Grasshopper / cricket patterns

[Aaron O]

Planning to tie some grasshopper or cricket patterns for the late spring/summer.  Any suggestion on size of hooks?  Seems like sizes 8 to 10 would work.  I could also make some in smaller sizes (14) for earlier in the spring.   As far as crickets,  anyone know what color crickets we have locally.  Found a really cool black cricket pattern (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC0NSwwRXXo) and wondering if I could do it in another color (brown/ green etc..)  I know we have camel crickets locally but I dont know if they live near water since they also go by the name cave cricket?  Through our your suggestions.

 

Aaron

[Aaron O]

lol what I ment to write was THROW OUT your suggestions.   what can I say.... pulbic edjucation has done wonders four me.

 

 

[Steve F]

I'm a huge fan of Davie's and have probably watched every one of his 300 videos.. twice.  He's a true artist at the vise.  Unfortunately, a fly that takes him 12+ minutes to tie will easily take me 30.  It would then likely take exactly 2 casts to lose it in a tree.  Unless you are particularly fond of Davie's pattern, do yourself a favor and go with a more simple pattern.  Take a look here for a much easier fly with a SBS and a bunch of color variations.  

[Greg Feder]

Amen to the pink pookie and variations thereon. 

--
http://www.tpfr.org/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/-/1DDEfEUqctkJ.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

[Vince]

I am a big fan of the Hopper Juan. Fairly easy to tie and effective.

http://hopperjuan.blogspot.com/2009/05/hopper-juan-tying-steps.html?m=1

[Aaron O]

Thats guys for those ideas.  I do really appreciate it.  I actually got a copy of most of those from an earlier post and have been looking forward to tying some.  The only reason I have not been yet is that I don't own any dear, elk or any other hair as of yet.  I have buck tail but I don't think it would work the same.  Let me know if you think otherwise.  One of the reasons I was looking at Davie's pattern (other than his skills at tying and how cool it looks) is that it did not need hair in it.  As soon as I can get some hair, I plan on tying a bunch of those poppers along with a realistic mouse pattern called "The Dirty Rat".  check it out.

 

 

I will tell you that I tried tying a cricket yesterday and had a hell of a time trying to put a knot in pheasant tail fibers for the legs.  That is going to take some practice. 

[Steve F]

For these hopper patterns, you dont need the elk hair to be bouyant, the foam will take care of that.  Fly tying is an interpretive art -- use what you have.  Stack and tie in the more coarse bits from the back of your bucktail and see how it looks.

[Richard Lin]

I am big fan of panfish or bluegill and I use mini popper all time. The cost of popper body is expensive and we have to take time to tie, glue and paint it. Most stores sell completed mini popper about 3 to 5 dollars each!

 

After I tied few cricket patterns, I then got an idea and use these cricket form materials and apply to mini popper. See picture - I think it should be worked! I am going to tie few more and test them in spring or summer.

 

Richard
 
 

[Michael Smith]

Stimulators fished as poppers!!!

--
http://www.tpfr.org

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

[Carl Zmola]

On 01/24/2013 11:55 AM, Richard Lin wrote:

I am big fan of panfish or bluegill and I use mini popper all time. The cost of popper body is expensive and we have to take time to tie, glue and paint it. Most stores sell completed mini popper about 3 to 5 dollars each!

 

After I tied few cricket patterns, I then got an idea and use these cricket form materials and apply to mini popper. See picture - I think it should be worked! I am going to tie few more and test them in spring or summer.

 

Richard,  Those will work.  I tie foam spiders like that all the time.You can tie them with black foam and a little "post" of white foam so you can see them.


You should take a look at the Gartside Gurgler:
http://www.jackgartside.com/step_gurgler.htm
and the
Stealth Bomber:
http://www.warmfly.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=0b227e60fdcb84ef0a4ad01b06210311&topic=5962.0
http://www.flyfishga.com/stealth.htm

Happy tying,

Carl

[Richard]

Carl - It is pretty cool flies for bass! I will try to tie like this. Thanks for the links!

Richard 

[Fly Fish]

Carl's mention of the gurgler pattern reminded me, this past August I had a great day catching smallies on the upper potomac, throwing a small white foam gurgler with a purple marabou tail.  The fly is very plain and simple, it was tied by one of Brian Kelly's guys at the fly shop in Shepardstown, the tiers name was also Brian.  (photo of fly attached - still has a bit of tippet tied on).

 

Charlie