Featured Fly - Hellgrammite

This go around, I have decided to do a hellgrammite pattern that is a spin off of Mike Mercer's Rag Hellgrammite. There isn't much difference between the two patterns. I simply changed the legs and I only used one bead. Either way, this fly has been working very well for me this bass season, with some of the larger bass taken on this pattern under an indicator.

Materials

Hook: TMC 200R sz. 8-6

Body: E-Z Bug - Grey, Olive, Brown 

Legs: Round Rubber Legs - Black 

UnderBody: Any Dubbing - Olive Yellow

Bead: Tungston Bomb Bead  - Black

Pinchers:  Goose Biots - Black 

Shellback: Loon UV Knot Sense 

Step 1: Slide Bead onto hook, Wrap thread back to the bend of the hook, Tie in a 2 inch section of E-Z Bug.

Step 2: Dub the underbody about 1/2 way to the bead.

Step 3: Tie in rubber legs on both sides of the hook.   

Step 4: Dub around the legs pushing the back.

Step 5: Repeat Step 4.

Step 6: Bring the E-Z Bug forward, tie behind the bead.

Step 7: Tie in 2 goose biots on either side of the bead. Forming Pinchers.

Step 8: Make a shell back using a UV curing product.

Step 9: Add a couple strands of UV Krystal Flash.

Step 10: Hit the UV goo with a light, trim the krystal flash, whip finish.

Finished Product:

Hellgrammite fly pattern nicely placed in a Schuylkill River Smallmouth bass

Delaware TCO Team Meeting

If someone would have told me, this years fishing would top last years, I would have to call bull on that. As we loaded the boat onto the trailer with headlamps shining, I looked back at the river and just smiled, its trips like this that make me love that river. Conditions were borderline not even worth fishing that day, but after being run back to the car only 1/4 mile down river from a fast moving thunderstorm, we couldn't have asked for a better day. With times of zero visibility and torrential down pours, we were sure the bugs just wouldn't come back, boy were we wrong.

Waiting for Joey to send me the rest from his camera.

Having everyone together is always a good time, Saturday night George and Paul, met Lenny, Joey, and I at the bar, beers, food, and then back to the cabin for more beers. Hmm the thought of fishing the next morning around 9:30 that night seemed like a good one, around 2:00am maybe not so much. After our company meeting, we were all in waders walking the banks for rising fish faster than you could, well it was fast. It was another great night with Lenny doing big things landing a solid 22+ brown on a sz. 20 sulphur. Nice Dude!

Lenny capturing George with a beauty!

Lenny with his Delaware PIG

When our meetings were over Monday it was an immediate repeat of the day before, this time we had more time. The boat went in, with Lenny and his pontoon not far behind. This time I'm just going to let the pictures tell the story.

Yeah they loved the Tux

Joey with an awesome West Branch Brown Trout 

This picture should tell you all you need to know 

Photo evidence  

Even when it was dark the fog was still thick

One last thing... I got to test the New Winston BIIIX SX, this is going to be replacing the BII MX, it is an awesome rod, very powerful, with a deeper action than the MX. The 5wt is a great dry fly rod, and when it gets too dark to see your sz. 20 dry, cut that leader back and throw a streamer at the bank. It can handle it. More details to come.

Hot Flies: CDC Sulphur, CDC BWO, Iso Emerger, Sulphur Emerger, TUX

Featured Fly - Packing Peanut Popper

This is a pattern that I found online somewhere, while looking up foam frog fly patterns. When I saw this guy I went right to the vise. I thought it looked awesome and while tying it, also realized it was fun to tie. Fishing it close to the bank just popping or skating works very well. We have dead drifted it through fast water and had fish pick it up that was too. While Fishing this guy up on the Lehigh River, one of my buddies looked at it in the water and said " damn that kinda looks like one of those packing peanuts. haha" and just like that, the crazy looking popper thing, got its name.

Materials

Hook: TMC 105 

Hook Shank: Any 3x long Streamer Hook sz. 8

Tail: Fly Enhancer Legs - Color of choice  

Body: Estaz - color of choice 

Foam Top: 2mm Fly Foam 

Legs: Fly Enhancer Legs - Color of choice

Eyes: Oval Pupil 3D Eyes 

Step 1: Tie in 8 strands of rubber legs.

Step 2: Tie in the Estaz.

Step 3: Wrap the Estaz forward, ending at the hook eye. Whip finish.

Step 4: Take a small piece of 30lb backing and thread throw the hook eye. Wrap over the backing securing it to the front hook.

Step 5: Glue 2 sheets of fly foam together, colors of your choice.

Step 6: Cut off the corners of the foam tapering it down, tie onto front hook to the start of the backing loop.

Step 7: Tie in the Estaz.

Step 8: Wrap Estaz to the front of the hook shank.

Step 9: Move your tying thread back about 1/3rd the distance of the hook shank, fold the foam over, making the fold just past the hook eye.

Step 10: Tie in 2 rubber legs, making 4 legs once tied down. Repeat on other side.

Step 11: Cut extra foam off. Whip finish over the foam.

Step 12: Dab a small bit of super glue on each side of foam. Stick eyes on and wait till they are dry.

Step 13:  Put a small dab of super glue over thread, and right behind hook eye. This helps keep the foam from sliding around.

Finished Fly

This Schuylkill River smallmouth crushed the Packing Peanut Popper right off the bank

This nice Lehigh River smallmouth fell to the Packing Peanut Popper while it was skating across the current.

This Red Eye crushed the Packing Peanut in the fast water.