The Worm Fly

[John H]

The problem with fly fishing for bass is you really only have two tricks to fool them with - topwater and streamers. If you can get a bobber working that is three tricks. The gear guy seems to have an unlimited number of tricks and as a result can catch fish under a lot of conditions where the fly rod does not produce. If you want them on flies you really have to pick the time and place you think you can get the flies to work. The gear guy can go out whenever he wants to and run through his endless bag of tricks until he finds what they want. It is probably not quite like that but it does seem that way to me.

I saw a guy in a kayak who told me he had gotten some on a senko worm and on a chatterbait. I don't have any chatterbait flies but I made a worm fly last year that I like but have not used much. I fished it along some riprap and got a few bass including one about four pounds. The worm fly could be my fourth trick.

I jumped a guy's battery for him as I was leaving. I think I have seen him out there before. He offered me some striper. I did not want any but guessed right that he had gotten them on live bluegill. That seems to be the bait of choice. I asked what they weighed and guessed 10 pounds. He said they were a little bigger than that but his face said they were a lot bigger. After we got his truck started he said he was heading home to drink a beer and watch the ball game. That guy knew how to get them. I think I will stick with throwing flies for the stripers but I am with him on the beer and the ballgame.

[Darian]

That's a great lookin' Bass fly. Can't see a weed guard. Does it hang up much???

[John H]

It has not hung up much yet. The hook rides point up which helps. The riprap was pretty steep and there were not many weeds so that helped. The lead eyes are pretty bashed up so I think it is hitting the rocks. I made another one that was way too heavy. The problem is you can’t feel the fly or the bite very well. You jig it and if it feels like it is hung up on something you might have a fish. I got one fish because I saw a boil in the water and guessed it was a bite.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Inspiring post John.............




Nor Cal guide Fred Gordon told me about a long black worm fly he used for bass in ponds years ago.

He used some heavy braided dacron line for a long extended body that he palmered with black hackle.

The entire fly was just all black palmered hackle.........

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We use to fish a long black fly for Stripers some years ago.

Short shanked hook, beadch ain eyes, black chenille body and long narrow black saddle hackles.


During a low water spring, Joe Shirshac and I were wading the mouth of the Feather river after dark.

On the far side of the Feather river, just up from the confluence, was a huge log and I saw a fish busting alongside it.

I had just built a 9' #11 line, 2 piece Lamiglas fiberglass rod for Stripers that I was using with 25' of lead core.

I had one of those big black eel flies on and cast it to the top of the big log that was parallel to the bank.

A good fish took it right away but then it started jumping wildly and Joe said it was not a Striper.

Turned out to be a smallmouth bass over 5 pounds.................

[Steve S]

On the few occasions that I have been able to out fish my bass fishing buddies that use gear it has been using a 6" straight cut rabbit strip tied unweighted on a 2/0 or smaller Tiemco 8089 or similar style bass worm hook. It's not a particularly pretty or creative fly, but it is especially good on lethargic fish that want it s-l-o-w and undulating on the drop. Black and olive have been my two go to colors with purple being a close third on bright sunny days. It's not the most fun fly to cast when wet, but I've cast worse.

My other sleeper go to fly that will out gun gear is a soft hackle damsel during pre-spawn when the bass are patrolling shoreline looking for a place to build a nest and they are wary of gear. You can land it softly, it is small and sinks slowly and it doesn't spook them as long you don't move around too while delivering the cast.

I don't fish beds.

[Carl Blackledge]

Steve , I also love a rabbit strip