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3. Catapla Worms

I think they are spinx moth catapillars and they like catapala trees. Any way the bait dunkers swear by them.

They kind of look like huge caddis larva. Gotta love an easy tie that works.

Gillies and bass - I LOVE 'EM!! Two of the most underrated fly rod fishing opportunities out there.

I think you are correct in that they are sphinx moth caterpillars, family Sphingidae. Your imitations do a fine job of replicating those little upturned "horns" on their tails!

Fred, you do some pretty darned nice flies!

Jonathon

Thanks Aaron and Jonathon . I found a few hundred Eagle Claw hooks size #4 for .50 a hundred and tried to come up with some patterns for them. They don't scare the fish ... but it was'nt a true test. I think they would have eaten a bare hook yesterday.Thanks again for the wonderful comments,Fred

Let's see some more of those warm-water fish, Fred!

Have you ever hooked a gar? Back in February of 2005, while living in San Marcos, TX, I somehow managed to tie into a spotted gar in the 20" range in the San Marcos River one night on an Elkhair Caddis. GEEEEZ, what a fight!!! My reel was screaming and I had no idea what I had on, I thought it was a big fat bass or a big fat tilapia (saw them in there while snorkeling). Then I finally saw what it was after I wore it out (a good 10-15 minutes of struggle), and I couldn't get it up on shore because it cut the leader with it's teeth...

Jonathon

Very pretty flies, Fred. The look like they'd fish well, too.

-Shawn

As a boy, I'd shinny up catalpa trees for my dad to pick the catalpa "worms" as he called them. He knew all kinds of places to gather bait--in weeds with galls (he called them weed worms), "glowworms" in little springs (perhaps cranefly larva?? I don't know--they were about the size of the catalpa worms or a grub). We'd catch bluegills and black perch (what the Yankees up here call redeyes or rock bass) along with a smallmouth bass or two. Fred, your flies bring back some long ago memories for me.

"Black perch" - that's one I've never heard before! Here in MI they're rock bass or sometimes "goggleye". Take flies readily, streamers & Woolly Buggers and even an occasional dry, but don't put up that much of a fight. Unless they're in a good current and turn sideways...

Jonathon

Very fun!

Thanks guys. With fly fishing being the exception and not the rule in this part of the country , I have often looked to the bait fisherman or lure casters to see what to try an imitate in fly tying. I'll be adding this pattern to my spring tying list in different sizes.
Fred

Fred, I have also taken inspiration from the hardware throwers. I came up with a silver & blue Woolly Bugger based upon the silver & blue Little Cleo spoon, which is a deadly lure and so is the flyrod equivalent (especially for black crappie, also bluegills and rock bass). An older pattern called the Feather Eel is called in one book "fly fishing's answer to the rubber worm". And last summer I tied a big saddle-hackle pike streamer in "fire tiger" like a Rapala: dark green, chartreuse, and orange. Gotta throw that last one on Tawas Bay - if it ever gets warm enough around here!!!

Jonathon