Except for fly size and bright vs dark; the fly doesn't matter all that much. I use whatever pattern suits my fancy the morning I head out. I usually tie 1-2 flies in the morning with what ever idea I had from the day before and go fishing with them. Some days I go for the vintage spey patterns, other days I want to see if a new intruder or MOAL color will work. If I didn't take a steelhead that day on a new pattern, Ill likely not try it again, especially if I know for certain that I presented it to willing fish. I often make 2-3 passes through proven water and switch flies starting with big bright flies working towards small dark patterns. If after 3 passes and the three fly switches failed to produce, its time to go home and go back the next day.

What fly do I have on when I start...something about a size 4 in purple.

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