Joyce, the answer is a qualified yes, but as you noted the "where" is critical. For example, speaking only for trout, a scud (shrimp, sowbug) imitation is a virtual lock to produce some fish in small to medium rich streams. Back to the Killer Bug for a moment, it came to mind that a very similar pattern, the Hare and Copper, is a Kiwi favourite and was very successful there for me. Same size, same copper underbody, same "beige" colouring; the major differences are a slightly fatter profile, dubbing vs wool, the addition of a couple of short tail whisks, and a copper rib. Also Jimi's question re the Killer Bug; perhaps Keith, who has some of the original material, would have one photographed and put on the VFB site. Cheers, Paul
Joyce's crafts and flies wrote: > > Larry et all, I know that presentation is important..but as you have pointed > out, there are places on the Provo where any fly will do, as long as it is a > 16 CDC caddis or Rainbow warrior, and others where only midges seem to > work..go figure. I have learned to pre-tie on the fly before I go, knowing > before I get there what the fish will be wanting and in thus doing, being > very successful without struggling to tie a fly on the leader at the > streamside. It seems often to be entirely unimportant what currently seeems > to be the hatch that is on. > But, as is often the case, in new water that I don't know as well, then > I have to experiment to find out what the "soup de jour" for the fish is. I > am wondering if there are certain patterns that the fish feed on so much > that they will ALWAYS be interested in that pattern as an offering, > regardless of the current hatch... have you found this to be the case? Joyce -- Paul Marriner Outdoor Writing & Photography. Owner: Gale's End Press. Member: OWAA & OWC. Author of Stillwater Fly Fishing: Tools & Tactics, How to Choose & Use Fly-tying Thread, Modern Atlantic Salmon Flies, Miramichi River Journal, Ausable River Journal, and Atlantic Salmon.
