You see the size of that Heptageniidae?

[JayMorr]

I had a chance to snap off a few of them Hogs on my wall.


JayMorr

[Jason]

Nice pic Jay. I can't figure out what specie it is. It almost looks like a drake.

[thor444]

Jay, I can never convince the bugs to sit still. Let me tell you how helpful your pictures are to me. When you post one, can you suggest a pattern to emulate and maybe mention what size the bug you are looking at is from a hook size standpoint. I have had this same bug all over the place in Murray. Same color and look exactly. They are really neat looking in flight too!

[JayMorr]

Thanks Thor. I am not sure exactly what this species is but to me it most resembles a PED (Pale Evening Dun). The fly in this picture is huge. It is probably around a size # 16. Some patterns that would work well to emulate this fly would be, PMD's, BWO's and other patterns with a clear wing. I took a couple pics of some Rainy's Flies that would work very well.

Rainy's X-Fly PMD & Galloups Compara Spinner PMD. Both available by Rainy


JayMorr

[RAW]

Beautiful pictures JayMorr. Makes me hungry just looking at 'em!

[Ouzel]

you are correct about the fly being a PED as the are quite light in color and smaller than the Great Gray Drake which can be a #12 or 10 and is Gray.

444: Try using glue on their feet. :-)

[thor444]

What is the flyfishing rule about tying dead bugs to a hook (maybe live mice)? Seriously, Would that make me not a flyfisherman? I have been reading about "spheres of mimicry" in this old book about fly tying. It talks about the differences between copying the fly exactly (physiology, sort of like Davinci's David, very realistic) or by copying the way something might perceive the fly (like impressionism, Monet). This may be too sappy for words, but a fish may key on one specific part of the whole as an indication of species, like a color, shape or appendage and the rest may be a distant second? Any idea on this? Please keep the pictures of naturals and the sizes of flys to imitate along with the size. It is very cool. SInce I will probably never tie my own flys, (I can barely tie one on my tippet), this site has been my best source.

[nightfish]

You could always start out with Picasso's...one wing on the butt, and three breasts. :)

I think though, that impressionism & realism both have their place. Some fish on heavily pressured, clear & slow water require the realism, while fast water lends itself to hints of food.