I've been fishing Shannon's streamer
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Shannons_Streamer.htm
The only problem with this fly is that you can fill you fly box in an afternoon.

and homebrewed thin stream with 4 grizley saddle hackels some silver crystal flash (or some other color to match the local baitfish) and a bit of bucktail.
The key is that it is extra long with a wire and trailing hook. The whole thing is 5-6" long, but very thin.

I am fishing bigger water here on the Potomac, so your milage may vary.

Carl

I can get by with a simple crayfish pattern, Shenk's Streamer (white and black), and a popper or two.
I experimented with Murdich Minnows this fall, and I enjoyed using them. I don't think they were any more effective than the Shenk's, and they aren't as fun to tie (too easy!).

For the Shenk's streamer, I've been experimenting with CCT Body Fur. It is a cool product, but a bit tough on your scissors. I think I'm going to stick with it, though.

For crayfish, I like a hook-point up pattern with a pine squirrel tail, dubbed body, and arctic fox wing, sz 4 or 6. Our fish like olive.

Thanks for all your info, I got me a fresh cup of coffee and am ready to sit down and tye up some streamers,crayfish,etc.. Its cold and rainy today.So perfect day to tye!

Hi Doug,
Just visited your blog for the first time ... very nice, great job!

Doug

Thanks Doug, this is an excellent source for my Smallmouth addiction I just added your blog to my favorites.. and I just seen on the Weather Channel you are up for some serious snow today and tonite.Better throw another log and the fire and tye some more flies.Thanks again for your blog site, Im going to tye some more flies now that I have some more patterns to choose from.
Be safe and warm,
Mikee

Love that one Swellcat -- lots of great pictures -- and recipes for lots of nice fly patterns. Great find.

Thanks Swellcat..there are some really nice patterns to tye on that site.

Here is a link to the Cat's Whisker on my blog. Simple, but deadly!

http://smallmouthflybox.blogspot.com/se. .. at+whisker

Thanks,

Doug

I originally tied this crayfish type fly for carp, but have found it works exceptionally well for just about anything else that swims and has crayfish on its diet. This summer I got countless carp, trout, large mouth, and wiper on it, so I imagine it should work just as well for smallies.

I normally tie them with the eyes on top of the hook near the the eye of the hook, so it rides hook point up in the water so it doesn't foul up as much.







It's about 3 inches long, so normally the small fish shy away from it

I love smallies! I would actually rather chase them than trout. Nothing against trout, but a smallie hitting a popper on top water is such an explosive strike that you can't help but like it. I tend to throw a lot of poppers for smallmouth. If I am not throwing a popper, I resort to a Road Kill. This fly was designed by Harry Murray. I changed it to suit my needs where I fish. Materials are as follows:

Hook: 3XL nymph hook
Thread: 6/0 color to match body
Eyes: Bead Chain
Tail: Micro Pine Squirrel
Body: Chenille color of your choosing
Hackle: Up to you. I like my hackle to match the body unless I am using black for some contrast
Legs: Round rubber medium size

Jeff, I love the Road Kill fly ... those poppers are excellent as well! Great Job on the flies!

Flytackle, those are some beautiful flies. They are so nice I would be scared to use them ... very, very nice