If you could only have

[slipjoint]

lets say you could only have 6 fly patterns - "6" you fish lakes - rivers - streams - for trout - bass - bluegill in N CA -

what 6 patterns would you carry? & what size hook

[David Lee]

#16 Pheasant Tail Nymph - ain't a Trout alive that'll pass that up .

#10 Olive Birdnest w/ a bead . Bass/Trout/Carp/Catfish/Sunfish killer .

#8 Conehead Rust Angora Goat/Marabou Leech . Again , everything .

#6 Dragonbugger . Bass/Trout/Carp .

#2 Grey/White Clouser on a 413 jighook . Everything w/ fins .

#1/0 White Deceiver . Best big-fish fly .

If I had ONLY ONE ....... ???

#6 Copper bead Olive crystal Bugger for everything . Total meat fly .

David :D

[Hairstacker]

ONLY 6 for all those?!? Well, I wouldn't want to ruin my bass fishing so my selection is weighted in that direction: :D

#2 Red/White Tap's Bug -- Topwater bass

#2 Dahlberg Diver - Topwater bass

#1/0 Chartreuse/White Flashtail Clouser - Subsurface bass

#16 Parachute Adams -- Topwater trout

#14 Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph -- Subsurface trout & bluegill

#6 Olive Woolly Bugger -- Subsurface bass, trout, panfish, and just about any other freshwater fish with fins.

[slipjoint]

interesting - keep them coming! - tom

[Darian]

Hmmmm,.... Not sure how to answer this one. I'm not addicted to one size fits all flies. I tend to have a range of sizes in each pattern I carry to best fit conditions at the destination point. 8) 8)

In freshwater, for warmwater and coldwater species, my number one pattern is a Wooly Bugger in all of it's colors/sizes/variations. 8)

Next would be for sunnies of all species; a green, sponge body, white rubber legged spider (there's wet version, too). Sizes from 12 thru 8. 8)

For surface Trout, any bucktail caddis or stonefly pattern from size 16 thru 6. Same for wet. 8)

Terrestrials, a flying ant or hooper pattern, sizes 14 thru 6. 8) 8)

For Saltwater, inshore, a White Knight or a Sardina- size 2/0, a white Hollow Fly, same size, an all chartruese or chartruese/white Clouser (with or without flash), sizes 2 thru 2/0. Sometimes tied on a 60 degree jig hook. 8) 8)

After all is said and done, I routinely carry enough flies for whatever species I'm targeting to sink my bass boat but I only use about 6 on any given trip. Gotta stop somewhere.... :? :? Looks like this is the point. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[PaulC]

-Yellow humpy
-Tan EHC
-BH net builder Ice dub tan
-chart over white clouser
-black crystal bugger
-legged CJ

Crap...thats 6 already. lol. Almost impossible given all of the species/environments.
Add hook size into the mix and its a bit rough.

If you really wanted to narrow it down, a friendly competition of 1 type of bug in one hook size over the summer with most species winning could be interesting. Dunno if a halibut would nail a humpy, but maybe if presentation was right. lol.
-Paul

[bolden]

Let me see.

Size 2 Olive/White Double Bunny

Size 18 Parachute Adams

Size 16 Tan Elk Hair Caddis

Size 4 Black Wooly Booger

Size 16 Pheasent Tail

Size 10 Golden Stimulator

That list will probobly change in about an hour.

[Jay Murakoshi]

Darian,

I didn't think anyone new about the green sponge body spiders. That's my goto fly for bluegill. I still have about 1,000 green bodies from the early years.

Jay

[mike N]

Wiggle damsel
soft hackle brassie
fox pupah
sparkle dun
quigley cripple in PMD colors
cutter caddis
MN

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

16 Adams paradun

12 Irresistable

14 Elk Hair Caddis

8 black nymph

10 woolly bugger

14 olive damsel

[Hairstacker]

Darian, perhaps I misread the question. I assumed he was asking for one hook size per fly but, re-reading the question, I noticed he said patterns. For trout, I usually have multiple hook sizes per pattern in my fly box. For example, Parachute Adams hook sizes 14 - 20, Gold-Ribbed Hares Ear Nymphs sizes 12-18, etc.

[lee s.]

Being EYEtalian we HAVE to keep it simple. :wink: Only two patterns. 8)
1. Deceivers from 1" to 1' ...... light and dark. With these we may add a shot at the nose or a tubed popper head. :shock:
2. Woolybuggers #20-#4, again, in various colors. :roll:
.....lee s.

[dtp916]

Tan Bird's Nest #14

Black Midge larva #20 *or* E/C Caddis #16

PT #16

Parachute Adams #18

Gray/White Clouser #4

Black Wooly Bugger #8

I know, I know..... I cheated.

[slipjoint]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Darian]

I don't deliberately fish for Trout very much any longer.... Slmon/Steelhead/Cutthroat, yes. If I happen to be around a place where Trout are available and nothing else is, then I'll fish 'em.... Sorry guys, I answered this one using flies I use.

Jay,.... I've been using the green sponge bodied flies since the mid 70's with great success. Those sponge bodies are getting hard to find, now. :? I've tied a deep version using a green chenille body, too. :D :D

[JT]

#18 Parachute Adams
#18 Zebra Midge (my own variation-I've actually caught bass on it while fishing for bluegill)
#14 Tan Elk Hair Caddis
#12 Damselfly Nymph
#16 Fox Poopah
#10 Wooly Bugger