Bugs up the Wazoo

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Been digging around the internet, looking for the common insect nymph forms in my region. I found one source that is perfect, listing all the taxonomic names. Pictures abound and my file is full. I have the four main types to tie.

Mayflies

Caddis flies

Odonata - dragon and damsel flies

Diptera - aka, chironomids, blood worms, etc.

So now I'm a ding-danged entomologist! All hail the internet.

PS I dont know what a "wazoo" is, but stuff is always up there. Why not bugs?

[Allen Morgan]

I'll have to try to find them again :)

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Okay Allen - I hope I can remember to check them out later.

Think you could send me a PM reminder? ;-)

[Allen Morgan]

David, there are some patterns on FAOL about wrapping hooks with foam.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

"As the saying goes, 'you care more than the fish do.'"

Well.... yep. That is a given, Jim. You gotta start somewhere and mine is there. I've learned to live with it! Ever heard this saying:

“This planet is covered with sordid men who demand that he who spends time fishing shall show returns in fish.”  ~Leonidas Hubbard, Jr.

Guide flies? In other words, simple, cheap and known to work? I’m good with that. But, here’s the shocker: I want more. I think of it as a hybrid somewhere between that and obsession. See, I LIKE to tie flies and don’t mind putting effort into them. This includes the decision making process around just WHICH ones to tie. I like flies for the sake of tying, you might say. They are an end in themselves to me. Actually, you are part of this inspiration. The first time I saw those teensy little Cosgrove Poppers of yours I was, well – hooked!

This may seem counter intuitive to some, those men who only measure success by a basket full of fish. I get that, too. But I’ve grown big on the art and tradition of fly fishing. Seriously, if I were crippled tomorrow (God forbid) in such a way that I was unable to fish again – I would probably tie flies for both the beauty and diversion.

However, you make a good point as far as their “natural” appeal. One of the things that draws me to fly fishing is the finesse, the ability to at least mimic the smallest of dainty creatures upon which these fish MOST often feed. I’m now thinking it might be a great idea to add hackle to soft plastic jig heads….

And keep some worms handy at all times…

Have you tried wrapping craft foam on a hook to form a pliable body, before hackling, etc?

[jim cosgrove]

david look into GUIDE flies vs the catalog flies.the latter are much nicer to look at but a guide has to be economical with his time as well as expenses.yet the flies have to produce for clients.the tenkara flies are a good example but also a different style of fishing.if i could only use one thing it would always be a small jig.a flyrod is not the most efficient way to fish most times but the most enjoyable to me

[jim cosgrove]

as the saying goes david,you care more than the fish do.i came up with a lot of patterns they and spit.since then texture has bee as important as looks.it has to feel like a bug when i squeeze it.that squishey yet crunchy feel like when you kill a spider crawling on your neck.that is why i like foam and heavy hackle.they really seem to hang on longer.i catch fish in some really heavily pressured water.often out fishing live bait as a fly landing and acting like a real bug seems more natural to a fish than a glob of worm on a too big hook

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Some good points made here, especially about running vs. still water. Fortunately, there is some information about still water aquatics out there and it's to these I've turned.

Through a bit of research, I stumbled upon some sampling studies from Clemson that detail the precise aqua invertebrates I can find in this locale. This allows me to nail it down to genera, or class, which is sufficient. My list at the beginning of this thread is that distillation.

Proof of concept came this past summer, when I tied some VERY rough damsel-esque nymphs. While looking like crap, and like no particular sp. variant, they had all the requisite components - and they caught bluegill! What is noteworthy is the bluegill showed lackluster interest in my other pasterns...

That then is the goal: create some fairly easy ties that look mostly like those aquatic critters our bluegill are accustomed to seeing...and eating.

Besides, I've got all this tying gear; I may as well put it to use :)

In a nod to Joe Angelucci, and a tenkara-based K.I.S.S. Principle, I expect to whittle it to a max of about four "nympha" type patterns. I should also sat that my overall guiding work is Terry and Roxanne Wilsons' book, "Bluegill...Fly Fishing and Flies."

Next season I can net and scoop to see how close I've gotten... And make adjustments. My bet? I'll be danged close....

I sure appreciate all the feedback, folks

[jim cosgrove]

LOFR-are you suggesting we stick our  hand in a wasp nest or fire ant hill for bait?hey i had to look that stuff up

/

[jim cosgrove]

david,glad you are interested in the alien world of aquatic bugs.been netting ad scooping them out ditches and ponds my whole life.they are not all tiny tho.dragonfly nymphs eat small minnows and are pretyy big.nymph patterns are easy to tie.usually only 2 or 3 materials.only problem is most were designed for moving water.to drift or if weighted to tumble along the bottom.so you must animate the fly yourself.also most are slender leaving the hook gap exposed so they hang up a lot when fishing where sunfish live.weed edges,trees brush etc. that is why bugs like tooty's are so effective.they attract,the material moves and pulsates as it sinks or rises on the strip or below a float.they do not look like anything specific yet imitate many things.i have some sz 20 micro worm nymph type flies.i like the way they look.i keep em in my box just to remember i had some promise as a tyer.fun to tie and small is a true test of your skills.but i release 99% of the fish i catch and those little flies get swallowed deep so they don't get used much.

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

dnt forget he orthoptera, Greg makes a good Betty Grable  LOFR