Some/Many fly patterns have been and are 'created' by skilled, knowledgeable fly fishers who happen to be fly tiers too. In all probability, the pattern was based on someones own experience. Or, because of local conditions or available materials, someone simply tweaked an existing pattern. Regardless, due to the explosion of information in the last 15 or so years, a pattern can get significant publicity, perhaps tied to a financial incentive, and people try it. Some patterns just look, to we humans at least, so buggy and enticing we think that, 'gee if I were a trout, I'd jump at that'.

My question is this and no one needs to identify a pattern or name anyone:
Are there well known fly patterns that you've used, at least a reasonable number of times, and could not get a rise or a bump? Have you said as much or have you simply lost all faith in them and not used that/those patterns anymore?

I have!