Tube Frogs

These are the featured flies that were made for bass fishing.  The frogs are hand carved balsa wood with an epoxy finish.  these are tube flies with interchangable hooks and feathers for different action and looks.  The tube minnows are made the same as the frogs. 



See the viedo on the home page and order based on tube frog name.

Bamboo Rod Contest Winner

The winner of the bamboo rod contest at the Dahlonega Gold Rush Days is Susan C. from Atlanta. There were 120 entries and only 24 correct answers to the three questions based on the pictures on the contest board. 1) Local river Shoals (Hint: another name for Satan) -- Devils Shoals on the Chattahochee River 2) Famous Bridge on the Madison River -- (Hint: $) -- Three Dollar Bridge 3) Bass Fly Featured in Booth -- (Hint: Picture of Stealth Bomber)--- Stealth Bomber We tried to make the contest fun and thanks all that particpated. Next time on the river look for Susan and her new Purdy Bamboo Rod. It is a special rod made from bamboo harvested from the Chattahoochee River. The bamboo rod is a 7' - 1" blonde - 5 wt. perfect for the trout in all of the rivers in Georgia. The rods and flys that were displayed at the fair will be for sell in the next couple of weeks as I will update the web site with these items. All who purchased items thanks agian and send me pictures of your fishing adventures and I will post for all to enjoy.

Gold Rush Days 2013

Thanks for all of you that came by the booth at the Dahlonega Gold Rush Days Event. I always love hearing the stories of your fishing adventures and the large fish that you have had the pleasure of fighting, maybe even caught. This year, I featured the Bass fly, tube frogs and minnows. See the following viedo post for more info. I know that all who now are proud owners of the Tube Frogs will be sucessful in the pursuit of the Big Bass. We will posting over the next couple of weeks the Bamboo fly rods for sale and the tube frogs and minnows. The trout flies are avaialable upon requuest but those who missed out , the big ones will be for others who now have some special Purdy flies. thanks again!!! I will be posting the winner of the bamboo fly rod in the next couple of days. The answers to the questions wil also be posted. FALL IS HERE - GO FISHING

Tube Frog & Minnow Flies

This winter my thoughts have been on summer bass fishing with my fly boxes already full of trout flies for the spring season ahead.  Over the last couple of summer seasons, I have been experimenting with using small tube poppers for bass.  I was happy with the preformed foam poppers durability and action.  The foam poppers worked just fine to raise bass to the top but would not last long during the summer season.  So began my obsession to make some new poppers and more realistic looking flies.  The goals were to make flies of various sizes that could be cast with either a 5wt rod for small flies or a 7wt rod for the bigger flies.

I have always liked frogs went it comes to bass fishing.  They are great for fishing bass early morning and late evenings over weeds or near downed structure.  No big bass can refuse a swimming juicy frog.

 I wanted a fly that would be light but with some more shape and style.  My crafting traits took over and I began to experiment with balsa wood and tubes.  My steelhead fly tying lead me to using tubes.  The tube allows for multiple hooks and tails to be used on the same body depending on action and conditions.  I also wanted a more realistic shape to the frog and minnows and the tube does not hinder the shape of the fly and no hook setting is needed in the balsa wood.  Freedom of design and shape of the fly was a big plus.

Some of the frogs and minnows have rattles inserted into their bodies and some have weight inserted to created different actions. The final finish for the painted balsa wood is an epoxy finish to give the flies their durable body.  The tube system allows for the body to move away from the hook to even protect the fly more during a strike.  Also, I find that the removal of the hook from the bass is easier.

As with all experimental flies, we sometimes get carried away.  So was born the Stealth Bomber Frog.  Formed with a chiseled black body with two rattles and of course the prototype had to have a pilot.  It is so cool. Bass beware. 

Fall Fishing 2012

The start of the trout delayed harvest in North Carolina and in Georgia marks the start of trout season in the southeast area.  We begin in November in North Carolina at the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers.  This year at the “tuck “we landed a great many brookies, what fighters.  With a new underwater camera we explored the fish in there underwater world.   On the tuck one trip, I was in a pod of fish and then the rod bend did not give.  I was able to dance with a 23”-25” hook nose brown.  As I was ready to land the fish by fishing partner upriver arrived.  I began to open my tube pouch to get the camera.  I tossed him the camera the fish made one last run.  Not to be netted that day.  Biggest trout ever on my bamboo rod.

The Georgia DH starts in November, so around thanksgiving I headed to the Toccoa DH area.  A wonderful mountain river experience but on that day a lot of fisherman and guides had the same idea in the low water perfect for wading.    So in the float tube, I headed for the deeper and rougher shoals where wading is difficult.  I always like to fish the pools of the shoals.    Two twin big trout we at the head waters of the shoals.  The video shows only one but both were skinny but 18+.  Great way to end the first trip to the Toccoa area.

The Chattahoochee River was a tough start with the dam flows required for the South Georgia areas lack of rain.  The couple of trips were successful with trout spread out along the river due to the water generation.  On the hooch, one can run into other fish, bass for sure.  When a bass hits your fly the first thought is, this is a big trout.  No disappointment as the fight is a good one on the cane. 

So a good start to the year’s trout fishing with many memories.  Looking to 2013 as a big fish year.