Spring Time Bass

Spring Time Bass Fishing

As all of our lakes are trying to thaw out from the winter freeze I thought it would be a good time to start getting the box full of bass flies.  This time of year will produce some big fish, however the presentation has to be SLOW and go right in front of them. All three of the patterns below will work in the springtime. As always you can change the colors to your liking. 

Goodale's Bass Worm

Hook: SC17 or 600SP

Tail/Body: Fly Tail and, MFC Bunny Brush

Cone: Rivers Wild Sculpin head Medium. 

This patters fishes just like the rubber worm used for many years. Cast this fly to the bank and fish it back to you. It can be fished real slowly during the colder months. You can also speed up the retrieve as the water gets warmer and the fish get more aggressive. The weed guard allows the fly to be casted into the nastiest cover and fished without getting hung up. The material used is very light, so a large fly can be tied without being impossible to cast. 

Goodale's Bass Jig

Hook: SC17 or 600 SP

Tail: Fly Tail / MFC Bunny Brush

Body: SLF Prism Dubbing Olive Brown- In a Dubbing Loop

Legs: Barred Crazy Legs

Flash: Palmer Chenille

This bug imitates just about anything you can imagine crayfish, worm, salamanders Etc. Fish this just like the worm, cast to the bank and slowly fish it back to you. The colors I use the most are olive, brown/orange, and black/blue. The weed guard on this fly allows this to be fished in the thickest cover. It doesn’t matter how the hook rides on this fly. 

Goodale’s Crawdad

Articulated Shank: 35MM

Hook: SC17

Claws: Pine Squirrel

Legs: MFC Speckled Sexi Legs

Shell Back: MFC Scud Back 1/4 Lateral Scale

Rib: Medium Black Wire

Body: Natural Dubbing

Flymen Fishing Company Sculpin Helmet

This pattern is responsible for more Small Mouth than any other in the springtime. The sculpin helmets are heavier on the bottom, so this gives this pattern the realistic look of a spooked crawdad swimming away. The free hook is always in a position to get a good hook up on the fish. I tie and fish these in orange, natural, gray and olive. 

Winter Time

Here are a few patterns for you die hard fisherman that will brave the wind and cold this time of year. All three patterns can be put into the midge classification. So get your 7X, warm clothes and hit a tail water near you. 

The first one is Martins Midge Pupa. This simple little patters is responsible for taking more fish below the dam in Estes Park than most others. It's a two material fly and simple to tie. 

Martins Midge Pupa

Hook: Emerger Hook 18-24

Thread: Black 8/0

Wing Case: Opal Mirage Tinsel

The Second pattern is the Goodlae's Baetis Nymph. This pattern is the Bomb during a BWO hatch. It also fishes very well during the winter months. It has a slim profile and nice taper. The use of Micro tubing on a bare hook gives the bug that added extra emerging look we are always looking for. This bug is a must have for the winter months and a BWO hatch.

Gooale's Baetis Nymph

Hook: Emerger Hook 16-24

Thread: UTC 70 olive/brown

Tail: Moose

Body: Micro Tubing Olive Brown

Thorax: Natural Gray Ostrich

wing case: Opal Mirage Tinsel

The Third pattern is nothing special, you have tied and fished this patters for years. But I added a different glass bead to it. It's you're typical thread midge with either a tungsten bead or glass bead. However with all the new colors of glass beads out, I have had good success with Sprite Rivers Hi Lite glass bead in Pearl with this pattern. 

Hope you enjoy these patters and the Blog. Let me know your thought.

Jason

 Goodale's Eric's Emerger

As I was trying to come up with the first fly for a tutorial it hit me. I need to do one on Goodale's Eric's Emerger.  This is the fly that turned the hobby into something special. It was the first fly that Montana Fly Company picked up 5 years ago. The name comes from one of my twin boy's. The pattern was developed after a rough fall day of fishing on the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs CO 10 years ago. The Fall Baetis were hatching and the fish were feeding on them like crazy. I had no real success with the typical BWO nymph patterns in my box. So that night I hit the vise and came up with this pattern in olive and brown. Since then this pattern consumes one box in my bag in several different colors. I fish this pattern year around just changing colors and size to match the hatch at the time. It has all the elements that make up a good trout pattern, slim profile, imitates several different insects, and is simple to tie. 

Goodale's Erics Emerger

Hook: Emerger Hook 14-24

Thread: 10/0 Color to match naturals

Body: .006 Mono

Head: 10/0 Black Thread

Wing: UV Pearl Crystal Flash ( 2 Strands)

Head: Covered with UV resign or head cement.