughn hook with a mush larger eye - not sure on weight. The bottom may be tough to cast on my 5WT rod:

 

[CrappieHappy]

nice work Russ!

 

[smalljaw]

Now those are nice! I don't fly fish but the way guys can manipulate hair and feathers and turn them into bugs and minnows is truly amazing, excellent work!

 

[Fatman]

Attica - those look fine, not to full and definate smallie colors. Those flat wing streamers are nice as are the bead heads, did you run into any problems getting the beads on??? the black and yellow clousers should be fine on a 5 weight - just watch that you don't tick the rod with it!!!

 

[quivira kid]

Nice work, Russ! Have you ever tried chartreuse-over-yellow Clouser minnows for the smallies up there? That has become my go-to for white bass, and has done fairly well on channel cats as well.

 

[AtticaFish]

C-Happy - Thanks!

smalljaw - Can put just about any fly on a jig.... just takes some spearmenting. The caddis hook/yellow wing ties would make some nice jigs with smallish sized EWG hooks on jig heads.

Fatman - Am a horrible cast with the flyrod..... not worried about 'ticking' my rod as much as 'ticking' the back of my head as i try to shoot a fly out! Trust me - i wear a hat and sunglasses at all times when casting flies. The fly rod has a replacement guarantee - not my head. Have a mix of beads. So far the favorites i have found are glass called Seed Beads from a local craft shop. I am a freuent customer so the owner lets me break the seal and open the packages on the beads to get a visual estimate on how many of them have large holes that will fit through the hook barb. If lucky - half of them will easily fit over the barb and the other half goes to my daughter. They are cheap - 60 cents or so for maybe 50 to 100 beads..... never counted them. Do use some counter sunk beads from Jann's Netcraft but would rather use the glass beads from the local craft shop - cheaper and lots of color options. Only downfall is the glass beads might weigh less than metal beads and not sink as well.

quivira kid - Don't think i have used chart/yellow clouser but may have to try that combo for some cats.... have some yellow kiptail but no yellow buck tail so have to keep them shorter. Switch up to bighter colors (faster strip retrieve too) in the fall for the smallmouth. Love catching them on bottom hugging bugs and crawly creatures but the SMB diet switches to more minnows in the fall as they target the young fry that schools up as the water cools.

Wanted to get out and swing the fly rod at lunch today but it rained all day - maybe tomorrow i can get some pics of SMB with clouser minnows stuck in lips.

 

[quivira kid]

Try this...... use yellow marabou for the tail, make a gold tinsel chenille body, then just use bucktail for the wing. Gives it a little extra flash and motion too!

 

[AtticaFish]

Will do! Have those colors/materials on hand and like the idea but may have to sub the gold tinsel with a gold home-made floss from some gold flashabou. Have made some clouser with a rabbit tail in the past and they do kick a little xtra. 'Bou would be similar.

 

[quivira kid]

Here is the only pic I could find. Overall design wasn't the intent of the shot..... beaten-up battle axe moreso. This is a size 1 Mustad 3366 with "small" lead eyes. I can cast it with my 5-wt, but have to be careful! It is more of a chuck-and-duck than graceful fly casting...... but the fight is a lot more fun than the 8-wt.

 

[gabreamfanatic]

nice ties!! i need to get my 3 wgt fixed. i to am a horrible cast with the long rod but it sure is fun to get out and try. i may try that on some of my jigs.

 

[StumpHunter]

Awesome work. That one with duck/squirrel will be in my fly box very soon
I have used yellow more this year than ever before because of the lack of rain and very clear water and use combos of yellow/white white/yellow with a red head being lead or thread head.

 

[Fatman]

What'd you guys do buy out the stock of 3366's!!!!!!!!!!! I watch for buy--it-nows on those they are a great hook!!!!!! Well if Mustad had screwed with them!! Thanks for the ideas!!!!

And just so you know buddy it'll only take one time getting whacked in the back of the head and you'll always remember to cast that fly rod right!!!!!!!!!LOL painful experience!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AtticaFish]

Zac - That does look like one battle tested weapon. Like the red eyes too. I am quite familiar with 'chuck-n-duck' from some of the hematite bead flies i have tied - the weight on those beads adds up quickly.

Stump - The duck/squirrel fly makes a good profile wet. I did fish with it for a short time but switched it to a slightly heavier fly when i found the fish in deep and swift water, needed something with more meight to get down. May have to make another with lead wire wrapped around the shank.

Fatman - The 3366's are my bread and butter now and have boxes of them from size 1/0 down to 12. Love how sharp they are and have very few of them break when turning down the eye with pliers. They are a fraction of the price of comparable Mustad 'fly' hooks that are sold.

.........i must have a very short memory or just really dumb - have thumped my head more times than care to count. The sunglasses are for pulling the fly back up out of the water, been there - done that too. Get distracted to easily when i see huge redhorse, quillback or carp flash in deep water or a bass blow up on a school of minnows and try to whip the fly around in ways that should not be done. No hooks have lodged in past the barb yet..... so i'm good.

 

[Fatman]

The first time it happens you'll never forget it!!!!!!!!!!