Lee's Popping Perch

 Hook: Streamer or Stinger, Size 2
Thread: Suitable for spinning, any color.
Body: Deer body hair; Green, Yellow, White and Red (Optional).
 Tail: Four dark green saddle hackles.
 Legs: White rubber legs material.

Tying Instructions:

Step 1: Make a thread base on your hook shank. This will keep the hair from spinning completely around the hook; you’ll understand why later. Tie in 4 rubber legs at tail, about ¼ inch longer than you hackles.

Step 2: On each side of rubber legs tie in 2 of the saddle hackles, splayed outward. Keep the tied in materials as sparse as possible.
Step 3: Turn fly upside down in vise and tie in a bunch of white deer hair on bottom of hook directly under tied in materials, allowing it to flare by pulling thread tight and holding the hair in position.

Step 4: Turn fly right side up and tie in a small bunch of green deer hair directly on top of white hair the same way. Pack these 2 bunches tightly towards rear at base of tail by pushing with your finger nail or a hair packer tool.
Step 5: Repeat step 3 with another batch of white hair, then step 4 with a bunch of yellow hair.

Repeat these steps until you have a body built, alternating the green and yellow bunches on top and using the white only on the bottom.

 

 

Member's Comments:

If you look up the word "Tenacious" in the dictionary you will find a picture of the Smallmouth bass.  These fish are without a doubt the hardest fighting freshwater adversary on the planet.  They will strike any type of fly or lure with a vengeance, and once hooked will battle to the bitter end, often throwing the hook back in your face just as you bring them to hand.  These qualities make them my favorite quarry, and I will go to great lengths to pursue them. As for choosing your arsenal, I prefer to use a 7 weight or heavier rod, as these fish will fight to the point of exhaustion if played on a light rod.

Since they are so aggressive they will take almost any pattern, but one of the flies I tied this year seemed to be especially effective, especially during the early morning. I call it the “Popping Perch” because of its action and color.  It is a very basic fly and if you have learned to spin deer hair you should have no trouble. If you haven’t learned to spin, then it’s time to learn!

Lee Weil