troutpocket
Active Member
My best days fishing baitfish patterns have been in September and October. My go-to is a simple olive bunny strip tied in matuka style with a cream/white dubbing underbelly on a 2XL #6 heavy streamer hook. I use the same fish mask and eyes that I’m using for the jig version. I keep it unweighted so it will roll and dip slowly on the pause.I fished a lake in October that held large rainbows and my most productive fly was very similar to the bottom fly in the picture. It was not level nor did it have eyes but fish hit it savagely and often. Tied with some UV material it must be visible for quite a distance underwater. I strip it erratically often letting it sink before jerking it back into action. It seems to me that fish key in on the white flies taking them as they appear to be the white belly of a baitfish. Feeding opportunistically in the fall they seem to fall for anything resembling an easy meal.
The top pattern in my first post has been good December through March when the hatches are slim to none and water is very clear.
I’m keen to try these new versions in the shallows on windy spring days.