I know that since I am in Hawaii, I am late on this (besides I have been on another island for a week). I have had experiences that as Paul said are in both camps. I have had one on the Green where I forgot my baetis imitation (tied but sitting next to my vice) so I used the same pattern with slight color variation - more olive. I caught a few fish but the guy who moved in on me and burnt my toast was catching one almost on every cast. I finally gave in and asked. He showed me the pattern and it was same size and pattern but different color. I gave in to my pride, went back to Cabin John and bought a few flies (man I hate that). Came back to the same spot and caught fish almost on every cast.
I do not think a great fly poorly presented will catch many fish. On the other hand, the wrong fly in my experience can be slung all day with no taker. People who back one or the other are going to be less effective than those that solve the puzzle from both sides. We all know that already but it seems choosing one over the other is like saying I will only fish dry flies. I don't understand that mentality. I come to the stream to solve a mystery. It is why I don't sling power bait. I want to figure out where the trout are and what they are taking. I need to give it to them not only without drag but in the right place on the stream, in the right place in the water column. I have fished days when the water below a dam has been altered and the fish would take a medium rare T-bone. Changes in water temperature affect the fish taking a fly. Wow, I am getting a brain cramp. But the very complexity of this is its allure to me. I had a bass fisherman tell me that he loved it because fishing for trout was so easy he could catch 50 trout in a day but you would never do that with bass. I did not debate this with him. It is true, even I have had 50+ fish days. I have also been skunked. I hate to admit that but I have. But when it was tough, I mentally fumed to try to solve the challenge. Each cast was done with an anxiety and anticipation that this would be the answer. I know that there is a lot to learn in any fishing but fly fishing teaches you patience, entomology and love of quiet spaces. Clear clean water washing past your legs, nature moving around you and your little brain trying to calculate - size, color and pattern. Perfect drift in the right place at the right time. Boy are we lucky. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "DonO" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Re: presentation vs pattern/color > Is that $14 Elk-hair caddis one of Hans'? I can't think of any other reason > it would cost so much. <G> > > D&R > DonO > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Larry Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 2:58 PM > Subject: Re: [VFB] Re: presentation vs pattern/color > > > Don: I don't have any answers. I'm not very clever or original, and I > always think I'm too old to learn new things, so I find my tying and fishing > entrenched in ruts. But I do know that if you come to the Huntington > Creek, I'll show you where the Browns will not take a $14 Elk-hair Caddis, > but change it to a #16 and they'll make your day. Go figure. > > Larry J > > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11/01/04 04:00PM >>> > OK, Larry, where's your comments for this discussion? You're one of the > list experts. > > Joyce's comments are typical of so many rivers. One fly pattern can just be > a killer. But could it be fished improperly and unsuccessfully, being > nipped off for something different yet less effective? What if Joyce WAS > using a rainbow warrior as a dropper under a dry fly and not getting > anything? The originator of the pattern walks up and clobbers them in the > same hole dead-drifting the same fly on a sink-tip. > > So when are you satisfied that a pattern isn't THE pattern? How do you know > you just aren't fishing it properly? When should you retire the fly or > should you try another presentation method? > > Getting dark- gotta decide quick- fish are rising but getting no takes- > change flies or change presentation? Which one...which one.... > > DonO > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Larry Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 11:29 AM > Subject: [VFB] Re: presentation vs pattern/color > > > OK Joyce. The next time we meet to tie, will you bring your rainbow > warrior for all (me) to see...? Thanks > > Larry J > > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 10/27/04 08:37PM >>> > An interesting discussion..and I believe both are important. But here, on > the Provo (the only river I really feel I know anything about) pattern is > VERY important. Try throwing any thing in size 12 or 10 and most likely you > will never get a rise. Try a tiny midge, 22 or 20 and you will be very > successful. These fish have had so many patterns and such big stuff thrown > at them that they tend to key in on little things. One day, and I'm sure > you've heard this before, I fished my favorite hole many times, used > everything in my flybox and not a rise. So, I stopped at the side to try and > determine what else I could try. Along came this great casting flyfisher who > fished the very same hole..and with every cast caught a fish..exactly the > same water as I had been fishing. I asked him, when he reached me, what he > was using, and he showed me his own pattern, a Rainbow Warrior..and gave me > two..one for a pattern and one to fish. (turns out he was Lance Egan and has > many Utah fishing records). I tied on the Rainbow warrior, went right back > into the same water, fished it exactly as I had done before and was rewarded > with a fish on every cast..no change in my presentation..but a mighty change > in fly. I may be old fashioned, but I do think that what you are casting is > every bit as important as how you are presenting it. But..your opinion is as > valid as mine is. Joyce > > > > > >
