pearow, those are good looking bugs. I think the body shape has a huge amount to do with the bug riding hook point up. I don't know if the lead wire is totally necessary, but I'm going to leave it on for now. Did those hooks come with the kinks in them, or is that part of what you did to them? I've been using regular B10S Gamakatsu (HAI!) stingers on the ones shown above and they've been working well.

Here was a taker from today on the Original Upside Down Frog (accept no substitutes).


It was a good solid hookup in the corner of the mouth.

Gib, the GSB did have a more interesting kicking motion on the prototype. Just wait until those royalties start rolling in!

Fly Rod Yakker, do you know of somewhere online that shows that particular hook you bought? I'd sure like to see them.

the flies are tied on popper hooks which have the bend so the popper head wont turn; theyre mustad 33903 size 2-p-

That's what I was thinking, but I've never used any of those, so I wasn't 100% sure.

I am sans lead tape, I will hit up turner hardware and try my hand at this.

The latest versions that I tested today no gottee the lead tape. In fact, the lead tape fell off the original with no ill effects seen after its departure. I'm just putting a few wraps of lead wire around the hook shank opposite the barb.

Txredraider,

Mustad 37172bln. I got the 1/0, will trim the weedless guard off, and tie a frog pattern with the hook point up.

Mine have a 1/32 oz. lead attachment at the back of the hook, should cause it to land and ride hook point up.

The plan is to spin enough hair to make a frog pattern that looks similar to a Spro frog.

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Mustad-37172BLN-Weedless-P530C97.aspx

I have been workin on one o them too, havent picked a hook yet, leanin towards 5/0 Gama sraight worm hook & heavy mono weed guard

FRY, That's a cool looking hook, but wow they're steep. It is cool that they make one weighted that lightly.

If you're going to clip off the weedguard (which I'm all for), is there any reason that hook would be superior to a standard stinger with some lead wire wrapped at that same spot?

That's almost exactly where I put my lead, by the way. It's nice to do something pretty close to right for a change.

Mike, you're working foam and I'm fighting deerhair. It's a crazy, upside down world lately. That's a damn good looking body and the way you have the legs on it is just awesome. You always give me something new to aspire to with this lashing thing.

I also know that if you go with that 5/0, you'll catch a fish to justify it. I'm looking forward to being jealous of your fish again. I miss it.

Did you pull those legs in with a needle? Also, did you turn the leg flanges/gaskets by hand too?

OK, had to try my hand on an upside down frog. I spin heads and use deerhair for wings and such, but this is only the second popper I've tried to make. Be gentle.
From above

From the front

From behind

Only the fish can pass judgement for sure, but it looks good to me.

Me too!

c'mon, thas not really your second (is it ?), looks good to my eye

Yes, it really is my second one. I tried it out today. It rode hook point up at first, but flipped over after a while. Guess I didn't put enough lead on the hook shaft or didn't get the hair packed tight enough. Oh well.

I didn't use a lot of hair in my versions. I think on the size 1 hooks I used 3 or at most 4 less than pencil sized bundles of hair total and I didn't pack it at all.

You might try trimming the deerhair on the bottom into a V shape when seen from the front. Make it similar to a keel on a boat.

The other thing I'd try on your next one is to leave the deerhair a bit longer in front of the hook to maximize weedlessnessness. When I trimmed mine I sighted from the hook eye to the point and trimmed just above that line.

To make you feel better about the quality of your work, which is very good for no more deerhair than you've worked with, have a look at one of my early bugs.



You know that makes you smile. Keep pluggin'.

That pic reminds me of the scene in finding nemo when the puffer fish (bloat) spooks and swells immediately.