I fiddled around with my version of the Mr. Right pattern and found out a few things.....
First, I fished patterns with and without rubber legs side by side. The smallies didn't seem to care either way. Although the legs may be a triggering mechanism in some patterns, for this one they don't seem to be crucial. For that reason, I omitted them. Saves a step in the tying process to boot.
Second, I tried to give the body some taper. Instead of using alternating or same colored chenille, I tried some lavra lace immediately below the tail of marabou and before the chenille head. Not only was the fly now tapered, but it now had some segmentation from the lace wraps.
Third, the natural muted colors are dynamite for smallmouth bass. Vibrant colors have their place, but generally speaking turbid water conditions that call for bright colors would have me fishing a different pattern anyway.
Fourth, a scaled down version of the same fly is great for any panfish, and bright colors seem to be preferred by them regardless of water clarity.
I already morphed Mr. Right a bit to begin with, and now I've gone and morphed it some more. So now I'm calling this guy scorpio, named after its likeness to a scorpion as it sits tail up on the bottom with the 1730 hook.
Hook: Diachii 1730, size 4
Thread: 3/0
Eyes: Dumbell
Tail: Marabou
Body: Larva Lace
Head: Micro ice chenille
I use 3/0 thread because it secures the eyes and larva lace well.
Here's one in a natural color scheme that has been getting more than its fair share of bass so far this year....
First, I fished patterns with and without rubber legs side by side. The smallies didn't seem to care either way. Although the legs may be a triggering mechanism in some patterns, for this one they don't seem to be crucial. For that reason, I omitted them. Saves a step in the tying process to boot.
Second, I tried to give the body some taper. Instead of using alternating or same colored chenille, I tried some lavra lace immediately below the tail of marabou and before the chenille head. Not only was the fly now tapered, but it now had some segmentation from the lace wraps.
Third, the natural muted colors are dynamite for smallmouth bass. Vibrant colors have their place, but generally speaking turbid water conditions that call for bright colors would have me fishing a different pattern anyway.
Fourth, a scaled down version of the same fly is great for any panfish, and bright colors seem to be preferred by them regardless of water clarity.
I already morphed Mr. Right a bit to begin with, and now I've gone and morphed it some more. So now I'm calling this guy scorpio, named after its likeness to a scorpion as it sits tail up on the bottom with the 1730 hook.
Hook: Diachii 1730, size 4
Thread: 3/0
Eyes: Dumbell
Tail: Marabou
Body: Larva Lace
Head: Micro ice chenille
I use 3/0 thread because it secures the eyes and larva lace well.
Here's one in a natural color scheme that has been getting more than its fair share of bass so far this year....