Sunday, May 8, 2011

Foam Bullet Frog Bass Bug -- Step by Step



I have been trying to find or come up with a very effective/fast to tie frog pattern.  I found this head concept on another site but it was tied with a completely different fly.  So I started playing around with it and this is what I came up with.  Let me know what you guys think

Foam Bullet Frog

Hook:  Any Good bass bug hook 1/0 to 2
Thread:  UTC Black 140 Thread
Tail:  Chartreuse Marabou
Side:  Green 2mm craft foam
Top/bottom:  Chartreuse 2mm craft foam
Legs:  Black Rubber Legs
Eyes:  Xtra small doll eyes
Marks:  Brown Sharpie


First off start your thread and take it to the back of the shank. Tie in 3 plumes of marabou. You can tie in all 3 at the same time but I usually do it one at a time. You  can vary the colors if wanted. Make sure to take it almost to the eye cause that is your dam to hold  the foam in later steps.


With your thread at the halfway mark between the tip and the barb tie in a piece of green foam. Mine are usually about 2 1/4 inches long cause it gives me a little room to work with. Have the sides at the rear cut off a tiny bit after the hook starts to bend.


With your bodkin make a hole in the center of the foam.  Don't make  the foam really tight. Put a little superglue at the end of the dam you made.  Now thread the foam over the eye and let the glue set.


Now tie off the other side of the foam in the same spot as the original size. Now trim the foam to match the other side. I cut it at an angle.  Why?  No real reason I just do. 


This part can be a little tricky. Tie in the bottom piece of chartreuse foam the same length as the sides.


Same as above make a hole in the middle of the foam and thread it over the eye and tie it off. Cut it just a little longer than the sides. I also cut it in an arrow shape.


This is what it should look like from the top and sides.


Tie in 3 black rubber legs on each side. They length us up to you. I always tie them in bunched up.


With your bodkin, separate your rubber legs.


Now glue in your doll eyes. Make sure to get them center vertically on the green foam.


Tie off your thread and the fly can be done if you want. I take a brown sharpie and just make random dots all over the chartreuse foam.

Here are some other variations you can do. You can make shiners and other bass style bugs with this concept.


19 comments:

  1. I like it. It's a very creative way to use thin foam sheet material.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gracias, What I like it is a cheap fly to tie and I can get a dozen done in about 40 minutes if I have all the materials pre-cut. Hopefully I will get to chuck these in lake las vegas here next weekend!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. good stuff Dustin hands down fish catcher!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Pikepicker -- That is what I wanted to hear!! I figured as much but you would know :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. If I were a Bass, I'd eat it. If I were a Bass fisherman, I'd use it. The colors, concept, and variations are all good. Way to go.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  6. @shoreman -- Thanks buddy!! I tied a couple more variations since posting this, a smaller frog with yellow legs and an all black one with black marabou and black legs. So we will see if they work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sweet flies man! Great blog, too! Glad I found it!


    Justin S
    http://fishtalesandfishtails.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Justin, Don't be a stranger! We can learn from each others tying!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Although I don't fish poppers, I do love the looks of them.
    Great flies.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks brk trt... I have never fished for bass period :).. Nor thrown a popper style fly so it will be fun when I go testing

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great tie, Dustin. Going to try some of these today.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just posted two pics of your foam bugs on the Gin Clear Facebook page. Check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very nice! They turned out great! How much super glue did you get on your fingers trying to put the eyes in?

    ReplyDelete
  14. That's funny, Dustin. No super glue was used. The craft foam used was purchased with sticky on one side. I just cut to size, poked in the hook eye hole, placed it over the hook eye, peeled off the backing and folded it back on itself. The eyes were glued on with fabric fusion. It did make some mess with the fabric fusion, though. Don' think the fish will care.

    ReplyDelete
  15. When ever I have to put those small eyes on anything I always have to pry my fingers apart or scrap glued on foam for days of them. They are pretty simple to tie and glad you got a kick out of them. If you get to try they out let me know!!

    ReplyDelete