In Search of the Holy Grail

[Gandolf]

Hi All,

The one fly would be an elk hair caddis. I seem to do better, when things are a bit tougher, with a nymph, but fishings drys is so much fun, that it is hard for me to tie on a nymph. The one I use most often is a tan variety.

Regards,

Gandolf

[Wes]

This one...The Substitute, with or without bead


Or This one...The Krystal Koachman, with or without bead in either color.

[ZugbugPete]

Dry / emerger would be an adams-gray klinkhammer
nymph would be a zugbug or prince nymph (I'm fond of the zugbug)
streamer would be olive n grizzly wooly bugger

I prefer the klinkhammer because it sits lower in the film / lower under the film versus the parachute adams, and the peacock herl thorax only helps in attracting fish.
Zugbug is more of a "I have confidence in it from years of experience" thing - I'm sure a pheasant tail works just as well.
Wooly bugger is just a go-to, and I just prefer olive n grizzly for the color scheme, again, personal preference from experience and it is a confidence thing... I'm sure a black would work as well or better.

Just my 2 cents worth
Tight lines,
-Pete

[Greg H]

I always bring a Rusty Usual, unless I am pond fishing. The other two would be a Hare's Ear wet fly and an Olive BH Crystal Bugger. I don't do well fishing nymphs, but for ponds I would trade the Usual for a scud/shrimp pattern.

[NJTroutbum]

Here's what I would go with:

Dry: Tan Elk Hair Caddis
Emerger: Pale-Olive & Dun LTD
Streamer: Black Mohair Leech (Weighted)
Nymph: Gold-ribbed Hare's Ear

However......if I was to be able to only take one fly? It would be a #14 Hare's Ear LTD.

[Bucky]

The article got it right for me, Adams, Beadhead PT, Wooly bugger. Second choices, EHC, Beadhead Prince. Don't use streamers much, so I don't have a second choice there.