4-14 through 4-19 opinions please

[CreationBear]

Ha, I guess what I am saying is that I don't know of any hard-and-fast rules, which is good because I'd break 'em anyway. Fortunately for me, my little wild trout are so dumb it really doesn't matter what I throw at them, if I put it in the right place. Folks trying to catch smarter and/or bigger fish, though, probably have to give a little more thought into where their fly rides in the water column and be able to adapt to different current conditions or the "selectivity" of the fish that day.

[DUBBN]

Ha, I guess what I am saying is that I don't know of any hard-and-fast rules, which is good because I'd break 'em anyway. Fortunately for me, my little wild trout are so dumb it really doesn't matter what I throw at them, if I put it in the right place. Folks trying to catch smarter and/or bigger fish, though, probably have to give a little more thought into where their fly rides in the water column and be able to adapt to different current conditions or the "selectivity" of the fish that day.

I love dumb fish!

[kanutripr]

All beautiful Kelly! I'm a heavy hackle type of girl too. There is a really fine line between just a bit too much and perfect but there is a place in the fly box for both. I usually end up using the heavier ones in stained water or for bass (trout around here can be so critical ).

Try stripping one side of the hackle or use a skin with a bit sparser hackle. You'll like the look.



Vicki

[CreationBear]

I love dumb fish!

Of course, your intellectually-challenged trout out in Colorado run about five times bigger than the silly little dinks I catch on my infertile freestoners here in Appalachia.

[Kelly L.]

Thanks Vicki. I hope the bass do like these flies. I know the bluegill/sunfish will like them, no doubt. I don't have picky trout, so that is not a problem. I am afraid the catfish will like these. It seems whatever I fling out there, the catfish always want to grab it...lol. I did try hackle on one side, and I didn't like it as much. Most of the hackle here were from Whiting/Hebert Miner hens.

[JohnP]

Kelly, what hook was that last one tied on? I really like the up-eye hooks, which is good, since I just picked up another 600 (cheap) on ebay.

[Kelly L.]

Mustad 3913B size 12.

[Kelly L.]

I like the body work on all of these--great, sparse combination of silk and dubbing. As for hackling, I think it's one of those things the fish will tell you if you care to listen--for myself, I'd fish the more heavily hackled flies as an emerger (or even ovipositing caddis) in the film, especially in a slackwater situation (kind of like the Irish lough flies or bumbles).

Okay, I looked up some Irish Lough flies (lake),and some Bumbles. Funny I already liked them, just didn't know that is what you called them. I just saw a Bumble that was almost exactly like one I tied 2-3 days ago. It is gray drab looking, and you couldn't see the pinkish dubbing. So I didn't photograph it. It could easily be mistaken for a Bumble. It is in my fly box as we speak. I think most of these flies are tied on Partridge hooks, if I am not mistaken. But I don't think they are tied on dry fly hooks. Maybe the extra feather hackle makes it go higher in the column...especially if use rooster hackle, instead of hen? I just went through my vest, and threw away some old flies, to make more room for new ones. I also pulled out wads of flies that I put in my pockets to dry, but they never were PUT UP. The small flies like the spiders, never stay on the fly patch. So I quit using one. Brand new flies of mine were lost because of that patch. I tried 3, and gave up. So now everything goes in my pockets. The smallest flies though, could get lost, or stuck on other flies, then lost, or worse....stepped on with bare feet. So, what do you use after you finish using a fly that small? How about an Altoid tin? My problem is remembering to open the tin, and dry them out once I get home. I would like to hear what you do for this. Thanks in advance.

[JohnP]

Mustad 3913B size 12.

Great. I have 400 of those headed my way, at 3.5 cents per hook.

[Kelly L.]

Wow, that is supreme!