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I tied up a couple of Madsen's skunks( http://www.michigandryflies.net/file...attredirects=0 ) today. This fly can be fished dry, swung as wet fly and then retrieved as a streamer. The only other fly I would fish this way is a muddler minnow. It's also reputed to make pretty good bobber. I was wondering if anyone else has a similarly versatile fly.
That old standby the Hornberg. Can be tied in different colors too.
i fish the crackleback both wet and dry (mostly wet) and catch tons of fish as i am stripping it back to me. great fly. most productive for me with a green flashabou body.
I've got to throw my vote behind another Michigan fly-- the Adams. Pound for pound, it lends itself to more pattern styles-- traditional, parachute, Female version, etc --and can be "trimmed" and weighted for use as a nymph. I tend to like the old stuff, but then, that's just me...
Interesting question.Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbowchaser
For terrestrials, some variation of the gurgler will cover just about anything that might fall into the water.
Even for more selective trout,,,9X out of 10 it will be good enough.
You can even go over the top and weight them.
Here's the infamous Bullhead Gurgler,,,,with just enough lead to give it slow sink properties.
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps2b71dcdb.jpg
I would agree with both the Muddler Minnow and the Hornberg.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...080805fotw.php
Scott Sanchez originally tied his Convertible for the Jackson Hole One Fly to be fished as a dry, nymph or streamer; it had the combo Wulff/Trude wing and heavily hackled front, but also a marabou tail like a bugger (wish I had my copy of his article from Fly Fisherman; the picture with a full marabou tail was kinda weird). Depending on the conditions, the angler could perform on-the-stream modifications with a pair of scissors to get the bug he was looking for. Not quite like the Muddler, which you can convert from a hopper to a streamer by rubbing it's head in a little mud, but pretty versatile.
Regards,
Scott
I'll nominate a Renegade.
http://www.flyfishohio.com/Renegade.htm
Muddler Minnow is the absolute champion. Perhaps a Bomber then. I fished Bombers as a regular walked fly for big trout and salmon and also in a bizarre way...with fast sinking lines. On both ways catch fish.
People again falling into the trout-centric narrow vision. Take an Adams out on a lake where bass are pushing shad to the surface and see how it does- or out in the salt for bluefish or stripers. For catching all kinds of fish in the most number of circumstances, nothing can beat a pattern suggestive of a baitfish. ALL gamefish eat smaller fish, at least occasionally. Simplest, easiest, and most adaptable style is a properly tied Clouser's Deep Minnow.
Second choice might be a Woolly Bugger in any number of colors and details.
Drop me anywhere in the world with a variety of CDMs and WBs and fish will be caught.
I certainly reserve the right to be wrong, I think that the versatility referred to in the question was the versatility of manners in which the fly can be fished, i.e. as a dry, wet, or streamer. If that is the case, then my favorite variation of the Woolly Bugger is equally versatile. I often Gink them to use as a dry fly, or an emerger since they ride in the surface film. Sometimes I swing them as wets and sometimes I treat as streamers.
With regards to general efficacy in a variety of circumstances and against a variety of quarries, I still believe what I posted about the size 6 Olive Woolly Bugger several years ago.
One fly to rule them all.
One fly to find them.
One fly to bring them all,
And to the tippet bind them.
:O
:)
Regards,
Ed
The Hornberg is quite effective for many freshwater species and it also works well for saltwater species. They can be fished to represent baitfish, crabs, and shrimp. By sliding a foam cylinder or head over the tippet before thing the fly on, then pushing the foam onto the hook eye, they can be fished as a popper or slider.Quote:
Originally Posted by jszymczyk
The soft hackle. It is truly a versatile fly.
Sure,,,but I think you're right.Quote:
Originally Posted by EdD
You beat me to the punch. I fish it dry, wet, and stripped like a streamer. I haven't used it as a nymph yet, but I suspect it would work just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by zaxaca
I'm on the Renegade wagoon drinking its fantastic Kool Aid! I fish it dry and wet, but will also add some weight to the hook and get down deeper as well.
Cheers
Brandon
royal coachman
........ in endless variations. I already have a pattern in mind for a wooly bugger royal coachman lol ;-). I'm always amazed at the fish I can catch on what many can consider technical hard fished water with a sz 10 RC marabou winged wet fly.The royal coachman works top to bottom and if you got the skill and can find a hook you can tie it to sz 40 ala Helen Shaw!
Impressionistic, has colors, plus action. It has some pedigree. Dry, wet, nymph and streamer, fresh and saltwater. It also looks good in the fly box and great in a fishing hat and is a standout in a wall hung shadow box.
Vermont Hare's Ear
Enough vote for hornbergs that I decided to tie up a couple. I don't have jungle cock. I hope the fish like starling feathers instead. I already carry muddlers, woolly buggers and renegades.
If you're gonna cave that easily, you might as well tye some Alexandras, too.
:)
Ed
Ed, I fall on the presentation side of the pattern/presentation debate so I like a lot of versatile patterns that can be fished a variety of ways.
A friend gave me a pheasant last night which reminded me of another versatile pattern. Jack Gartside originally tied the sparrow as multi-use fly. It can be greased to represent a hopper on the surface or fished as a wet fly,a nymph or a streamer. I had forgotten that as I usually tie it weighted for spring steelhead.