Hi,

I'll tie a bunch "to pattern", things like Royal Coachmans, Invictas, and will follow old patterns from the 1800s as best I can (many feathers now banned; like owl). And, I'll experiment by changing colours, but follow the basic construction technique. I've tied an Invicta using white and grizzle materials, and get a good immitation of a white moth. I call it a white Invicta.

I'll name patterns I made up (even if it turns out they are not new, they are new to me) to help me remember them. Names allow you to compact a lot of information together under one retrieval cue. They transmit a lot of information too (Royal Coachman is much easier than saying tippet tail, 3 part body of herl, red floss band, herl, white wing, brown hackle).

If someone asks, though, I'll usually show them if they are close, name it if it's a known pattern, or give a generally impression (a yellow fly with brown wings).

- Jeff