Hi Raiderhunter,

I am assuming you are wanting to fish NW New Mexico. If that is the case, you have listed a good basic set of flies, but I would personally make some changes if it were me. I am also you are interested in an adequate minimal set of flies, ie: minimal cost.

I would replace the Adams with gray Wulffs, because they float better than the Adams. It amounts to a similar fly, color wise, that will fish for much the same insects, but will float better. That is important if you are wanting to fish streams with fairly quick water. I like to fish small streams, and if you have quick water the extra floatation is of benefit.

I would add a light color mayfly, something like a blond Wulff in sizes #14 to #18 or so. This will fish for the light color mayflies in NW New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

With the EHCs, you have two that will fish for darker caddis flies. For that reason, I would not go with the brown, and go with a tan, or light tan, EHC and an olive EHC. Just as good as the olive EHC is the deer hair caddis, which has an olive body and deer hair for the wing. Given the choice between the olive EHC and the deer hair caddis, I would probably go with the deer hair caddis, as it will likely do better for the darker caddis flies that have medium dun wings. Either the olive EHC or the deer hair caddis will fish for the same insects. Either way you have a fly for lighter color caddis flies (the tan or light tan EHC) and darker color caddis flies (the DHC or olive EHC.)

The truth is that the trout of NW NM and Southern Colorado are used to seeing caddis flies, as there are a lot of different species with similar colors, and they live pretty long compared to may flies. For that reason, I don't think the trout as as picky about caddis flies as they are about may flies. My first choice for a dry for a searching fly, if I have no idea about hatches up in NM, will be a tan EHC, in size 14 or 16, or perhaps a DHC.

I would also add a couple of stimulators to fish for stoneflies, and we have plenty of those up there. Starting in mid June you will have goldon stones, and a stimulator is a good match for those. I have had good success with what amounts to an orange stimulator in size 6 or 8. A friend who fished it more that I have said that a #10 or #12 orange stimulator would fish well for that stone, even though the size was quite a bit smaller. I would also add #12 and #14 yellow stimulators. If I had to pick single sizes, I would go with the #12 orange stimulator and the #14 yellow stimulator.

I would also add a larger nymph, to fish for the stonefly nymphs we have up there. I have had good success with a #8 golden stone nymph tied with Ronn Lucas Irridescent Dubbing in Golden stone color. However, stone nymphs are typically found in quick water, so a precise match isn't needed. John Gierach likes what amounts to a big gold ribbed hare's ear in the appropriate sizes to fish for either the golden stone or salmon fly nymphs.

I would tie these in #6 through #12 or so, preferrably, but not necessarily, on 3x long hooks. If you don't have the 3x long hooks, you could tie them on standard length hooks and the trout probably won't care. You can even tie them on standard dry fly hooks and I think you would do just fine. The fish are not nearly so picky are are the fisherman on nymphs.

Regards,

Gandolf