dusting off the fly rod - questions

I was rummaging thru the tackle last night and my 5wt fly rod caught my eye. Perch + 5wt = could be fun

I looked thru my flies and a cant find any thing other than blue gill and bass flies. Time to tie some up i guess.

Now for the questions.
1. What would be a good pattern and color for white perch?
I'm guessing a small clouser in white and grey could produce well. Maybe a yellow and chartreuse to brighten it up a little.

2. I plan on fishing docks in 5ft to 10ft of water and i only have a floating WF line on hand. Do you think i will need to add a sinking tip in that shallow of water?

3. I don't think i have any tapered leaders laying around. Do you think the perch will mind if i use straight 6lb mono for the leader?

Now i have to check the fly tying supplies to see if i have the materials i need as well. Might have to settle for some wooly buggers. I know i have plenty of marabou and chenille.

[surfdog]

i like olive/white combo. im going to run one behind a popper, you never know whats going to hit this time of year

[Jimbo]

I use grass shrimp patterns. An easy pattern is white marabou tail, or sparkle yarn, or a combo of each, with a white crystal flash body. Crystal flash is like a sparkly chenille. I use Mustad 3407 hooks size 6. I wouldn't use a sink tip line for perch. The easiest thing to do is get a braided butt leader. It's a butt section of a leader that you simple attach your tippet to. The great thing about braided butts is that you can use darn near any size tippet, i.e. 2x down to 8x. No need to change the entire leader depending on tippet size. You just change tippet. I'd use a 4x tippet with split shot to get the flie down. White perch like jerky, fast strips.

[mmanolis2001]

Ahh perfect i forgot how much perch love grass shrimp. I def will try that pattern as well. I'm going to pull all the fly tying goodies out tonight and see what i can come up with.

Are the braided butt leaders you are referring to the same as Furled Tapered Leaders? I think i have a couple unused braided versions in my tackle stash. Never got around to use them. I can pick up some 4lb fluorocarbon tippet as well.

What length of tippet would you suggest? I think the furled leaders i have are 7ft in length.

[DOGFISH]

Jimbo beat me to the punch. Grass shrimp! Smear alittle shrimp flavor on the fly and the white perch should go for that . Then take the 5Wt out for the next bluefish blitz, with a small white streamer. In another life I used to fly fish.

[Jimbo]

A furled leader is basically the same as a braided butt leader. 4lb flouro will work. I recommend 3ft long tippets.

[mmanolis2001]

Well i dusted off the fly vise and whipped up a few flies to try tomorrow.



A pair of crazy charlie's.


A pair of something i have not come up with a name yet. There ugly with a in line spinner. Probably wont work but i will give them a shot.


Some clousers in chartreuse/white and tan/white.

[mmanolis2001]

And a some shrimp patterns. I did not have the mats to do the other shrimp patterns so hopefully these will work.



I should be on the water around 2:00pm tomorrow to give these a shot. I need more perch. I just finished off the last batch of fillets today. Ummm good

[Redfish12]

Those are some good looking flies! I hope you slay 'em!

[jffoley]

Well i dusted off the fly vise and whipped up a few flies to try tomorrow.

Whipped up?!?? Nice work for just whipping up a few!! Good luck on the WP. You can't miss with those patterns!

[ictalurus]

Those are some nice shrimp flies. I tied up a mess of epoxy shrimp last year that I wanted to try out on some flounder and reds but never got the chance. They don't look nearly as nice as those.

[rol716]

Those are great looking flies! Best of luck!