Theoretically they should but their forage is also extremely prevalent. While they can't spawn, they do go through the motions in early Spring so there is that. That said, my best time of year on the catching side of things is always late Spring/early Summer & my largest ones nearly always some around this time of year (just not this year).



edit:
I've never tied with sculpin helmets before, So far, I like them. We'll see after I swim it....



Cheers!

lol, yeah I was too lazy to find my olive or black thread.

thx, it's just an EP brush. Hook is an Ahrex bent streamer hook. I've been fishing them some this year for smallies and really like them.


edit: I really can't wait to get this Optimus Swine wet. The originator of the pattern (I've taken a couple of liberties with substitutions of synthetics) is Eli Berant who came up with it by adding a reversed popper head closer to the hook bend to basically make the fly neutrally buoyant and make it to where he could easily get away with fewer materials. What he didn't count on was that for some reason, that foam hidden in there, made a fly that already had great walk-the-dog action, really walk-the-dog....as in 2-3' per side. It's really quite remarkable. Hook is an Ahrex trout predator lite, 4/0. Just a fantastic streamer hook.

Whoa - a reversed popper head at the hook bend is an interesting idea. I may need to do some research and experimentation on a scaled down small 4-5” version.

Leisenring March Brown
Hook: TMC 3761 - size 12
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer - Hot orange (#19)
Tail: Pheasant tail
Abdomen: Pheasant tail - twisted around thread
Rib: Gold wire - xs
Thorax: Hare's mask - split thread
Hackle: Partridge
Head cement: H & H



Tight Lines- Ken

Flatwings have been on the menu this week. After a number of mediocre results I tied a few that I'm happy with. I've never really fished with them but I'm looking forward to throwing them at stripers next fall.

Nice flatwing! Nice soft hackles!

I'll fish flatwings a little bit for smallies. I should probably do it more because they work very well every time I use them.


I've been geeking out on some musky fly tying vids and this is an idea that I've tried before, but never really given a serious go of it.

Here's a good old fashioned Clarkman special with reverse popper instead of foam discs. I've played around with strung fuzzy fiber heads, spun bucktail heads, but I always come back to dubbed heads. They just do it for me....this is Titan dub from Nightmare Musky Flies. Getting back to a few more feathers, but still have a little bit of black squimpish fiber for more depth and length in the tail, a little bit of flash (but not too much).



but it's also tied on a shank with a split ring attached to the back end so you can customize whatever hook you like (nothing tied on the hook). This hook is an Owner Herring hook 3/0, a nice thinner wire hook that is super sharp. These are damn strong too (I used a few for tuna this last summer).




Cheers!

edit:
Well, since the Broncos game really sucked, I was able to fill up a box for a buddy who's going someplace warmer than we're currently at.

Very nice, BigHeavy! What size hook is that?

Thanks! The custom message made me laugh.


Tom

I really dig that design C-man.How about a little bit of info on how it is constructed.Love the paint job.That is by far the best shape for a big popper head.That is from the opinion of the bass not me.

Thanks Cman.I generally take balsa blocks and taper them down similar to a cork but leaving the underside flat for more hook clearance.I have seen muskies and large pike blow up on ducks and seagulls.A buddy who used to guide in Canada told of certain guides with deep pocket clients rigging a harness for bay ducks .Illegal even in the 70s but anything for a trophy i guess.Tiger muskies never took well in my area but both muskies and pike are native .Muskies are now naturally reproducing in some of the rivers again.I would be tying these much smaller but love the concept.Was thinking of using cork balls in a similar fashion.

Ok,
here are the basic guts. The head is just drilled out so it can just be slid down the bite tippet on any fly if I choose. All materials are tied on the shank (the one pictured is a 35mm, but I use 55mm pretty frequently).



If I want more bulk in the bucktail section closer to the head, I'll just tie them in reverse.

As an aside, I'm still not totally sold on using split rings. On one hand, one could swap out to a different style of hook easily when the first wear out, but on the other hand, I can't remember the last time I've had a hook wear out before the actual fly materials.


edit: some additional things that just came off the vise...

smallie snacks...
a couple of variations that I've thrown up before plus two of my baitfish patterns that absolutely crush it out here. One is trash panda, the other is craft fur...




steelie snacks...
top is trash panda/bucktail mix and the bottom is mostly craft fur.




Cheers!