The "6 FLIES" series continues with Pat Cohen of Super Fly. He is a full time fly tier and has created materials and tools to help in the tying and creation of predatory flies. His passion lies with the warm water side of things, mainly focusing on smallmouth, largemouth, pike and carp.
Pat is also a fiberglass junkie and enthusiast and he (like I also did years ago) has even gone so far as to sell of all of his graphite several years ago and now exclusively fishes with glass. On occasion he even builds a few rods for personal use. He is an ambassador for Swift Fly Fishing and has his own stash of favorite Epic fly rods.
Here's Pat's warmwater favorites from his vise...
JIGGY CRAW
Spring is the first time since fall that adult crayfish expose themselves from their muddy wintering holes during daylight hours. Crayfish spawning begins in fall and ends in spring. Spring is the perfect time to be working larger crayfish patterns to hungry pre-spawn bass. This larger crayfish pattern uses a rubber skirt, rattles and a realistic silhouette to draw in angry eats from smallmouth.
DEVIL'S DRIFTER
Hellgrammites are always present in rocky rivers and they are a favorite snack of river smallmouth. Fish them through rocky runs on a dead drift or slight jigging motion and hold on. These shine bright on tough days with clear water.
5-INCH MANBEARPIG
Pre-spawn bass, smallmouth or largemouth put on the feedbag and want a meal in preparation for spawning. These flies are the perfect size to fill their bellies. They are built with a number of triggers in mind that include flash, action, noise and water push. I fish them with either a full sinking line or intermediate depending on water depth. Using a jerk/strip/pause retrieve can bring in some aggressive attacks. This fly will suspend in the column on the pause.
MO' STANK MINNOW
I designed this fly to function somewhat like a Super Fluke soft plastic in the water. It is slow sinking, erratic in action and comes equipped with rattles and weed guards. When bass are hunkering down in structure this fly can be worked through to call them out. It shines in the summer for me as a fly that I can easily cast under docks and work around pilings.
MUD PUPPET
Sculpins are always present in rivers and make a great food source for hungry smallmouth. They can be fished all year and this particular design is a bit smaller for clear water situations. It’s a very basic fly with tons of life-like breathing movement.
FROG LEG SLIDER
Springs offers top water action as well. As things heat up the frogs begin to mate. Don’t be afraid to throw top water a bit early. My rule? If I hear the song of the frog, I will chuck hair bugs. These are keel weighted and offer a realistic silhouette and swimming action. Everyone seems to make frog patterns to ride high and dry on the surface which is not a natural look at all. These sit with legs dangling below and the snout up above water like a natural resting position. On a strip they straighten out and dive below the surface swimming. Work them around lily pads, over fallen brush or strip them off of grassy banks.
Jump over to the Super Fly website to check these patterns and many others along with tools and fly tying kits to tie your own. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram too.
Just coming across this series of T.F.M. posts? Check out the past profiles HERE and HERE.
Pat is also a fiberglass junkie and enthusiast and he (like I also did years ago) has even gone so far as to sell of all of his graphite several years ago and now exclusively fishes with glass. On occasion he even builds a few rods for personal use. He is an ambassador for Swift Fly Fishing and has his own stash of favorite Epic fly rods.
Here's Pat's warmwater favorites from his vise...
JIGGY CRAW
Spring is the first time since fall that adult crayfish expose themselves from their muddy wintering holes during daylight hours. Crayfish spawning begins in fall and ends in spring. Spring is the perfect time to be working larger crayfish patterns to hungry pre-spawn bass. This larger crayfish pattern uses a rubber skirt, rattles and a realistic silhouette to draw in angry eats from smallmouth.
DEVIL'S DRIFTER
Hellgrammites are always present in rocky rivers and they are a favorite snack of river smallmouth. Fish them through rocky runs on a dead drift or slight jigging motion and hold on. These shine bright on tough days with clear water.
5-INCH MANBEARPIG
Pre-spawn bass, smallmouth or largemouth put on the feedbag and want a meal in preparation for spawning. These flies are the perfect size to fill their bellies. They are built with a number of triggers in mind that include flash, action, noise and water push. I fish them with either a full sinking line or intermediate depending on water depth. Using a jerk/strip/pause retrieve can bring in some aggressive attacks. This fly will suspend in the column on the pause.
MO' STANK MINNOW
I designed this fly to function somewhat like a Super Fluke soft plastic in the water. It is slow sinking, erratic in action and comes equipped with rattles and weed guards. When bass are hunkering down in structure this fly can be worked through to call them out. It shines in the summer for me as a fly that I can easily cast under docks and work around pilings.
MUD PUPPET
Sculpins are always present in rivers and make a great food source for hungry smallmouth. They can be fished all year and this particular design is a bit smaller for clear water situations. It’s a very basic fly with tons of life-like breathing movement.
FROG LEG SLIDER
Springs offers top water action as well. As things heat up the frogs begin to mate. Don’t be afraid to throw top water a bit early. My rule? If I hear the song of the frog, I will chuck hair bugs. These are keel weighted and offer a realistic silhouette and swimming action. Everyone seems to make frog patterns to ride high and dry on the surface which is not a natural look at all. These sit with legs dangling below and the snout up above water like a natural resting position. On a strip they straighten out and dive below the surface swimming. Work them around lily pads, over fallen brush or strip them off of grassy banks.
Jump over to the Super Fly website to check these patterns and many others along with tools and fly tying kits to tie your own. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram too.
Just coming across this series of T.F.M. posts? Check out the past profiles HERE and HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment