What is your "Comfort Fly"?

I think we all have at least one of them. It's that pattern that seems to more-often-than-not save an otherwise fishless day. And regardless of whether it's time on the water, or sheer happenstance that brings it success, each time a fish raises to it the position within your psyche is more deeply ingrained. That fly for me is the Penns Grannom. The pattern is one of my own that over the years has grown to be a favorite when confidence is low.

What is your "Comfort Fly"?

You don't have to be a fly tyer to have one. :)


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It's an olive wooly bugger on my home waters. My Colorado trips are most productive with an Adam's on top or a BHPT soft hackle below.

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Originally Posted by NJTroutbum

I think we all have at least one of them. It's that pattern that seems to more-often-than-not save an otherwise fishless day. And regardless of whether it's time on the water, or sheer happenstance that brings it success, each time a fish raises to it the position within your psyche is more deeply ingrained. That fly for me is the Penns Grannom. The pattern is one of my own that over the years has grown to be a favorite when confidence is low.

What is your "Comfort Fly"?

You don't have to be a fly tyer to have one. :)


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Probably, for Trout, either one of these...they ALWAYS work...

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/n...heasant_-1.jpg


PT/TB ;)

Since PT beat me to the punch I'll go with my #2 option - CDC & Elk

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...n/IMG_7957.jpg


Regards,
Scott

No pic but a bead head zugbug in.#14-16.

Right now it the Griffiths Gnat. Seem to catch something with it every time I use it.

Sawyer nymph--copper wire and pheasant tail. looks exactly like a mayfly nymph. works.

I fish way too many different species under way too many different conditions to pick just a half-dozen "comfort" flies...

I'll fish anything tied in a parachute configuration, but my "go-to" fly is an Adams, hands down. Tied traditionally or as a 'chute, it's Michigan-born and bred, and holds down the most slots in my boxes...

Jerry, aka hairwing530

If we're talking about trout then it would be a size 16 Pink Squirrel Nymph.

I'm sure the answer varies widely depending on fishing conditions -- species, still or moving water, season, etc. However for stream trout here in the driftless area of the midwest, I'd go with an orange colored scud. I fish scuds in our spring creeks from January through September (our entire season). I have several orange color variations -- some brighter with some pink, some with more yellow for an overall amber color, and some tannish and more subdued. I change the trailer fly fished behind the scud to match seasonal hatches -- eg, Baetis nymphs right now -- but throughout the season a scud is my lead fly way more often than not. I'm quite sure that I've caught fish on a scud in every month this year and maybe even every week.

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Originally Posted by anglerdave

A size 16 Pink Squirrel Nymph.

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In a size 12.

I brake for pink squirrels.

These..... I never leave home without them.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...69231105_o.jpg

NJ,In the past I've noticed your interest in the sea-run cutthroat (you were the only one to make any comment on my recent Readers' Cast article). I'm fortunately able to fish for them on a nearly year-round basis in either fresh or salt water, and one of my favorite flies is Mike Kinney's Reverse Spider. In fresh water I've begun using a particular color which, in my opinion, brings what is generally thought of as an attractor pattern a little more into the realm of matching the hatch. One of the most common prey items in our rivers at this time of the year is the October Caddis (Dicosmoecus), the pupa of this very large caddis is particularly attractive to the sea-run cutthroat and it may swim and crawl about for several days before coming ashore to molt into its adult form.The Reverse Spider, does a pretty good job of representing this pupa with its long swimming legs but I had a problem finding the right color of chenille to represent its pinkish-tan body. I tried bleaching shell pink chenille with both chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide to no avail and finally laid some out on the dashboard of my truck for a few days to let the sun do its work. The result, with the addition of a wood duck hackle has proven to be very effective.

Preston, I do love Sea-run cutts. I found much the same while haunting that same neck-of-the-woods. They do love the October Caddis. :) Nice pattern as well!

For trout it would be a #12 Prince Nymph, not as a first choice, but it always seems like they draw strikes when all else has failed. I always have them with me.

For smallies it is the white sparkle grub, various sizes.

For trout, it's a Klinkhamer.
For big 'gills, a yellow woollyworm with grizzly hackle.
BTW, I ALWAYS have some of both fishing for either species.

Mike

Hard question to answer, but for trout, I take comfort in just about any fly that has pheasant tail in it as a main ingredient!~aa

Bead Head Prince Nymph....KILLER!

Copper John tied on a 1/132 oz. gold jig.

If fish are rising at all, it is a #16 Rusty Usual. If I don't get a hit on it then I am really stumped.

No question....Olive or Black Woolly Booger. Second choice: Clouser Minnow.