Tying a Peacock Zulu (Wet Fly) by Davie McPhail 

If you find those to be a bit course, I was thinking that a starling soft hackle might be an effective substitute.

Hank, can I ask where (regionally) you're fishing, which panfish species you're concentrating on, and where you're searching (deep/open water for suspended fish, shallow dark-bottom bays for early spring fish, edges of deeper weedbeds during summer transition, etc.)? I may have a few suggestions myself.

@@handcannon1388 Hi, I fish the Tay Valley watershed (Ontario, Canada) for warm water species. As soon as the ice is off the lakes I check any structure/object that will change sunlight into warmth/create shadows on the north-side bays. These are the areas that show first activity. I'll fish anywhere from the first deep water break to right into flooded shoreline bushes. In the shallows I usually fish (slow strips and small hops) two flies; a dark "carp" style fly (weighted, on a jig hook, right on the bottom) followed with a bright buoyant fly like a boobie; if that is not working I will swap out the boobie for something smaller/darker/more subtle - a #14 black/silver (floating) backswimmer works very well. I use a lightly weighted (slow sinking) muddler with a fairly thick, stiff collar to fish right in the flooded bushes and standing cattails. Lots of species in the warming shallows so it's a mixed bag and you never know what will hit - typically its sunfish, bluegill, crappie and bass. I fish a 9 1/2 foot 5 wt and a floating line. For other species and in warmer water I use different tactics/flies but that would be too much to talk about here - don't want to impose on Davie's generosity/space. We could talk off-line if you would like. Cheers, Hank

@@hankvana2149 Sounds quite similar to what I'll be doing on small, natural lakes in southern Michigan in a couple weeks (if I can get time). I'll leave you a link to one of my videos that shows some of my flies. It also has an email address for me. I'll talk to you again there. Thanks, Davie, for allowing this conversation in your space. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Bcn7bFWecW4.html