Foam flies for panfish

I purchased a copy of Skip Morris' book on tying flys for bass and panfish and another of his books on foam flies. His books
are excellent and I recommend them above all others for beginning tyers. The pictures and instructions are superb!

Skip's book is my inspiration.

A popper I bought and used last summer was yellow in color, with long rubber legs and yellow marabou tail. I've used foam, ostrich herl and rubber legs to closely approximate my purchased "popper".

Materials:

Tying instructions:

1. Press down the barb
2. Tie in a tuft of yellow marabou as a tail. Length approx. 11/2 times hook shank.
3. Cut a narrow strip of yellow foam
4. Tie in the foam on top of the hook shank. Leave space for eyes and head.
5. Wind the thread forwards over the foam.
6. Fold the rear half of the foam forwards and tie down
7. Cut surplus
8. Tie in two rubber legs as an X. Length approx. as tail
9. Cut a narrow triangle of brown foam
10. Tie in foam over hook eye pointing forwards
11. Tie in the eyes on top of the hook shank
12. Cover the base of the eyes and underside of head with peacock herl
13. Fold the brown foam tightly backwards over the head
14. Tie down and cut surplus
15. Whip finish and varnish.

The foam fly. Notice the shape of the brown foam

A fly with flash in the tail.

Panfish

Panfish is a broad category for fresh water fish approximately the size of your hand. They are found largely in lakes and farm ponds and include bream, crappie, sunfish, etc. They are different from small mouth bass, large mouth bass, and striped bass. When I was a small boy of 10 years or so, my Dad would take me to a
pay-for-fish pond close to our house. He would fish for bass, carp, catfish, etc. I took a cane pole and would sit close to the supply water feeding this small pond. Generally, I out fish my Dad by catching lots
and lots of "panfish". These were treasurable times and will always be remembered fondly.
I'm 45 now, trying to give my kids (two boys) some of the same rememberances given to me. Last summer, I camped at Boy Scout Camp John J. Barnhardt with my eldest son. I'd restricted myself to trout fishing until this week long encampment. Knowing that Camp Barnhardt is located on Badin Lake, NC, I carried my fly rod and purchased some "popping bugs" as I didn't know how to tie flys for small fresh water fish.
On a Thursday afternoon, in a matter of two hours, I caught 18 "panfish".
They hit hard. It was another memorable experience.