H.G. Tapply was one of the most accomplished anglers in the country. His deer hair bass bugs, I believe, is a perfect example of an ideal deer hair bass bug.
Its streamlined body shape makes it possible for us to achieve great accuracy and extra distance. Both of these features help me catch more large bass late in the summer when the rivers get low and the bass become wary.
The Tapply Deer Hair Bass Bug is very durable. When I teach my students in my fly tying class, I make a strong point of explaining that there is no reason the bug they are tying will not hold up to catch 100 bass. I also explain that the technique they are learning to tie this bug is the starting point for tying frogs, mice, hoppers, and many other deer hair bass bug.
In order to spark your imagination, read some of Ray Bergman’s books such as Just Fishing written in the 1930’s. His bugs and angling tactics reveal many fine points we can use today.
We carry a variety of deer hair bugs in the fly shop:
- Tapply Bug
- Murray’s Deer Hair Bass Bugs
- Shenandoah Hair Popper
- Murray’s Floating Minnow
- Mouserat
- Whitlock Deer Hair Frog
I will be conducting 4 fly tying classes over the Fall 2022 to Spring 2023 season. See our website for more information and to register.