I think it may be the style (wings). I tried a similiar looking fly that I purchased from Sportsmans before I tied on the renegade and it worked extremely well. Got 5 fish on 5 casts but lost the fly. Don’t know what it’s called but it had white wings. You would think a tiny light brown fly would work since that seems to be the color of the insects they are feeding on. I purchased a small (size 12 I think)Caddis fly that may be a good imitation. Will try that next time out. Flys can be quite pricey…at Sportsmans anyway!
You can tie your own flies. Its a little pricey to get started but they are cheap after that. And its fun to catch fish on your own creations.
Flies are not that expensive, most “fly” shops want $1.39 each. If you buy a dozen at Sportsmans it’s less than $10. If you catch 5 fish on each thats 60 fish for $10. Nice.
Tying isn’t that expensive, start with a kit for christmas and then for a couple of bucks a week you’ll have all you ever need for a life of fishing. Yarn, floss and the like are cheap, ask a hunter for duck feathers, pheasant feathers, buck tail and elk hair. I stopped at a road kill and got about a sq foot of elk hair, It should last me. Gather mountain goat hair at the mouth of Little cottonwood in the spring. About all you have to buy are the synthetics and hooks.
buy the 50 packs, start w/ size 12 and get smaller.
Just got back from the pond, fished from about 9-11, it was unreal!!! Literally a fish every cast. They were still biting well when I left but I lost my bubble and didn’t have another, LOL. May go back again this evening.
I’m still trying to figure out this fishing thing. Which fly works best at Willow Pond? How much leader do you use between the bubble and the fly? Do you reel in the fly slowly or just let it sit where it lands? Thanks in advance for any guidance.
Scott
Fishing with a fly and bubble is like any other fishing–what works one day may not work the next. The basics that work for me.
- Use a light invisable leader–I use 4-6# Vanish.
- I like a long leader–5-6’ to the first fly and 3’ more to the second fly. That can be difficult to cast and sometimes a short one works as good or better.
- Retrival is a matter for expermentation. Sometimes they will take as the fly slowly sinks. Sometimes it needs to be fast or erratic.
- You also need to experiment with depth. Fill the bubble 3/4 full and fish the surface or fill it clear full and fish from the top to the bottom. You may also add additional weight to get to the bottom faster.
5.Flies that work the best are the ones that you have the most faith in. The #12 Captain and #12 Renegade have worked the best for me at Willow Pond this year.
I was gettin’ hit on a renegade or a griffiths gnat today.
Anthony
You have a very detailed answer above. As far as flies I was using different ones I purchased from Harmons made by black hawk. They are inexpensive and work great. White Miller was my favorite.
been meaning to ask you how you tie your second flie on and where.
Its on a dropper about 4-6" long about 3’ above the bottom fly.