The deerhair Mouse fly pattern is compact enough to imitate local voles, water rats, shrews, lemming, mice and baby rats. These little mammals can often be found swimming in the water.

DEERHAIR BASS BUG FLY PATTERNS. Hook size 6 and 2 - $US each

Sometimes these mice are swimming on purpose and other times it is by accident when they have fallen in. During migration water systems have to be crossed and only way open for these little animals is to swim. They offer a very tempting target to a hungry Bass. They cannot swim very fast and are therefore easy to catch. They also offer a substantial meal with lots of proteins and calories. These flies are also ideal for Pike, large Trout, Atlantic Salmon, Arctic Char and Arctic Leopard Trout when they will not take smaller flies. The bigger fish like large trout and largemouth bass take into consideration the amount of effort required to chase prey compared with the return. If there is a good large meal at the end of a pursuit then the energy they have expended can be topped up.

Practice your casting to get expert at hitting the target area. You must establish control quickly because bass often strike the fly as it falls or immediately as it hits the water. You must be ready for a strike at any time.

Do not use the rod tip to move the fly. This causes immediate slack line and loss of fly control. Do not use the rod to pull or jerk the fly over or through land- or water-based obstacles. For best results, continue to use straight line-hand pulls. Always point your rod tip directly at the bass bug

Don't twitch your rod. Twitching the rod causes many feet of slack line to form so you cannot feel a strike. And when you don't feel the take, you lose strikes, particularly from larger fish. Manipulate the bass bug by tugging on the line. Tug hard and the bug pops. A gentle tug and the bug twitches. A one inch retrieve will move your bug one inch.

Most bass prefer to ambush a helpless or careless creature rather than engage in a tiring high-speed chase of a terrified prey. A lot of big bass will attack when a bass bug is accidentally or purposefully let sit for a long period (ten seconds or more) or when moved it only slightly just after it hit the water. Most fishermen like to move bass bugs too quickly which may be more entertaining to us than to the fish.

You can get good hit rates by inching the bass fly in, over, or around structure, as if it was trying to sneak out of danger. There are times when bass will chase and strike rapidly moving bass bugs. No one retrieve is always the best. Foods, temperature, water conditions, and individual fish habits vary. That's why fishing flies and catching bass never get boring. Don't hesitate to experiment with all types of actions and action speeds.

You can use the 'no retrieve' method when you suspect a bass is under a structure. Put the fly as close to the log, stump, or boulder as you can, and keep it there. This method is also ideal if there is just a small open space of water in lily pads or cypress stumps. In these areas the bass will not or cannot move far for prey, and it will usually respond well to the sitting fly.

You should try the 'twitch and pause' method. Cast the fly to a spot that you feel has a bass nearby. You want to imitate helpless creature or one that's relaxed and moving slightly. Let the fly sit in place about three to five seconds, then twitch it an inch or so. Pause and repeat the twitch several times, then make another cast. If you're using a surface or diving fly, vary the twitch from a silent move to an audible pop or bubble. More noise works best on rough surfaces, and in dark, murky, or densely structured water.

Try the irregular strip and pause method. The more irregular the stripping rhythm, the more effective this method is as you are trying to imitate natural movements of a handicapped creature. Cast the fly well past where you suspect the bass is waiting. Let the fly settle a second or two or until it sinks to the level at which you want to fish it. Then begin a series of fly-line strips, from an inch to a foot long, pausing between them. Vary the strips and pauses -- that is, one strip, pause; three strips, pause; one long strip, and so on. Retrieve the fly up to, though, and past the area you feel holds the bass.

CUSTOMER'S COMMENT
You can go mousing everywhere on the rodent rich rivers of eastern Russia. I had great fun watching big rainbows attacking my mouse as I skated it across the top again and again. You have to find the correct location. The water should be smooth flowing with only a moderate current. I look out for grassy banks. The ones that have been undercut are ideal locations to swim your mouse from. I start by casting into the grass and then pop it into the water to wake up the fish. I then pull it in the water and try to match the retrieve to the speed of a panic stricken swimming mouse. I have learnt from bitter experience not to strike too soon and pull the fly out of the fish's mouth. - Harry Golding, Seattle, USA

CUSTOMER'S COMMENT
These mouse bass bugs along with your Mouserat bass bugs are fantastic for catching Arctic Char and Arctic Leopard Trout in Northern Canada and Alaska. I took them on a float plane trip in early fall. I spent three weeks just pulling large fish out of the water. I even caught some decent size salmon. I have just sent you an order for some more. I have told all my friends as well. - Chuck Mason, LA

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