Smb fly fishermen, I have a question

[tjm]

I don't mean to push anything  or  to lecture ; if that's how it came across. Just stating my perspective. My 8wt rods flex into the butt,and even chub bend the tip, so I feel them struggle.  A fish under two pounds should not need resuscitation, most don't even see a net or leave the water. I tend to haul them in at tippet strength. I just can't help feeling that a fight between 260# me and any fish under 10# is lopsided and see no reason to extend it. That's just me, others have other views.

 Flysmallie, those are nice choices.

[FishnDave]

I've used 6wts for most of my smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing for a number of years now.  With the popularity and success of Gamechanger flies, and multi-segmented Howtizer Poppers, ..these are heavier flies that I sometimes struggle to cast with the 6wts.  I've uplined the stiffer 6wts, and that makes a big difference.  Still, a 7wt  might be in my future.  8wts have felt like overkill, so I haven't used the ones I own much.  At all.  But I'm definitely open to it, if the situation calls for it.

When Tim Holschlag guides clients for smallmouth bass, he says he uplines his loaner rods 1 or 2 linesweights with a bass taper like SA Titan taper...says the clients find these setups easier to cast.

I like Flysmallie's approach with 3 main types of flies, and Fishinwrench's patterns are excellent choices as well.

For topwater, I like Holschlag's Blockhead Popper (with rubber legs).  For mid-depth, I've done especially well with 3.5" Gamechangers and the FC Pearl Shiner.  And for bottom, I like a yellow fly with a conehead for weight.... similar to a Barr's Meat Whistle.  Take my choices with a grain of salt.  My smallmouth fishing experiences have been in Iowa, where the water is usually not very clear.  Although I use the same patterns in the Volga River here, which is very clear.

Thanks for this thread...I'll be moving to Missouri within the year, and am very interested in the whats/wheres/ and hows in the streams there.

 

 

[Gavin]

I fish a big chartreuse popper with rubber legs almost exclusively. A size 2 Sneaky Pete is hard to top if you don't make your own. A size 4 Sparkleminnow in Pearl, Brown & Orange, or Olive will do the trick if they wont eat on top. Fish both on a 9' 7wt and 3x. A half a dozen flies, and a spool of 3x in a shirtpocket is all you need.

[FishnDave]

Oh...and don't use yellow flies...Smallmouth don't like 'em.  😉

[chucknduck]

2 hours ago, tjm said:

I don't mean to push anything  or  to lecture ; if that's how it came across. Just stating my perspective. My 8wt rods flex into the butt,and even chub bend the tip, so I feel them struggle.  A fish under two pounds should not need resuscitation, most don't even see a net or leave the water. I tend to haul them in at tippet strength. I just can't help feeling that a fight between 260# me and any fish under 10# is lopsided and see no reason to extend it. That's just me, others have other views.

 Flysmallie, those are nice choices.

I don't see anything wrong with encouraging responsible fishing methods. I just wanted to clarify. I'll take my 8wt to the creek with me next time I go.

2 hours ago, FishnDave said:

I've used 6wts for most of my smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing for a number of years now.  With the popularity and success of Gamechanger flies, and multi-segmented Howtizer Poppers, ..these are heavier flies that I sometimes struggle to cast with the 6wts.  I've uplined the stiffer 6wts, and that makes a big difference.  Still, a 7wt  might be in my future.  8wts have felt like overkill, so I haven't used the ones I own much.  At all.  But I'm definitely open to it, if the situation calls for it.

When Tim Holschlag guides clients for smallmouth bass, he says he uplines his loaner rods 1 or 2 linesweights with a bass taper like SA Titan taper...says the clients find these setups easier to cast.

I like Flysmallie's approach with 3 main types of flies, and Fishinwrench's patterns are excellent choices as well.

For topwater, I like Holschlag's Blockhead Popper (with rubber legs).  For mid-depth, I've done especially well with 3.5" Gamechangers and the FC Pearl Shiner.  And for bottom, I like a yellow fly with a conehead for weight.... similar to a Barr's Meat Whistle.  Take my choices with a grain of salt.  My smallmouth fishing experiences have been in Iowa, where the water is usually not very clear.  Although I use the same patterns in the Volga River here, which is very clear.

Thanks for this thread...I'll be moving to Missouri within the year, and am very interested in the whats/wheres/ and hows in the streams there.

 

Happy to help! I appreciate your suggestions too. I've only been here since July but I'm enjoying learning the new fishing tactics. 

[chucknduck]

Thanks to all of you friendly fly flinging fishermen I have just ordered a bunch of new materials to tie up some new patterns. Got stuff to tie up this Senko worm imitation, this Sneaky pete, and this Sparkle Minnow and to restock my box of woolly buggers because its embarrassingly empty. 

[fishinwrench]

I have trouble finding good cork for Sneaky Pete's, and I am stuck on CORK for them, can't stand the hard foam popper heads.  

I used to like Blockhead poppers but then me and T.H. fell out, so I designed my own version that's even better ....so screw him 😅. 

[FishnDave]

19 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I have trouble finding good cork for Sneaky Pete's, and I am stuck on CORK for them, can't stand the hard foam popper heads.  

I used to like Blockhead poppers but then me and T.H. fell out, so I designed my own version that's even better ....so screw him 😅. 

Those look really good!  3mm foam?  Do you do anything special to keep the foam from spinning on the hook....like glue it to an underbody?  Do you think those doll eyes make enough noise to be an added attractant?  I just use a sharpie to draw eyes on my Blockheads.  Hmm...I think I'll tie up some like that.  Thanks for posting this!

[fishinwrench]

It's craft foam from Wal-Mart.  Just laminate 3 sheets together with spray adhesive, cut your rectangles out, poke a hole in the center to slide it over the hook eye. Tie in your tailing material and a good thread base for the foam. Then slide it on, fold it over, and secure with Super Glue Gel.   Then use some 3/0 thread to cinch down the waist.  It won't come undone and spin around the hook.

If you just forget that it's a popper and strip it like a streamer it makes more racket than a buzzbait. 😊 That cinched down waist creates some wicked air bubbles when you long strip it.  It also walks side-to-side if you use a loop knot.    

I like the googly eyes just because they add more bouyancy and push even more water.  Any potential "rattle" they might have is overshadowed by all the other racket this fly makes. 😅 

I tie them big and use them mostly for green bass.  I've tried slightly smaller ones for Smallies but the little ones don't raise hell like the big #1's do.

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

 

I have trouble finding good cork for Sneaky Pete's, and I am stuck on CORK for them, can't stand the hard foam popper heads.  

 

I have over 200 real corks from years of saving them when the cork scare first started.  Will wine corks work for your flies?

What about the the fake wine corks?  Have you tried those?