bass gurgler help please

Some local fly fishers are organizing a massacre/fish fry to help
Fish and Wildlife reduce the population of LMB illegally
introduced into a nearby trout lake. Back when I lived in FL, I
had bunches of bass flies, but they seem to have gone astray.

I want to tie some bass flies, but don't want to buy lots of new
materials (dyed deer hair, popper bodies, etc.). I'm OK for
bunny leeches, large buggers, clousers, etc., and I have the
makings, I think, for gurglers, but I have some questions:

- What colors and combinations of colors have you found effective
for LMB? Same as for bass`poppers?

- If you're using several layers of thin foam instead of one
thick piece, do you glue them together, or just rely on holding
them together with thread wraps?

- What sort/sizes of hooks? In larger sizes, I've only got TMC
300s and 5263s but I suspect the shanks on these may be too long
for gurglers.

Thanks,

- JR

JR wrote:

- What colors and combinations of colors have you found effective for
LMB? Same as for bass`poppers?

Just in case Big Dale isn't lurking around, I'll toss out my
thoughts on this. Be advised that I tend to fish on rivers, and as
often as not, I'm targeting Guadalupe bass rather than largemouths.
But, I do have experience with LMB.

Colors are pretty much the same as poppers. It partially depends on
what you're hoping to imitate. I tie them in frog colors (variations on
green, brown, yellow and sometimes chartreuse is in the mix), and
sometimes do them in all olive. Some folks like them in black.

- If you're using several layers of thin foam instead of one thick
piece, do you glue them together, or just rely on holding them together
with thread wraps?

Glue them together. The 3M adhesive spray (77?) is nasty stuff, but
it works pretty well. You just have to figure out a way to weight
things down without getting the glue all over everything. (Wax paper
works pretty well as a barrier.)

- What sort/sizes of hooks? In larger sizes, I've only got TMC 300s and
5263s but I suspect the shanks on these may be too long for gurglers.

I use Mustad 3366 sizes 4 or 6, but if you're going after really big
fish, you might even go up to size 2 or larger.

Conan The Librarian wrote:

JR wrote:
- What sort/sizes of hooks? In larger sizes, I've only got TMC 300s
and 5263s but I suspect the shanks on these may be too long for gurglers.


I use Mustad 3366 sizes 4 or 6, but if you're going after really big
fish, you might even go up to size 2 or larger.

Ditto CTL's advice. I'd add using a wide gap, "bass bug" hook. Something
like a Mustad 37187, TMC 8089, or Daiichi 2722. #4-#6 would be about
right with the TMC and Mustad, but the Daiichi's are sized funny. I'd
start with a 1/0 and work up from there.

A friend of mine has some interesting versions of Gurglers.

http://www.gurglersonline.com/

brians

On Mar 7, 9:05 am, Conan The Librarian wrote:

I use Mustad 3366 sizes 4 or 6, but if you're going after really big
fish, you might even go up to size 2 or larger.

For poppers and for bucketmouths, I'd say 4 or 6 was too small- with
"too small" meaning the bluegill can get 'em in their mouths. I like
to use something big enough that I won't be C&R'ing 10 'gills for
every largemouth. The 'gills are just too fast and aggressive. So I
like size 2.

Except when my kids are fishing. Then something smaller. They don't
seem to mind the "'gill on every cast" thing. :-)

Hey, Chuck, I used that 3/4" dado plane yesterday. Very nice. Thanks
again for being an enabler. :-)

Bill

typed:
On Mar 7, 9:05 am, Conan The Librarian wrote:

I use Mustad 3366 sizes 4 or 6, but if you're going after really
big fish, you might even go up to size 2 or larger.

For poppers and for bucketmouths, I'd say 4 or 6 was too small- with
"too small" meaning the bluegill can get 'em in their mouths. I like
to use something big enough that I won't be C&R'ing 10 'gills for
every largemouth. The 'gills are just too fast and aggressive. So I
like size 2.

Except when my kids are fishing. Then something smaller. They don't
seem to mind the "'gill on every cast" thing. :-)

Then again, neither do Stan and Tim.

Hey, Stan! When does the Quabbin open up? I'm ready NOW, 'tho it just might
be a bit chilly on the water today.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

wrote:

On Mar 7, 9:05 am, Conan The Librarian wrote:

I use Mustad 3366 sizes 4 or 6, but if you're going after really big
fish, you might even go up to size 2 or larger.

For poppers and for bucketmouths, I'd say 4 or 6 was too small- with
"too small" meaning the bluegill can get 'em in their mouths. I like
to use something big enough that I won't be C&R'ing 10 'gills for
every largemouth. The 'gills are just too fast and aggressive. So I
like size 2.

I can't disagree that for poppers for "normal" largemouth bass
fishing you'd want a larger hook (and probably a stinger (3187?), not a
3366). But I tend to tie gurglers on a smaller hook.

(And I tend to throw smaller flies when I can get away with, just
because I *hate* casting those huge monstrosities that pass for bass
flies. To paraphrase Big Dale: It's like casting a dead cat.)

Except when my kids are fishing. Then something smaller. They don't
seem to mind the "'gill on every cast" thing. :-)

Hey, where I fish I figure bluegills are part of the quarry I'm
after. They've saved me from many a fishless day. :-)

Hey, Chuck, I used that 3/4" dado plane yesterday. Very nice. Thanks
again for being an enabler. :-)

Glad to be of assistance. :-)

Did I mention that I have some Bean Aquatread wading boots that I
think you might be interested in ... and a L-N #112 and #164? ;-)


Chuck Vance (enabler ... moi?)