A pondering question.

[walksinwater]

With the year now drawing to a close, I am a pondering these questions.

What one fly did you tye during this past year that caught the most fish for you before it was ravaged to shreds?

What was your one fly that you tyed this past year that consistently caught fish for you?





My ravaged fly was the Cotton's Owl #20, which caught 65+ fish before the wings and dubbing just fell apart.

My most consistent fly for me was the Olive Heron #10. Which would in most cases, catch several fish for me, whenever and wherever I happened to be flyfishing.




May all ya all's fly tying hopes and dreams come true during this next year.

[Light Cahill]

I experiment with a lot of flies so there's a spread, but generally speaking the soft-hackle hare's ear (#14-20) was the most consistent producer on many streams/rivers. The griffiths (#16-18) gnat and light cahill (#18-20) also did nicely for me.

[Larry S.]

I would have to say the Hedgehog being that was the one I always caught fish on. I'm like Lt. Cahill though. I like to try different and new patterns a lot.

A couple others were a little foam ant and a Beadhead Firefox dropped below a floating caddis pattern.

[mcgx2]

For me the flies are one and the same.... a modified western coachman, size 12 with a palmered hackle instead of standard. I use this fly a lot in backcountry waters and it very rarely fails. It wouldn't be my first choice for more sophistocated waters where trout are more selective, though I do use it a lot with a dropper (gray nymph, RS-2, etc.) and it does catch its share of fish.

[Ouzel]

For me it was a #20 RS2 in a gray color. It is a dead ringer for the callibatis nymph commonly found in western streams and rivers. I don't remember any statistics about the fly but it is my "go to" dropper.
I think sometimes a fly becomes our favorite because it was productive last time out and we tend to go back to it. But if we experimented more would we in fact find another that produced better?
Statictical sampling does not always give us the clearest of pictures.
I have thought since the Black Stonefly is common to almost all western streams and rivers and the trout see them crawling on the bottom all year long that I could just fish with that one fly and therefore eliminate all the vests, flyboxes, tying equipment and time associated with all the other flies " I have to have", life would be simpler.
But would it be as interesting?
Good fortune to you Walks in the coming year.

[Jason B]

The fly that i pulled the most fish on would have been a glo-bug this fall. I pulled out about 10-15 fish all very nice and large fish. I was still fishing it with just a strand of yarn left..

The fly that has produced for me consistantly would by far be my red back sow bug. I have caught fish year round and has proven to be a sure fly on the provo for me.
Tight lines
Jason B

[Jason]

Would you be referring to the sunset sowbug?

[Jason B]

Jason,
This version of the sow bug im talking about is not the sunset sow. It has a few variations that i thought of while tying and i decided to name it. I would like to send you a few to try and to post on the fly tying section. E-mail me an address that i can send some, if thats possible. This pattern works very well for me on the lower provo all year. I have found that it is more realistic looking for the sow bugs on the provo.
I have a bunch tied up and would like to get them up for others to see and try. If your intrested E-mail me your number and i will get in contact with you. They are very good sow bugs for the provo.
Jason, let me know about getting them in the fly tying section
Tight lines

[Mr. T]

The fly I tied covers both these questions.

Size 16 Yellow Humpy w/ Parachute.........

I love to fish up in the Grand Daddy Basin Drainages, and this fly was a K I L L E R!

Too Many fish to count 8^)

[RAW]

Don't remember fishing a nymph at all last year. Went all dry. Did real well with a Twisted Foam Stonefly during the slamonfly hatch. Used a Chain-stitched PMD and nailed fish even when there was no hatch. Went to an O2 Hopper and Twisted Hopper in the Fall with great success. I'd have to say my all around go to fly was the Chain-stitched PMD.

[shazerblaze]

These two flies now remain on my vest, indefinitely -- a fly hall of fame if you will. They are speared on the top pocket flap. Each time I look down at them, I smile. I'm sure you all know the type of smile. I'm smiling right now. Anyway, my favorite chamois caddis and the partridge and green (soft hackle). The chamois caddis caught my biggest "fishes" ever, and some of my favorite fighters. It was always a dropper, and it always took more fish than the top fly. I caught my biggest rainbow with it. The last fish was a big brown that roughed it up good. I was tempted to drift it some more, but I had another in my fly box. So it went on my vest. The soft hackle (partridge and green) did wonders on the White River in the Ozarks. I caught fish after fish swinging it wet. The fish went crazy (half as crazy as I went) for it. The only drawback, they aren't too sturdy. I probably used 6 or 7 on that couple of hours. I kept the last one and pinned it on my vest. There you go. Be good.

[cheech]

I think my most durable fly is also my most productive. It is a #16 paracute mating midge. I use it during any hatch, on any river, and it produces. It is the most fun to watch little brookies commit suicide over it.
Cheech

[Ouzel]

Two items: I forgot to thank you for showing me the Heron fly, it does produce; and I would like to find out what a Cotton Owl is.