Hello y'all,

I'm new to fly fishing (and absolutely terrible at it) but I'm determined. What baits work best for perch and bass? I'll mostly be fishing city/community ponds in the Pearland/Friendswood area. Any and all helpful info is MUCH appreciated. I just have a cheapo academy rod/reel.

Welcome to the board and to fly fishing. Your best bet basic flies are minnow style flies such as wooly buggers and clousers. Most any fly will catch perch and bass, but the two mentioned will certainly do the trick. Poppers for topwater action are great as well.

Ok great. I have yet to catch anything, but really just working on getting it out there.

poppers early & late

Smaller flies are going to be better for sunfish.
Cap spiders, briminators, small foam spiders, and hopper patterns.

Early mornings the bass are pushing bait toward the creeks and topwaters are working good. Foam poppers and bass bugs.

I love size 12 wooly buggers (black & olive) and size 12 black gnats for sunfish. Larger wooly buggers (brown) and clouser minnows have been my best bet for bass.

Thanks for the tips. If I can get some new flys by this weekend, I WILL catch something finally. Also, any advice on a good beginner rod n reel for sunfish and bass? I assume something light but I know jack diddly about fly fishing.

I have been very pleased with my 8 foot 4 weight St. Croix set up for sunfish. You can get it pretty cheap here: http://cgi.ebay.com/St-Croix-Triumph-Fly...=item3a675ded18
You might want to get new line, though.

I started with a 9 foot six weight. It's sort of an all around rod. A big sunfish is still fun (though a six weight really isn't a sunfish rod) and bass up to about 4 pounds are a blast (though a six weight can't throw huge bass flies)!

If you're just fishing little community ponds, a 5 wt should be good. Get some #4 or #6 poppers and an assortment of wooley buggers and have at it. Bass Pro sells an inexpensive combo called Dogwood Canyon. I have one in a 5 wt and have caught everything from little bream to a 8 or so carp on it. Just caught the carp yesterday and the drag on the reel worked fine. No TFO lifetime warranty, but it's a decent little combo.

Hares ear nymphs are also a very good fly to have in the box. When fishing small ponds they are pretty much my go to fly.