Guys , If you could only use one fly on Basswood the first week of July what would it be ?

This one

MH1968: "Guys , If you could only use one fly on Basswood the first week of July what would it be ? "

I've had a lot of success with a Marabou Muddler. The profile isn't that big either which makes casting in the wind a bit easier too.

A popper of some sort, deer hair or a sneaky pete is a good option that time of year. Can't go wrong with a Clouser Minnow also.

A bucktail streamer that I tie myself. It has barbell weights to get it down. shiny tin on top of green fiber. The streamer is 3/4 bucktail with 1/4 peacock hurl. I may be like the fisherman who catches everything he catches on just one type fly, it is the only fly he uses.

I’m still trying to find that one magical fly. I often throw various foam poppers because they are easier to cast and one good blowup on the surface is worth three or four subsurface fish to me. I also throw some variations of Clousers because that’s one of the flies that I’m decent and tying, and catching any fish on something you tied yourself is just more satisfying. If you really want to catch SMB and don’t mind sacrificing flies, bounce some big bead head autumn splendor wooly buggers along the rocks as crawfish imitations.

Bett's popper in white. If I have to go subsurface, a Clouser in chartreuse.

I like three flies right now although that seems to change every year.

Deer hair diver. Lots of rubber legs hanging down in the water and flashabou on the tail. Give it three or four big dives with pauses then move along. Cast around shoreline structure where they will lurk for an ambush or in areas they will be hunting for food.

Murdich Minnow on a clear sinking line but add a little weight to it so you are fishing down 1 to 3 feet. I tie mine much differently than the recipe but the important thing is it looks like a baitfish zipping through the rocks along the shore. You will see all the grabs and they will come to it fast.

Clouser on a clear sinking line with enough weight that you can fish it down to five or six feet. The last ones I made had bucktail on the inside for bulk and craft fur on the outside for action and durability. A big profile in chartreuse and white works. Flashabou on the tail. Strip it fast and keep moving. Stripping the line into the water instead of into the boat gets you much longer and faster pulls which makes a big difference. If they want it they will get it quickly. If they follow it to the boat throw it back in and try to entice them with a dead still fly. Stay back so they don’t see the boat. If they do it is usually game over.

Fish them on Rio 20 lb wire tippet. You can tie a clinch not in it if you do it right and it is pike proof.

Work the shoreline and if you don’t find fish try other sections of shoreline. If that does not work troll for walleye and hope they are on the shoreline in the next lake.