Do you love big bluegill?

A simple and effective "grub worm" from a rubber band

I hope you folks aren't getting tired of me, but with warm weather coming on, here is another of my favorites that is simple to make. When you find a bunch of Gills grouped around a bunch of rocks, or under a dock in the shade, this "grub" can net you a Gill on almost every cast. I love to fish a size 14 on my little TXL 0wt. Buy an assortment of rubber bands (different thickness and colors) and a bottle of "HARD-AS-NAILS" and you are good to go. Use your imagination (ie) different colors of thread and rubber bands / you will be well rewarded. ( I like black or red thread along with white,natural, yellow or red rubber bands. You can add a small Marabou tail if you like and plastic floss will work if you don't have any rubber bands..........The bands work best.....................Don in SC

Simple works..........I can't remember where I saw this on the web, but this is a really simple fly that looks real.

01. A small sharp hook (a wet/nymph works fine) size your choice
02. A few wraps of lead wire (I used .010)
03. A rubber band (cut)
04. Black thread (I used 8/0)
05. Sally Hanson "hard-as-nails"
That's it.
                Put down a thread base
                 A few wraps of lead wire (about midway on the hook)
                 Put a little "hard as nails" over the wire then over-wrap with thread
                 Cut the rubber band loop and tie in half-way down the hook bend
                 Stretch and wrap the rubber band along the hook overlapping as you go forward
                 Tie-off the rubber band just short of the hook eye
                 Wrap a head with the black thread......and whip-finish                 Coat the entire fly with "hard-as-nails" and let dry.............That's it, very easy and looks very real......Take a look..............


    And it works..............

   In this picture, the flies at the top and bottom were tied with thread,lead wire, and rubberbands (the ones on either side of the dime were tied with floss.

   I lost a couple bass on the size 14 curved hooks, so I tied a few in larger sizes.........10/ 8/ 6/ and one 2x size 6 (like 14's-8's) best overall

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by dick tabbert on March 10, 2013 at 10:45am

Don I can only speak for myself but sure most will agree we love to see new things and what might not be new to one person might be new to others so please post away. Educating is an important part of the site and we love your offerings. THANKS MUCH.....

Permalink Reply by Bob Parker on March 10, 2013 at 12:48pm

I agree with Dick Tabbert, about education being important. Love your offerings. Please don't stop sending them.

Bob Parker

Permalink Reply by JBplusThuy on March 10, 2013 at 11:09pm

These are really cool and maybe within my mediocre tying skills :-p

Thanks for posting!

Permalink Reply by Jim Gronaw on March 13, 2013 at 7:09am

I'm gonna' tie some of these up for the shallow gill season! Thanks a bunch!

Permalink Reply by Vince Fusco on March 15, 2013 at 6:20pm

First of all, thank you for sharing this fly, Donald. These are something that I would feel comfortable trying to tie. Being a newbe tyer, any pictures/ instructions describing how to tie a fly or bug is very helpful to me.

Permalink Reply by chris kowaleski on March 17, 2013 at 8:57pm

When you say tie in the rubber band, do you tie it in a knot then wrap it?

Permalink Reply by Donald Schmotzer on March 18, 2013 at 6:50am

No......just cut dia across one side of the rubber band. Now the band is one straight piece with a sharp angle on each end. Hold the point of one end about half way around the bend of the hook and wrap it with thread......several tight wraps to make sure it will hold when you streach and wrap the band "overlapping" as you go forward. Tie off the loose end just short of the hook eye and wrap a thread head between the band and the hook eye. Whip finish and paint the entire fly with "hard as nails. (BE SURE your hook is locked tight in the vise before you start wrapping the band around the hook)..........When I get time, I will try to post a video on Youtube and place a link here............Hope this helps...........Don in SC

Permalink Reply by chris kowaleski on March 18, 2013 at 8:10am

Thanks for the response, shortly after i posted that i figured out what it meant and got one tied up. I'll post a picture soon. And thank you for posting this!

Permalink Reply by Vince Fusco on March 27, 2013 at 8:16pm

Just tied 3 of those grubs on a curved shank #10 hook, and for a first try they came out pretty good. Good enough to fool a farsited gill anyhow! Thanks again, Donald for the instructions.

Permalink Reply by Donald Schmotzer on March 28, 2013 at 6:58pm

You are welcome Vince.......I still plan on doing a video, just been so busy I haven't set it up yet....Don in SC

Permalink Reply by Dale Craft on May 8, 2013 at 5:56am

I tie mine using a small black bead for the head. Gave some to some kids one day using regular tackle. the had a ball "fly fishing" using a bobber. They caught bluegills on the flies when they were not catching any on live bait.

Permalink Reply by Tinknocker1 on June 23, 2013 at 5:23am