Tying Pike and Bass Flies for the first time

[Algonquin]

Never fished for bass or pike on the fly yet but plan to this year. What flies would you guys recommend I tie this winter?

[GrouseWhisperer]

That could be a fairly long list, with lots of variables. (one look at my fly boxes would confirm that) However, for bass..I reach for a rust-colored crystal flash bugger first. Pike~I don't like those things unless you put the word "gar" in front of that. However, I've caught them on strip leeches. Very basic patterns.. A zonker strip tail, and a thick...cross-cut rabbit body. Bright colors to imitate popular crank baits, and you're off to a good start. I'd suggest adding eyes...but unless they're over-sized dumbell types (making a water-logged rabbit leech even more miserable to cast) they'll get ripped-off in short order.

Fairly large, realistic baitfish patterns are good for both....black, white or chartreuse wooly buggers good for bass. Crystal flash chartreuse in smaller sizes can be impossible for perch and crappie to ignore.

[tom gobble]

For bass and pike any minnow and crawfish presentation, frog or mouse for top water

[swampsinger]

I'm new enough to serious fly fishing not be bound by traditions. This spring and summer I think I might try some soft plastics baits for bass, pickerel, pike. I sort of got the idea while looking at Hemingway products for tying realistic nymphs and dry flies. Berkley makes some small hellgramites ,crawdads, and minnows that I would like to rig weedless on a small worm hook. I'm sure some has already tried this, wondering if they ran into any technical difficulties. I'll take my chances with fly fishing gods tossing lighting bolts at me.Attachment 32087