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Will the real Cooper Bug please stand up!
Since the Cooper Bug turned out to be such an effective fly in both cold and warm water I decided to learn a little more about it. When I researched the pattern, I discovered a fly of the same name and a very different design. As it turns out, there was a fly called the Cooper Bug that predates the version I was tying. Interestingly enough it had its roots planted in warmwater, not a trout stream.
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The Panfish Polecat is a simple to tie but effective pattern for all species of Panfish.
Flies for Bass and Panfish is a book written by Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen. My dog-eared copy has sat on my bookshelf since its printing in 1992. Although most of its pages are dedicated to bass flies, a small section of the book has a selection of classic panfish patterns. One of the first patterns I gleaned off the pages of this book was the Panfish Polecat.
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Dick Talleur’s Pea-Ca-Bou Nymph is an ideal nymph pattern for panfish!
I love fishing classic fly patterns for trout. As is often the case, many of these patterns find their way into my panfish fly boxes. It is no secret that you can catch panfish on just about every trout fly pattern there is, but some seem to perform better than others, especially if you are fishing in a still water environment.
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I am surprised how many steelhead patterns (with a little modification) find their way into my panfish fly boxes! One of my most productive warm water nymph patterns is my Panfish Wiggler. This pattern is a spin-off of the Spring Wiggler, a very popular steelhead pattern across the Great Leakes region.
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The Panfish Pheasant Tail Nymph swaps out natural pheasant tail fibers for some dyed flourescent orange.
The pheasant tail nymph is a classic nymph pattern. Tied with its traditional materials of natural pheasant tail fibers and peacock herl it is a fish catching wonder. The color scheme of the natural materials does an excellent job imitating many mayfly nymphs. A pheasant tail nymph is a killer nymph pattern for panfish. You may ask the question “If this pattern works so well why mess with it?”
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