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 Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
#10601075
02/07/15 03:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
The common conception is that big bass like big bait. So in an attempt to catch bigger bass I'm always looking for a bigger pattern. I use an 8 weight rod. I have tried the rabbit hair craw fish and large layered feather bait fish patterns but they absorb so much water and become extremely heavy. I tried a couple of the synthetic patterns. The patterns I tried had very poor action in the water.
What are your favorite materials and/or ties that possess a large profile, are light and have good action in the water?
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601180
02/07/15 03:55 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872
moonriver
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872 |
oh oh, you are asking for trouble, my dear friend. Get your wallet ready! 
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601189
02/07/15 03:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872
moonriver
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872 |
For my big articulated streamers, I like to use large Palmer chenille, which gives my lures a large profile, and still light when wet.
I am not an expert, would like to learn as well.
Last edited by moonriver; 02/07/15 04:00 PM.
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601283
02/07/15 04:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239
rrhyne56
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239 |
Spinner skirts can work well. The Calcasieu Pig Boat is a fine pattern for chuck and duck fly fishing.
"have fun with this stuff"
in memory of Big Dale
RRhyne56, Flyfishing warden
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601289
02/07/15 05:00 PM
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239
rrhyne56
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 13,239 |
Oh, and Flyfishingtheozarks has some tandem patterns that ought to work for big bass as well as fat trouts.
"have fun with this stuff"
in memory of Big Dale
RRhyne56, Flyfishing warden
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601328
02/07/15 05:27 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
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TFF Team Angler
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
I did tie Mike's articulated pattern once with a medium palmer chenille so maybe I can exeriment with that larger style. My wallet stays open unfortunately!!
I never saw these flies before rrhyne56. That Calcasieu Pig is something that really interests me. Can be used like a jig or add a spinner. And plenty of silly legs!! Since I grew up in Lake Arthur and Cameron, La. it has special interest to me.
Thanks for the input!!!
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10601512
02/07/15 07:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 468
wwest
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 468 |
Addicted to the thrill of a top water take, I like the BIG spun deer hair and foam flies. BIG poppers, divers and Chernobyl ants have served me well. My best big fish were caught with a substantial "plop" onto the water, a few 1" pops and then just let the feathers and/or legs do their thing with only the slightest action added to keep them moving. Making an adult sized popper out of caulk saver (Lowes, Home Depot) is fast and easy to tie and positively deadly on the big boys. Interesting - bluegill like to torment the big Chernobyl ants...grabbing it's legs, pulling it under, etc. but they can't get it into their mouths. This seems to especially draw the attention of the bigger bass who move it to take it away from them. Fun to watch while waiting for the big guy to show up. 
In this life there is fly fishing and tying...and then there is all that other stuff in between that doesn't matter.
Will
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: rrhyne56]
#10601548
02/07/15 07:56 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872
moonriver
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872 |
I watched his video, and learned to tie his style, using different hooks. Oh, and Flyfishingtheozarks has some tandem patterns that ought to work for big bass as well as fat trouts.
Last edited by moonriver; 02/07/15 07:57 PM.
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: wwest]
#10602160
02/08/15 01:39 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
Addicted to the thrill of a top water take, I like the BIG spun deer hair and foam flies. BIG poppers, divers and Chernobyl ants have served me well. My best big fish were caught with a substantial "plop" onto the water, a few 1" pops and then just let the feathers and/or legs do their thing with only the slightest action added to keep them moving. Making an adult sized popper out of caulk saver (Lowes, Home Depot) is fast and easy to tie and positively deadly on the big boys. Interesting - bluegill like to torment the big Chernobyl ants...grabbing it's legs, pulling it under, etc. but they can't get it into their mouths. This seems to especially draw the attention of the bigger bass who move it to take it away from them. Fun to watch while waiting for the big guy to show up. Agree Wwest. The top water bite has been dead for the last couple of months though. I caught 2 bass over 20.5 inches in September on Hook-Line&Sinker's Easy Froggy fly pattern. Hopefully the top water bite will pick back up soon. I sure miss it. Good story by the way!!!
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: moonriver]
#10602164
02/08/15 01:41 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
I watched his video, and learned to tie his style, using different hooks. Oh, and Flyfishingtheozarks has some tandem patterns that ought to work for big bass as well as fat trouts. The rabbit hair will add a lot of weight though. That's what I'm looking to avoid.
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10602241
02/08/15 02:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872
moonriver
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,872 |
Agree. I didnt use rabbit hairs. I used hackle feather, palmer chenille and dubbings.
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: moonriver]
#10602268
02/08/15 02:37 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
Agree. I didnt use rabbit hairs. I used hackle feather, palmer chenille and dubbings. Cool!!!
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10602619
02/08/15 10:28 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,728
mickfly
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,728 |
Rabbit looks great in the water, but does get heavy, so for bass, pike, muskie and other fish that like big flies, stick with synthetics and bucktail, since they don't absorb water. They're are lots of synthetics to choose from. It's also possible to use a few long hackle feathers without adding much weight.
Mickfly
Fish Friendly -- Life's too short to do it any other way
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10603675
02/09/15 12:21 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,629
Jim Ford
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,629 |
Day in and day out, you'll catch more big bass getting your flies below the surface. Surface flies are certainly fun, but for me BIG bass are more fun.... Or at least they were, when I still did a lot of bass fishing. Rabbit strips and craft fur are the two materials I've come to rely on for action. I use those two in 99% of the flies I tie, and the craft fur gets the most use. It has a wicked action. Of the different brands I've tried I like the Rumpf best; I get it at Bass Pro Shops and I think I have gotten it from Cabelas through mail order.
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Re: Discussion on Materials for Big Bass Files
[Re: J-Moe]
#10604267
02/09/15 03:28 AM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
Thanks Mickfly!!
Thanks Jim, I do see the benefit of rabbit hair. I just need to size it down for my 8 weight. The particular fly I tied was a crawfish pattern with 2 rabbit hair zonker strips as claws and a palmered rabbit hair body. It was tied on a 2/0 hook. So I need to downsize the pattern, replace certain portions with an alternate material or possibly use a different fur. I read that the more shine and stiffness a fur possesses the less water it will absorb. So maybe something like arctic fox would be a good alternative for the pattern.
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