By Justin Pickett
It dives and it gurgles. It sputters and it bubbles. And it just plain catches fish!
The Stealth Bomber is by far my number one topwater fly pattern for warm water species. Whether I’m after smallmouth or largemouth bass, or targeting bluegill, it’s always in my box and typically gets tied onto the end of my tippet at some point during my outings. I typically carry them in 3 different color schemes to match different conditions. Check ‘em out! It’s an easy tie. And if you ever fished with a Pop-R as a kid, then you’re good to go! Either tie ‘em or buy ‘em in sizes #2-#6 depending on the fish you’re targeting. Fish this bad boy around floating grass, weed lines, lily pads, or any other submerged structure where bass and panfish like to hide. Vary your retrieve to find out what the fish are liking that day and wait for that take!
Want to add a fish-catching twist to this successful pattern? Tie on 18-24” tippet onto the bend of the hook of the stealth bomber. Add your favorite lightweight streamer/baitfish pattern and increase your chances of hooking up with a popper/dropper rig. My favorite dropper for this rig is the gummy minnow. It’s light, easy to cast, and bass and bluegill crush it on the fall!
Take the Stealth Bomber for a spin on your next warm water outing! It might become your next favorite topwater bug!
Justin Pickett Gink & Gasoline www.ginkandgasoline.com hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
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And, Jack Gartside’s similar Gurgler will bring up a steelhead in the shallow tail-end of a pool at daybreak.
Looks pretty simple, but do you have a link to tying instructions?
Just presented this fly pattern at our local Fly tying club.
I love this pattern for bass in South Africa.
looked it up, tying instructions from a friend of the inventor’s are here,
http://littleriveroutfitters.com/littleriverjournal/storiesjuly09/stealth/bomber.htm
It looks a little different from the tie shown here, but the essential features are the same.
I like it, will tie up a bunch and wait patiently for summer 😉
Yeah, looks like the diff is the one up top the foam is tied in behind the eye, after the chenille is wrapped. And maybe a separately shaped piece for the top overlay?
Maybe a gink and gasoline tying video is in order, your variation is different from others I’m setting on the interwebs
I would like to see this version as well. Looks like it has more action than the original.
Folks…just use/tie a Gartside Gurgler.. Same fly.
Nope…
Mmm, No. No it’s not.