Do you love big bluegill?

Schmotzer Grubs

Donald makes it easy. Rubber bands, ostrich herl, black thread and white glass beads... #10 round hooks, coated with clear nail gloss.
Reading about the creatures these mimic, I learned about their head mounted gills, which is why the bead. I also discovered these critters have tiny "clasper" hooks at the rear....which I had to add!

Rating:

Currently 0/5 stars.
1
2
3
4
5

View Full Size

Tags:
Albums: My flies

Comment

You need to be a member of Bluegill - Big Bluegill to add comments!

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 24, 2013 at 10:51am: I used a 3/16 stainless tubing section, sharpened

Comment by jim cosgrove on December 24, 2013 at 10:02am: i hear ya david.have tried solvent based coatings on stuff and have witnessed "melt down"i am looking into mark's recommendations for water based fineshes.if you find some body material that is opaque ,you can put a layer of silver tinsel under.makes the body light up. what are you using to punch out the poppers?

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 24, 2013 at 9:16am: Gracias, Lucky. Looking forward to your tying desk!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 24, 2013 at 9:15am: david -i know we both frequent the same kind of places.have you seen these small rubber bands they are using in looms.they are every where.a rainbow of colors even glow in the dark and glitter.i believe they are vinyl or silicone,so they will last longer than traditional rubber bands which tend to dry rot.i have been going thru my stuff and have yet to find my real small stuff man .sz 18 chrimos and scuds ants etc..the blood worms etc swim like mosquito larvae.merry christmas buddy...

Hmmm, the same places, you and I? Since this is a family forum, we better keep that to ourselves... :)

I have seen the little rubber bands the kids are using to make jewelry with, although I haven't gotten any yet. They're silicone. I'm sure there are others. For example, I got some small (microscopic) bands recently, which I believe are intended for "ethnic" hair styling. They are probably PVC, and could suffice down to #20 or so. Sadly, they did not react well to nail polish or head cement - they melted. Even worse. I didn't learn this until the fly unraveled before my eyes!

However, a water-based gloss coat would do the trick. I might get away with nothing, too. They are kinda shiny themselves and a bead head could work out front. Let me try that and If it works Ill get you a bag of them.

Always looking forward to seeing your micro-fly's. I recently tried duplicating your micro poppers; you know, the ones I bought from you a while back. It was a success, it seems. Ill post a pic later.

Comment by dick tabbert on December 24, 2013 at 8:45am: Good looking Grubs McScruff-AKA-David

Comment by jim cosgrove on December 24, 2013 at 8:39am: david -i know we both frequent the same kind of places.have you seen these small rubber bands they are using in looms.they are every where.a rainbow of colors even glow in the dark and glitter.i believe they are vinyl or silicone,so they will last longer than traditional rubber bands which tend to dry rot.i have been going thru my stuff and have yet to find my real small stuff man .sz 18 chrimos and scuds ants etc..the blood worms etc swim like mosquito larvae.merry christmas buddy

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 24, 2013 at 8:19am: Those are looking real fishy!! I am not sure you can have too many flies so often they are claimed by heavy cover. and when you see a fellow fly ;fisher on the water you might part with a few. amazed that the fly fisherman in my area don't tie their own flies.

Great insight, Mark. Ive not seen other fly anglers in the places I frequent, although some must exist. But catch a few fish on something like this and the demand could suddenly skyrocket. Especially when you consider there are other ways to employ them - case in pioint, Andy E's use of floats for towing them around.

Im not surprised that fly men don't tie their own; I suppose it is seen as too difficult or costly. When you consider that tying a 10 Cent Fly often comes after you've put hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars into the process... well, I can see their reluctance from at least a financial perspective.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on December 24, 2013 at 8:12am: Thanks everybody.

As is usual for me, I see room for improvement, so look for that, I guess. A different hook and rubber bands, next.

Yeah, Tony, they can go as small as the materials allow - that is the limiting factor. I tend to go with 10-12 simply for the fish. Large-ish bluegill will take baits in that size range pretty handily, while the smaller ones tend to shy off. This is not absolute, of course. And it depends on just what they are accustomed to feeding on and time of year.

But I've hauled em in on size 2 and 4 hooks, while the practical lower end is around 18-20. Thats why I tend to favor 10-12 - its dead middle of the range. Ill try them on some 12's... stay tuned.

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 24, 2013 at 7:23am: I like both the grubs, and the reasoning behind tying them...this is pretty close to where I'm heading with new items to fill my tackle box.

Can you tie it on a size12, or 14?