NO IMAGE Frog --
This favorite for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, like the rest of the flies
in this section, works extremely well for very large trout during daylight and evening
hours. Flipping these onto the bank and easing them into the water can offer action in
meadow streams and along lake and pond banks.
 Mouse-- Big
brown trout love mice! Flip one on a meadow bank and plop it off to slowly move it
back to you. Snag the hook -- that's hard to do on purpose because of the weed guard --
onto a stick or pinecone and drift the mouse downstream. Then flip the mouse off the
cone and slowly work the mouse back. Jim Bashline, in his wonderful book,
"Nightfishing for Trout" mentions mice with considerable approval.
 Rat -- Voles, baby muskrats and other critters fall into
streams and lakes. Our rats run darker than our mice with attractive light eyes and
a slightly different shape. The tail's shorter too. However, if one works the other
should too so you don't really need both. Good for lakes, decent in stream pools
and a very good fly to hop off docks and such.
Tip: If you go to the tropics peacock bass
and a host of brackish and freshwater species eat these. Better take a bunch as rats get
"ratty" fast.
 Slider, Natural -- Sliders ease through thick weeds and offer less wind resistance on
the cast than most other hair bugs. While aimed at bass they also suit pike -- bring
spares! -- landlocked striped bass and most larger trout.While floating, sliders can be
even more effective is sunk with a split shot so they dive when you hand-twist them in,
and then float up on the pause. Varying the speed of each part of this retrieve can
make a big difference.
 Slider, White -- Okay, it's
really cream, but the light hue suits dark water and lighter colored baitfish as
well. Don't overlook the dropper option. A small streamer or foam bug takes
bluegills and other panfish that, unlike bass, often improve their fishery by their
removal.
 Crayfish/Ghost Shrimp -- While aimed at
saltwater, this splendid fly does a very good job as a crayfish imitation as well. A
slow hand-twist retrieve along the bottom with occasional sudden darts works best.
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