I and I feel others when first starting out we all tried to match what a pattern called for. It was years later and becoming a better tyer that I learned that flies should be modified to match the insects you see on the streams by you. It was at this awakening that I never followed a recipe 100% unless I felt the pattern would work on the streams I fish. Lastly, ever been on stream and see what the fly the fish were taking. I have on numerous occasions and went home that evening and just looked for materials that I thought would work and just created my own imitation of the insect out of my head. Now my imitation would probably be some pattern that is out their, but what was fun about it is that is came out of my head and from the materials I chose to tye the fly. Like I said, I didn't invent anything and I bet that someone already tyed the fly that I created.