5 Must Have Flies

[midger]

I don't think I could ever just carry just five types of flies overall, but could limit it to five for a given watershed/type of fish. As an example I could get by on the Upper Owens in the winter/spring with:

1. Size 14 Tungsten conehead Olive microbugger (works as streamer or nymph)
2. Size 20 Black BH Zebra
3. Size 14 Tungsten BH Cal's Birdnest
4. Size 16-18 Hi Viz Adams
5. Size 16 Elk n CDC Caddis


I actually plan and fill my boxes based on where I plan to fish and based on what's hatching at a given time.


I do like PapaS's selection though--it's more versatile than mine and with enough of his selections, you won't care what you're carrying.

[hpskiff]

1. & 2. Stimulator with rubber legs and some flash in yellow and orange
3. Yellow humpy
4. Small white clouser with flash - only thing I can get the hatchery fish to hit.
5. Bead head Soft hackle hares ear or birds nest

[RichardCullip]

... I do like PapaS's selection though--it's more versatile than mine and with enough of his selections, you won't care what you're carrying....

PapaS's selection is especially effective when the fish aren't biting. Tie a few on and you don't care anymore....

[planettrout]

Personally, I would keep this in mind in making a choice of insect patterns:

The Most Important Water Column Positions to Fish Aquatic Insects, in order of effectiveness:

1. Fly one to six inches above stream bottom.

2. Fly moving upward (emerging) from bottom to surface.

3. Fly resting just under the surface film.

4. Fly resting on the surface film.

5. Fly actively twitching or skittering over the surface film.

From Dave Whitlock:"Water Entomology to Fly-Fish By" - Flyfishing & Tying Journal - ppgs. #.16 - #.21 - Winter 2013

So...for me it would be:

Cream Miracle Midge, #18 -#22

Deep Sparkle Pupa - various colors, #14 - #18

RS2 Emerger - #16 - #22

Improved Shop Vac - #18 - #22

Seal Bugger - various colors, #6 - #10


PT/TB

[Pete]

Parachute Adams
Humpy
Elk hair Caddis
Stimulator
Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear

Looking back on my list, it appears I like dry flies
Pete

[Jimbo Roberts]

Just 5? Man I just could not do that, but.....
1) Parachute Adams
2) X Caddis
3) Dave's Red Squirrel Rubber Legs
4) Rainbow Warrior
5) Rojo midge
Of Course I could never go to the water with so few patterns so 5 more go to .....
6) Morrish Hopper
7) Stimulator
8) Jimmy Legs Stone
9) Green Caddis
10) Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle
I am a tackle hound and many of my friends call me a walking fly shop, but then I almost always have something that will work amoung the hundreds of patterns that regularly carry in my vest. I will rotate in and out more specific patterns depending on the time of year and water to be fished, but that most everybody really.

Jimbo

[briansII]

My question is, if you could only take 5 different flies along with you on a trip to the Sierras, what would your choices be? Curious to see your responses.

1. Pheasant Tail
2. Parachute Adams
3. Wooly Bugger
4. Elk Hair Caddis
5. E/C Caddis

Very tempted to replace 5. with a Gold Ribbed Hares Ear. The PT, and E/C Caddis can be modified on the stream to give you a different profile. A EHC can be fished wet, and be very effective.

briansII

[flyster]

Wow I only have two, 1. Zipp up, 2. Button down. I am a simple man.

[1mocast]

That was a good one!

[1mocast]

Personally, I would keep this in mind in making a choice of insect patterns:

The Most Important Water Column Positions to Fish Aquatic Insects, in order of effectiveness:

1. Fly one to six inches above stream bottom.

2. Fly moving upward (emerging) from bottom to surface.

3. Fly resting just under the surface film.

4. Fly resting on the surface film.

5. Fly actively twitching or skittering over the surface film.

From Dave Whitlock:"Water Entomology to Fly-Fish By" - Flyfishing & Tying Journal - ppgs. #.16 - #.21 - Winter 2013

So...for me it would be:

Cream Miracle Midge, #18 -#22

Deep Sparkle Pupa - various colors, #14 - #18

RS2 Emerger - #16 - #22

Improved Shop Vac - #18 - #22

Seal Bugger - various colors, #6 - #10


PT/TB

PT,

Good Point! I think it will also depend on the time of year fishing also. A midge will be a better choice than a big stimmie in the winter.

[BBH]

It is sooo hard to pick just a few flies..Especially for where your requesting as you may find yourself still water to river or stream in the same day.

subsurface
1)Zebra BH ( red , olive , black)
2) Phesant Tail
3) WD40
4) Shop VAc
5) Tailwater tiny
6) Deep sparkle caddis Pupa
7) Chrominids

Streamer
1) Wolley Bugger BH ( Olive, Black, White)
2) Double Bunny ( White, Black, White Olive)
3) Moal Leach ( White Black Olive)
4)Seal Bugger ( white black olive yellow)
5)Any of galloups variations Big and white or (black brown yellow)

Top water
1)Parachute adams
2)Elk HAir Caddis
3)Stimmies
4)Chubby Chernobyl
5)Hoppers

At the campfire
Green flash Pallet Wreker
Stone IPA
Single Malt Scotch
Stone Pale Ale
Mirror Pond Pale Ale

This thread made me realize 2 things..
I need to fish more hares ear
I dont fish drys very offten and when I do its dry dropper.

Honorable mention san juan worm

[planettrout]

Personally, I would keep this in mind in making a choice of insect patterns:

The Most Important Water Column Positions to Fish Aquatic Insects, in order of effectiveness:

1. Fly one to six inches above stream bottom.

2. Fly moving upward (emerging) from bottom to surface.

3. Fly resting just under the surface film.

4. Fly resting on the surface film.

5. Fly actively twitching or skittering over the surface film.

From Dave Whitlock:"Water Entomology to Fly-Fish By" - Flyfishing & Tying Journal - ppgs. #.16 - #.21 - Winter 2013

So...for me it would be:

Cream Miracle Midge, #18 -#22

Deep Sparkle Pupa - various colors, #14 - #18

RS2 Emerger - #16 - #22

Improved Shop Vac - #18 - #22

Seal Bugger - various colors, #6 - #10


PT/TB

PT,

Good Point! I think it will also depend on the time of year fishing also. A midge will be a better choice than a big stimmie in the winter.

In my experience, Midges are THE most consistent and prevalent food source in tail water fisheries all year round...simple thread and wire ties in cream, olive, tan, red, grey and black are a good addition to one's box and will consistently put 'ya into fish...just get down stream of those other guys shuffling their feet upstream...


Pt/TB

[Rob909]

1. Stimulator
2. Robo PT
3. Red Fox Squirrel
4. Wooly Bugger
5. Zonker


Rob

[Hillbilly]

I'm gonna go with:

1. Green BH rock worm
2. Stimulator- rubber legs
3. Parachute Adams
4. BH Prince nymph
5. Klinkhammer

Fish on!!!

[Dry Fly Rie]

I'm a die hard dry fly fisherman (see my screen name), so I'll toss in my 5 favorite dries for the Eastside...

1. Stimulator
2. Parachute Adams
3. Hopper
4. Parachute Ant
5. Yellow Humpy

I can't wait to get up there and find some wild ones all to myself on a small creek.