blass fly tying and hair jigs.

[Ready2Fish]

i am going to be getting basically fly tying items, the whole shebang for christmas and was wondering if anyone knows a anything about tying some bucktail jigs as well as some good flys for bass? i have my own ideas but i would like to hear everyones input as far as what materials i should be using, best fly patters etc ? thanks in advance! ;D

[ejtaylor822]

My bucktails are pretty simple - but seem to work. I use 1/4 to 1 oz round head jigs. Make solids in black, blue, green and yellow/chartreuse - none of the "odd" colors. For two tone I go over white or a gray. I use gold or silver tinsel for some flash.

I like to use Maribou in same colors as well for longer "flowing" jigs.

I tie them off in matching colors or red thread. I seal/glue the wraps in whatever is handy - devcon, super glue, flexcoat, head glue (fly tying), or clear nail polish <- preferred. I also use nail polish to "paint" the jig. Check out the nail polish at the dollar store. Works fine.

As far as bass flies, what wt is your fly rod?  That will have a lot to do with the flys you will make.

Eddie

[VolFan]

Not my thread, but I have a 5, 7 and 9 weights that I use for bass and use wooly buggers in larger sizes as well as clousers.  Deer hair mice worked across the top of grass beds in the evening will get the heart rate up too.  Have you (or anyone else) seen the Marini's Wounded Baitfish (anchovie, silverside, etc.) patterns?  They're msde from EZ Body.  I was looking for something that I could use similar to a senko.

[flechero]

Just because it's a fly don't assume small...  my favorite flies are big bunkers, decievers and other large baitfish patterns in 5"-8".     Tie em a little sparse in the body and they still cast well.  I like whites with a little color on top and sometimes a few strands for a lateral line.  I also like eyes,(visual, not weight) but in freshwater I don't think it's a must.  Have fun and tie up a bunch of options...  it will only help you become a better tier...  and some of the "mishaps" will probably be your best producers!  ...lol 

[VolFan]

Flechero, have you worked with the EZ Body?  DO you think one could tie it to imitate a senko?

[flechero]

Kind of... I've tied with a few of the tubings but they say ez body is a little different.  If it's anything like the other tubing in how it acts then it won't work like a senko.  I think it's too light and not as limp as it would need to be for a senko type action. 

[NEKvt]

The bucktail and marabou are great suggestions, add to that a grizzly cape with good long feathers (not the dry fly type) and you can tie flies that will catch fish anywhere.  Just like anything involved with fishing it gets to be addicting, you wind up with way more materials than you need.  Try some arctic fox or finnish racoon for some jigs and flies with great action, they both build up a little bigger than marabou.

As for flies the suggestions have been good so far, I would add bendbacks to your list, great fish imitator and one of the more weedless flies you can tie.

As for the senko, ez body probably wouldn't work.  Check out the gulley worm, essentially woven chenile.  Might work for you.

[Bass Junkie]

   I'd have to agree with the Buggers and Clousers, in Black and Chartreuse/White. Also, if you know any bird hunters, ask 'em for a couple of Pheasant pelts. You may have to cure them yourself, but with a bit of imagination you can come up with some decent craw patterns. Church Window feathers for the claws, cut in the claw style of course, a hare's dubbing body, large hackle clipped top and bottom for the legs, maybe some red squirrel hair for the top of the bottom, some gold ribbing down the body, and a bit of another church window feather for the tail. Viola, a nice lookin craw.

[VolFan]

Throw Seam Flies in there too as a good bass fly, kind of a walk the dog action.  Big dumbell-eyed double bunny flies are also good for getting down after them, fished alot like a plastic worm.

All:

What if I tied latex tubing inside the EZ Body for some heft? Thoughts?   I know the only way to know is to try it, but thoughts?

[silverbullet32]

make sure to get some bass popper hooks and hard foam popper bodies. they work great for bass. and small foam critters slay the panfish