ultimate trout dry fly collection

**Don Powell** · 02-20-2009, 09:58 PM

Forgot the yellow body PMD, "killer" for the 11:00 AM dry fly action in No. Cal and So. OR!

**jburge** · 02-22-2009, 03:01 PM

OK, there's nothing formal about it, but it's certainly fun to look at the input for the list of your top ten favorite trout dry flies for the Sierras. Before counting down, thanks to everyone who participated:

charles
bob scheidt
ed wahl
charlie gonzales
steelied
bigtj
dtp916
akfishgyd
scott v
bill kiene
dave neal
woolybugger
guppy
jeff c
mik
adam grace
ironmtn
davkrat
darrin.deel
don powell

So, counting down the votes:

10. griffith's gnat and hopper - tied with 2 each
9. kaufmann stimulator and mosquito - also tied with 2 each
8. renegade and royal wulff - also tied with 2 each
7. light cahill - 3
6. adams and e/c caddis - tied with 4 each (sorry bigtj, but the 10 e/c caddis could only count for one)
5. stimulator - 5
4. parachute adams - 6
3. ant and humpy - tied with 7 each (includes foam ant and flying ant)
2. elk hair caddis - 9
1. and the number one way to catch more fish... bumper mounted beer bottle opener

All the other single vote candidates are:

adams trude
beetle
bivisible
buzz hackle
bwo
comparadun
dave's hopper (w/bird's nest dropper)
drowned wing emerger (no name)
ginger quill
grasshopper
grey hackle peacock
hi viz parachute
irresistible
kratville caddis
lawson's hemingway caddis
madam x
parachute black gnat
parachute blue dun
pmd
quill gordon
royal trude
spruce trude
western coachman

As far as colors go, here's the popular list. Numbers indicate more than one vote:

comparadun olive
comparadun tan/cahill
e/c caddis olive
e/c caddis tan
humpy black
humpy brown
humpy green
humpy orange
humpy red - 3
humpy yellow - 4
kaufmann stimulator orange
kaufmann stimulator tan
kaufmann stimulator yellow
stimulator olive
stimulator orange - 2
stimulator yellow
stimulator w/orange legs

Thanks! What a blast. Who's ready for summer in the high country?

**Ed Wahl** · 02-22-2009, 05:06 PM

Jeez jb, that little survey of yours turned into a rather important list. Nice job.

I wonder how many times new fly fishers walk into a shop and ask "what kind of flies do I need for the Sierras?".

Perhaps a good enough list for Bill to add as a 'sticky' to the board?

I think I'll look at that list as a challenge, since this is some fine fly tying weather we're having. I'm thinking maybe a half dozen of each for this summer. That should set me up for anything.

'course, thats after I finish up the Kauffman's Dragons and Dragon Buggers that David and Ken got me all fired up on.

Ed

**Phil Synhorst** · 02-22-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by jburge

Who's ready for summer in the high country?

I've been ready for that since the morning after last years final trip, .........late September??

**jburge** · 02-23-2009, 10:32 AM

Ed, yeah, I guess I kinda went overboard. I have a spreadsheet and database file. That's what happens when obsessive compulsive meets fly-fishing.

I'm with you too on the tying. I've already started by tying up a half-dozen each of some renegades and e/c caddis. The combination of looking at all these great flies and re-reading Cutter's Sierra Trout Guide has me really itching for summer at altitude.

**Hairstacker** · 02-23-2009, 10:39 AM

Ed, yeah, I guess I kinda went overboard. I have a spreadsheet and database file. That's what happens when obsessive compulsive meets fly-fishing.

I dont' think so at all -- as Ed noted, I think you've done a great service! Your compilation and everyone's comments make this a pretty valuable thread in my opinion. Great job!

**Mik** · 02-27-2009, 05:20 PM

All I need is the bumper mounted beer bottle opener and I am set.

**Hairstacker** · 02-27-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Mik

All I need is the bumper mounted beer bottle opener and I am set.

Yeah, me too. I'm just trying to figure out how to mount it on my Civic.

**Kevin Goding** · 03-05-2009, 04:20 PM

Those lists look pretty convincing to me. My two cents are pretty generalized though. In the summer time during afternoon I would just go with:

1: Terrestrial pattern
A: Grasshopper (For smaller fish, use a size 12-14 hook with extended body fly)
B: Beetle
C: Ant
*** I've caught more trout on a grey hackle peacock than anything, whether or not I'd
call it a dry fly is debateable. You could always tie it "dry" style.

2: For Hatches
A: Adams
B: Elk hair caddis, although I prefer Goddard's
C: Humpies
D: Light Cahill (Again never leave home without one)

3: Indicator flies
A: Royal Coachmen, or anything similar, usually smaller sizes.
*** Been on multiple backpack trips to the Sierras where a coachmen was all you needed.
Even on lakes.