Cork or Foam?

[Adam Grace]

I prefer Foam poppers with rubber leggs for Bass myself.

Paint usually chips off of cork, foam stays the same.

I think that the bass might tend to hold onto the fly longer with a soft life like foam compared to a hard bodies popper.

What do you like?

[Jay Murakoshi]

Cork bodies and sponge body spiders. But I do prefer the balsa wood poppers

Jay

[Adam Grace]

What a stupid oversight on my part. Jay thanks for showing me my mistake. I sent a PM to Eugene to find out how tho modify the poll question. If I can change the poll I will definately add balsa. I am embarassed.

The trouble of shavinf and forming the basla wood has kept me away from using that material. I realize that basl popper are a true fly tying art form but I am just too lazy. Leo Gutteres makes some great balsa poppers.

I will add balsa to the poll if I can.

[Hairstacker]

Adam, no choice for deer hair?

[Darian]

I'm with mike..... I fish Deer Hair poppers/sliders and foam spiders with rubber legs (gonna try the foam frog this year ) more than any other body type for BB/sunfish.....

I actually like the way deer hair (depending on how it's tied) can soak up water and float lower or sink slowly....

[k.hanley]

...Deerhair for subtle stuff
...Foam for waking action
...Balsa for booming vibes (especially in the dark)

That's the way I use the stuff. All good materials with something to offer.
Cheers, Ken

[David Lee]

With all of the new materials(and "old"stuff) out there , I'd hate to have to choose just one . I think the next 10 or so years are going to see some more MAJOR innovation regarding floating flies .

Take a good long look at the Gurgler's popularity and applications - I've never seen a surface fly take off with fishers like that one . Another neat one is the Crease fly - I just tyed up a few a while back and fished one for the first time 2 weeks ago ... The way the Crease fly pops and spits , jinks back and forth like the old Rebel Pop-R plug .... Just unreal to watch that fly work !!

Balsa will always have a place with tyers - look at the classic Pencil Popper 'ala Dave Whitlock , or one of Jay Murakoshi's big salty Poppers .... Classic craftsmanship never goes out of style (or fish-catching power , either) . The learning curve to work Balsa is steep , but well worth spending the time to master .

Cork .... what can I say ?? Cork was there at the beginning of fly fishing in America , still works like a charm . Leo Gutteries makes just about the best Cork Poppers around (I think Leo uses cork instead of Balsa .... I don't want to cut-up the few that I have to find out ....) . Betts are a close second (you can buy the Betts , you can't buy Leo's ) . A well-crafted Cork bug will be hard to destroy .

Deer Hair is fun to work with once you get the hang of it . Still a measure of a fly tyers skill , a Deer-Hair bug will catch fish as well as it catches the eyes of tyers in the know .

Silicone has opened up new opportunities for surface bugs .... Bob Popovics created a MONSTER with his Siliclones ..... Still rare to see anyone tying/using them , though I don't know why . Silicone/wool flies
are always in my box and account for some BIG fish !!

Yes .... I'm long winded , but it's a great subject to talk about !! Now , all we need is a line that floats David

[Hairstacker]

David, very nice comments on bug options, I really enjoyed reading them. You know me, I've always been a devotee of the classic deerhair bugs but, I got to admit, Leo's poppers sure are head turners, especially the ones with the bunches of deer hair coming off the sides towards the rear of the hook -- reminds me of poppers of the early/mid 20th century. But I have yet to see a bass fly move like the crease fly you tested two weeks ago. I have got to learn how to tie those, as the one you gave me is just too darn pretty to use for anything but display. I suspect the action on those things are just going to drive those Delta bass insane. In fact, it has precisely the action I was hoping to simulate by tying a deer hair popper with a Tru-Turn side-offset hook. You tie an amazing variety of flies but I'm curious, do you have a favorite topwater bass bug? Is it the Cottonmouth?

By the way, Rio claims they've come up with a floating fly line with a tip that doesn't sink, I'm sure you've seen the ads. I haven't heard of anyone yet who's fished with one, so who knows. . . .

[David Lee]

Guys - sorry to wander off-topic .... but Hairstacker has questions ...

1.- Favorite topwater bug ?? As far as Deerhair flies ... The Cottonmouth , followed closely by the Umpqua Swimming Frog (another great Whitlock fly) . The only cork bug I've used a lot is the Sneakey Pete . I haven't used the foam stuff enough yet to form an opinion as to my favorite .

2.- Floating lines . Everyone and their mother (manufactures , fly shop employees , guides ...) will tell you that "brand X" or "brand Z" is the best , highest floating , never needs cleaning .... flyline around . I am beyond sick of shelling out $60.00 + dollars a pop for lines that sink after a few trips , have coatings that peel off after a while , or just plain SINK right out of the box - I don't believe any of the hype anymore , having bought 30 or so different "floaters" in the past 10 years THAT DIDN'T FLOAT !!

That's why I use sinking lines and rarely fish the surface anymore . Even if I was "well-heeled" enough to get whatever line I wanted , untill I see one that works , the powers that be ain't gettin' anymore of my hard earned cash for bunk gear . David

[Darian]

So David,..... I guess we could say that you have a full stock of intermediate sink rate fly lines..... Of course, the flip side of this is that you,ve got a bunch of flats lines that you don't have to buy :P :P :P :P :P Where's a Bonefish when you need 'em