Fly Fishing Tips: The Basic Fly Box
One
of the great arguments of the world, one that ranks up there
"the chicken or the egg", is "presentation
vs. pattern". Years of experience fly fishing throughout
the world has convinced us that presentation is more important
and you can fish any place with a very simple fly box. Here
is our basic box.
| Dry Flies: | Elk Hair Caddis;
brown and olive - sizes 14 and 18 |
|
| Nymphs: | Hare's Ear
- sizes 14 and 16 Pheasant Tail - sizes 16 and 18 Prince Nymph - sizes 14 and 16 |
|
| Others: | Wolly Bugger; black and
olive - sizes 8 and 10 Mickey Fin - sizes 6 and 10 Thunder Creek; rust and white - sizes 8 and 10 |
From time to time you will need a special fly because of the particular location or the time of the year. I would never step into a Missouri trout stream without a box full of Mike's Mohair Leeches, Colorado's Frying Pan without some Mysis Shrimp or any Wyoming stream during the fall without a Madam X or ten. Just pack a few local special pattern before you leave or stop at a fly shop at your destination. If time permits we like to call a local shop and ask what they think will be hot while I'm there. We follow up my call with a note and a check for 10 or 15 dollars. In the note ask them to send me some of the local pattens you may need. The flies they send act as "examples" at the tying bench. Stop at the shop and re-introduce yourself. More often then not it will lead to some tips that most visiting fishermen won't get.