BASS
& OTHER FRESH WATER NATIVE FISH
GUPPY
When I fist tied this fly and asked my wife what it looks like her
immediate response was "it looks like a guppy". Well it wasn't tied to
represent a guppy and I don't think bass have guppies on their dinner
menu but the name stuck. When bass are feeding
on big insects like Cicadas and Hoppers that crash onto the water they
also become susceptible to flies like poppers, and yes guppies, cast around their structure. At
other times they just have a whack at them because there intruding into
their domain. In either case the strikes and hook ups can be
spectacular. They may be big in overall size but they do account for many a big
bass.
MATERIALS:
Hook - Size
1 & 2Jig hooks
Thread - Black
Tail and "wings" - marabou
Tail flash - Sparkle flash or equivalent
Body and head - closed cell foam
Eyes - Dolls eyes
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A)
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Cut a tube of closed
cell foam about half as long as the hook shank and about half
the diameter of the gape of the hook.
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Use a needle or
bodkin to pierce a hole down the center of the body and then
slide it over the point of the hook and all the way forward to
the front of the hook shank.
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B)
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Wind thread along the
exposed rear half of the hook shank in touching turns and tie in
an undertail of just two strands of sparkle flash or similar
material.
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Tie in a marabou tail
about as long as the hook shank.
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C)
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Put a drop of glue
just behind the closed cell body and slide it back over the rear
half of the fly so that it will lock into place.
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Shape the body with a
sharp pair of scissors.
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Wind thread along the
exposed front half of the hook shank in touching turns.
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D)
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Tie in a marabou wing
sticking out each side of the fly. The wings should be similar
in length to the tail.
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Tie the thread off
and trim it.
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E)
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Shape a popper head
out of closed cell foam and split it along the bottom.
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Put a drop of glue
where the popper head will be placed and then slid the popper
head into position.
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Glue dolls eyes on
each side of the popper head.
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