canoe Posted August 11, 2010 Report Share Posted August 11, 2010 How do you get rubber band legs through a popping bug? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassrecord Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 How do you get rubber band legs through a popping bug? Welcome aboard! I see you are from Arkansas. I was born in Malvern and raised in Russellville. Hope this is helpful. I do not use rubber bands. They are rectangular shaped which makes them heavy and wind resistant, they retain their memory, they come in colors that do not match wild terrestrials, they deterioriate in sun and UV faster than latex or silicone, and there are some more reasons that I can't think of. Fly shops sell medium sized round diameter or square cross section rubber legs that give good action on top water. This tells how I get that type of rubber through a popping bug. Over the years I have moved to using an "X" pattern for legging popping bugs. I use three pieces of rubber to make 6 legs coming out of the bug's body in an X shape for lots more surface action. One hole is punched/drilled from the left eye to the right body rear. Another hole is punched/drilled from the right eye to the left rear of the body. The third leg is drilled/punched right through the bug's center either left to right or right to left. 1. If my bug body is made from soft foam,like flip flops, I punch a hole through my bug with a long needle or a long awl. Lots of needles have big eyes that will let me insert medium heavy rubber legs and pull them back through. I always stretch the rubber a little so it will pass through the punched hole easier. Needles can be chucked in an eXacto knife blade holder.Ladies who work with or sell needles use an eye threader for their thread which works just fine for rubber legs! 2. If my bug body is cork, balsa or other wood, I use my Dremel with a small bit and drill three holes through the bug body. I bought a bobbin threader that's available from most fly shops which I can pass its metal loop through the drilled hole and insert the rubber leg in the loop and stretching the medium sized rubber leg, and pull it back through my bug body. 3. If my bug body is a hard foam, I burn a hole through it. First I mount the bug body in my vise so that it's easy to work on. Second I take a long thin awl, heat it with a cigarette or charcoal lighter, and push it through the bug body, twirling the awl as I do so. I have to be careful not to melt too big a hole. A long bug will take two heatings. Third I use my scalpel to cut off the built-up plastic so that I do not start a fire on the next bug or burn too big a hole!. 4. If I get a hole too big, I tie a simple overhand knot which keeps the leg in the bug body when I cast it. This should give you some ideas for small and medium sized popping bugs. Any questions or comments just reply. However if you want to pull Big legs through Big bugs ( like a wine cork) or through an embeded rattle in the middle of a popping bug's body, that's for another time. Good luck! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canoe Posted August 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 thank you so much!... yeah I live in bryant just a skip from malvern... what you sent is just what i needed... very nice for you to take the time to help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassrecord Posted August 13, 2010 Report Share Posted August 13, 2010 thank you so much!... yeah I live in bryant just a skip from malvern... what you sent is just what i needed... very nice for you to take the time to help... Your welcome. And Magnet Cove and lots of good fishing water is nearby. Plus in my opinion one of the most beautiful drives anywhere is Arkansas Highway 7 from Hot Springs to Harrison in the spring when dogwood is blooming or in fall when leaves are turning. Go Fish! John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
