Yarn balls

[TheHunt]

I am trying to think of a better way to make yarn balls.  So here it is and let me know what you think.

1.  I use a tube fly tube to tie the yarn ball.  Cut the tube is small chunks so you can not really see it.
2.  Then when I want to try a yarn ball or one does not work and I wan to try another I just pull one off the line and slide another one on the leader. 

This way I can add eggs or shrimp to the hooks egg loop. and the tube can be interchanged.

What are your thoughts? 

[Button Nubbs]

Sounds like a good idea but I'd rather just use a Corkie, haven't seen all that many fish hooked on em.

[KopperBuck]

Loving the yarn balls but not familiar with your method, or at least I'm not familiar with the terminology. Basically I tie a double egg loop. Keeps the yarn attached and also a loop if you really wanted to add bait. Work really well for sidedrifting and I picked a few up a couple weeks ago on a W OR river just banking it.

Do you have a pic of what you're talking about?

[TheHunt]

Loving the yarn balls but not familiar with your method, or at least I'm not familiar with the terminology. Basically I tie a double egg loop. Keeps the yarn attached and also a loop if you really wanted to add bait. Work really well for sidedrifting and I picked a few up a couple weeks ago on a W OR river just banking it.

Do you have a pic of what you're talking about?

Yep done the double egg loop.  But I am thinking about having a bag of those so that I can just slide one on and go.  If that does not float the fish's boat I cut leader remove the old one and slide an different one. 

[Bone_Collector]

what your talking about sounds to like an alteration to the rag setup they use on the OP but instead of a tube they use a small piece of foam and thread the yarn through it!

B_C

[Bone_Collector]

I use lots and lots of yarn balls (fuzz). Both on the wet side and over on the dry side! I have spools and spools and spools tied up with different size hooks and different size fuzz balls on them. Most days all I fish is the fuzz and it works pretty good! I like to have different colors on the spool of leaders I have pre-tied because I seem to loose leaders often when fishing!

B_C

[high country]

I am still confused. I did not realize there was boy and girl yarn.

[rasbo]

use the magic string,tie a knot on two pieces of yarn,frazzel it up and trim.ta da done...I am lazy,I tie a piece above my hook eye,on the line,below the corky,fray it and let it be.. the fish dont seem know the difference..kinda looks like a shrimp fly

[RadSav]

My favorite is to use a yarn egg instead of a corky or I use a very small corky with the yarn ball/egg.  I simply tie a cluster of yarn together with 6# line.  Fray all the yarn so it distributes evenly.  Then using my thumbnail as a guide rotate and trim. Super cheap to make, takes no time at all and are very effective on fall chinook as well as steelhead.   Here are some of my favorites.  Sorry for the picture quality.  I rushed to get them taken for this.

[JODakota]

How well do you fare with those? Do you use any bait with them? Scent? or just drift the yarnie?

[RadSav]

In clear water I do not use anything at all and long leaders.  In dark water I'll use crayfish/anise w/medium leader and in real muddy water I use Desitin with short leader.

[nanum]

Nice pics, you must have a expensive camera

[PolarBear]

All I do is take 4 to 5 1" chunks of yarn, 5 or 6 tight wraps around the middle with majic thread, break off and trim.  You can do a hundred of then in an hour.

[RadSav]

Nice pics, you must have a expensive camera

Those were taken with a little Powershot ELPH.  I'm actually surprised they posted that well in 800 X 600.  I do have an expensive camera, but this one is less than $200.00.

[TommyH]

RadSav Those look great! I have not really tried it that way but will have to try it out, 

[JODakota]

Man you have now just convinced me to go to bi-mart and start making yarn balls! It looks like fun and a good way to kill time.

[PolarBear]

Hooked 2 on the skook this morning with ho-made yarnies.  3 strands of cherice and one of chartruce.  My daughter had one hit her special yarnie, every color that I have all wrapped into one.   

[TheHunt]

Yea...  I tried the tube fly this evening and that sucked.   It is soooooooo much faster to use magic thread and a tube.  Heck I tied about 25 of them in about 30 min.  Well, I guess it will be easier to thread on a hook.  I also tied a yarn ball on a hood with some crystal flash hanging out the back.  But I will have to just tie it to leader with no bait loop.  I will give it a go and see what happens.


What colors do you use? 

Pink + Red
Orange + Red
Light Pink + Red

[RadSav]

I find that certain rivers like certain colors.  Not sure exactly why.  For example on rivers I guided in Oregon The Siletz was a peach and light orange river.  Pink did not do so well there.  Drift Creek, which shared the same Siletz Bay, was a pink, pink and more pink stream.  Same thing with the Trask and the Wilson up by Tillamook.  One was Peach/orange the other pink/white.

[TheHunt]

Yea, I need to find that combo.

What are your thoughts about purple and black's  or red and black

[RadSav]

Red/Black has been a good crossover color for me.  I've hooked fish in just about everybody of water I've fished with it.  Though it never seems to be a combination they absolutely hammer like they do the right color for that stream.  When fishing is slow and I'm trying everything in the vest I spend a bit more time and effort with the red/black.  Those seem to be the days I've had the luck.  I actually like it better in a jig than a yarn ball.

I've only given purple/black about 12 days on the Vedder.  Was told it was the bomb up there for steelies.  I've yet to hook a fish on it.  Worked both jigs and yarnies, but really haven't given it enough time to form a solid opinion.  It's a great combination when trolling for silvers in salt water.  And, it ain't too bad on albacore either.

[TheHunt]

I will tie some of your patterns to have at the ready
1. red and black
2.  purple and black

[Stickerbush]

In clear water I do not use anything at all and long leaders.  In dark water I'll use crayfish/anise w/medium leader and in real muddy water I use Desitin with short leader.

desitin as in the baby cream?

[RadSav]

That's the stuff!!!  Just make sure it is the original formula using cod liver oil as the main ingredient.  The new stuff without it has some sort of perfume in it and I would not try it.

[kbyers]

I find that certain rivers like certain colors.  Not sure exactly why.  For example on rivers I guided in Oregon The Siletz was a peach and light orange river.  Pink did not do so well there.  Drift Creek, which shared the same Siletz Bay, was a pink, pink and more pink stream.  Same thing with the Trask and the Wilson up by Tillamook.  One was Peach/orange the other pink/white.

That seems to be true regardless of the lure.  For example steelhead above McNary really go for black/red but if you go up river to ringold it is all about pink/white