I was just doing some lunchtime research on this pattern and came up with this post on Dan Blanton's bulletin board about the Gutless Frog written by our own George Glazener.

Within that thread the participants discussed another fly tied in a similar fashion: The NPD Diver ; along with the tying instructions.

I think the NPD Diver, sans weedguard, might be just the thing for Hybrids and Whites that aren't committed to hitting topwater baits. I must ponder this further...

OK, so here is a thinner cut version of the same 4 layer foam tied on a unbent hook and secured with superglue. The "springiness" of the foam feels about right on this model. The legs aren't pretty or perfect, but I don't think it looks too bad.

Opinions?

Compared with thicker foam.


Floating in it's natural environment, just add angry bass.

OK guys I just had a brain-fart. I have been trying to figure out a way to utilize the foam from foam noodle like the kids use in a pool for lots of years and I think I have some copper tubing in various diameters that I bought in a hobby shop. I am thinking that I can use them to cut some of that foam into a round form and use that for this pattern. At least I am going to give it a try. I think I will try it first with some of George's Eagle Claw 413 jig hooks that we all love so much.

Have fun with this stuff.

Big Dale

Dale, I actually looked for some of those noodles in Wally World the other day and couldn't find any. My thought was to cut them like you would cut slices off of a piece of summer sausage to get the round pieces for this pattern.

For me, I think the layered foam is going to work well from a supply of material standpoint. However, the beauty of this pattern is the flexibility in the materials you can use.

I'm going to work on getting the legs attached in a more secure fashion, and glue one white piece of foam on the bottom of 3 green pieces, but other than that I think I've got this one about where I want it. Now all I need is some time to fish it.

It would be a lot of work, but I was looking at foam sheets today and started wondering if you could use a hole punch and knock out a bunch of chad and string them together? A dab of super glue between each one would hold them together and hopefully wouldn't make them too stiff. Just a thought.

I've said before that a mind is a terrible thing. This morning I saw "gutless frog" and was reminded of that great American hero, Reuben Clamzo. He would taunt humongus giant clams by yelling, "You chicken clam!"

Alas, this version of his story doesn't include the clam taunting. Still, you'll see what kind of guy Reuben was.

The sad thing is, I saw that tour in the Berkshires. Arlo and Bob Seiger were doing a benefit to raise money for an ambulance in the area where he (and I) grew up. The outdoor concert was the day after the end of the concert season and some jacka** sued to stop it. Arlo had to defend himself in court in front of the very same judge from the Alices Resturant Masacree. He won because he wasn't being paid and all ticket holders were encouraged to bring food and beverages. The judge ruled it was a picnic and sing along and therefore not in violation of the ordanance.

Were there twenty seven eight-by-ten color glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against them?

They could have just given the guy a few flies and let him go fishing whilst the concert raged on....gutless frogs might have been a prime selection....

Or TXRR's toilet seat. An A-hole like that could have used one.

I don't know if Arlo tours anymore, but if you get a chance to see him you should go. You don't even have to like his music, his comedy is great.

Now back to how we can get foam tubes for the gutless fly..any ideas?

Rainey's has some foam tubes, I got some at Barlows once and have never used it. Up til now had no good ideas.

http://www.rainysflies.com/foamproducts.php

I tried googling "craft foam cylinder." The best hits were fly shops. Unfortunately, the longest cyliners were 1", which is probably too short for the frog. Perhaps you could talk one of the suppliers, such as Wapsi, into a special order of un-cut cylinders. Then again, they offer 4" blocks which you can, "slice, dice, drill, sand, or bore."

Arlo should have a state named after him (or a fly at least)