[tie one on]

Good day to All,

Was just wondering what type of fly you go to to fish for bass,
whether smallies, or largemouth ?

Do you like a particular popper pattern ?

Do you like using a particular "nymph type" that
just looks really "buggy" & moves a lot of water
to attact attention ?

Bass season starts soon here in Michigan & I will be
trying out a new one I tied this past winter. I call it
"The Black Widow". It's tied it on a #6 streamer with
lots of black rubber legs, black chenile, black saddle
hackle, more black rubber & larger head painted with
black fingernail polish & white painted eyes.

I also plan on trying some larger floating bass poppers
on my 9 weight, especially after reading an article
about various 9 weight rods being tested throwing
bass poppers. Anyone else use this size rod for
poppers ?

Tie One On

[Piscator]

I think my favorite is the Muddler Minnow. I like the way it flows through the water.

And of course, a woolly bugger will catch just about anything.

Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Terry

[BigCliff]

I pretty well just use foam poppers, dahlberg diver type flies, rabbit strips, and clousers for bass. By rabbit strips I mean pretty much anything with a zonker strip on it- redneck rabbits, kiwi muddlers, boufaces, bunny leeches, you name it. Flies with rabbit strips and or rubber legs work well on bass.

On the 9 wt thing, I pretty well only fish flies for bass that require use of a 9wt at night, so that the bass can find them in the dark. I tie smaller dahlbergs that can be thrown on a 6wt, about 3/4" in total diameter. These imitate smaller frogs which are a major food source for bass in most areas. Also- don't assume they are green, these frogs are often tan and most all frogs/toads have a pale belly. Tan/natural deer hair with grizzly saddle hackle tails and pearl krystal flash out the rump is a killer combo. A size 4 hook will be about right for the flies i'm talking about; normal hooks like a mustad 3366, not "stinger hooks".

For smallmouth, clousers are hard to beat.

[MikeLove]

Hello all, Bass fishing is on now for me and I guess I catch more on the Clouser deep running minnow , the deceiver when they feed on top along with the yellow popper.. makes me want take off work and go to the pond just talking about it......

[Salmo Nella]

a 9 wt is my preferred bass rod.
small poppers or deer hair bugs on top are my favorites. They are not the most effective but they are the most fun for me.

[Jakeway]

I use a 7 wt mostly, with a 6 wt on smaller waters or smaller flies.

I've actually had the best luck with Dahlberg Divers in Yellow Perch color, or an olive Wooly Bugger. I occasionally use an orange or white hair popper, but it seems like as soon as I switch to the Diver, I catch more fish. I think it's the way the bug dives under when you strip, then floats to the surface like a dying critter.

I also have been having the best luck on bluegills with a #12 Olive Bead Head Wooly Bugger, and sometimes get bass or crappie on it while fishing for bluegills.

What part of Michigan do you fish? I grew up between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, and still take trips to fish in lakes near Cadillac or Indian River.

[tie one on]

Thanks for all the input.

Jakeway, I live in Ada, MI. It is a small village
just east of GR.

What is a Dahlberg Diver ?
Does anyone have a pattern, or picture ?

Have a great Holiday weekend,

Tie One On

[BigCliff]

Its gotta be one of the top two topwater bass flies out there. Here's some explanation of it http://www.fedflyfishers.org/FlyOfMonth/dahlberg.htm

and some pics: