Basic fly box checklist???
So I was reading articles on the computer about the basic fly box and this was the list that they had:
DRY FLIES
EH Caddis; brown and olive colors; size 14 and 18
Adams; ; size 14, 16, & 18
BWO ; size 16, 18, & 20
Royal Wulff ; size 12 and 16
Griffith's Gnat size 20 and 22
NYMPHS
Hare's Ear 14 & 16
Pheasant Tail 16 & 18
Prince Nymph 14 & 16
OTHERS
Wolly Bugger black and Olive sizes 8 and 10
Mickey Fin sizes 6 and 10
Thunder Creek rust and white sizes 8 and 10
What would your basic fly box include?
I tie as I go for the next outing ...
.... so my fly boxes tend to hold mostly brand new flies that I know I need for tomorrow for the place I am going to fish or leftovers from previous outings regardless of time or place.
Occasionally I will get some flies to test drive from a BB member ( thanks for the current batch, Warren ) so the fly boxes usually have some visitors staying there awaiting action where I think they will work.
T.C.T.K.s, rubber leg stonefly nymphs, brassies, some soft hackled and regular pheasant tail nymphs, and a few soft hackled and regular coppery johns ( sans wingcase and epoxy ) will do for most streams and rivers I fish around here.
Some Harrop's Henry's Fork caddis, parachute bwo's and PMDs, march browns, a few Griffith gnats, some renegades, and some emergers like Quigley cripples will usually be enough in the way of dry flies. Sometimes I'll tie up some parachute Adams or Wulff patterns or a humpy or two for small stream fishing.
Streamers are easy - I tie and carry one of my own, the PSC, and tote several other styles that have been sent to me for a work out. Haven't done all that much streamer fishing the past couple years.
Over the late spring and the summer and into the fall, JC's Salmonfly, LF's Golden Stone, and the FEB Hopper will likely be enough on most moving water around here. I also usually have a few Lizzie's Golden Stone along for the ride. For the fall, throw in a FEB October Caddis. This year, thinking about fishing some high mountain lakes, I need to come up with a good flying ant pattern. Got one in mine, just need to get down to the execution. A foam beetle will be added sooner rather than later.
I really am not much of a fly tier. If I didn't have the luxury of tying flies as I go, I probably would be lost, and frequently end up not having the best fly for the day and the place I'm fishing. Might even have to get one of those darned checklists ?!
John