Quote Originally Posted by Byron haugh View Post
We have long had what folks refer to as "attractor" patterns. However, most of these flies were bright in color and/or had some sort of flash. I am thinking of a Royal Wulff or a Renegade, etc.
Why do you equate "searching" pattern with an "attractor" pattern? There's no reason why the two must necessarily be the same. While attractors may always be considered searching patterns in the sense that they match no hatch, in the absence of a hatch, any pattern can be used as a searching pattern. I do not see it as category, in other words but a method of use; function, not form. YMMV.