If you could only carry one fly box on a trip, what flies would you pack?
Sort of a newbie question coming from a seasoned angler, but the reason I ask is that often I find myself with spare time during the day, and rather than take everything down to the water, I would just grab my rod from behind the seat of the truck, a pair of forecepts, and a small to medium fly box from my guide bag.
On my last trip I was thinking I should make one box as my go to box, a small to medium size box that will fit in with my rod and reel in it’s case, along with a pair of forecepts because often I end up hopping a ride with fellow anglers or a spur of the moment “take a couple casts to see what’s out there” locations occur frequently.
So if you had one fly box, what would you pack in it?
I would have to take some Bailie’s Black Spiders, Red Spiders and Dun Spiders all on size 14 2XShort hooks; Grey, Black, Olive and Brown Squirrel Flymphs on size 14 up eye hooks; some Pheasant Tail and Furnace Spiders on Size 14 and 16 2XShort hooks; and lastly some Greenwell’s Glory Spiders in sizes 12 to 16 2XShort hooks.
I prefer the spiders and flymphs tied on light wire hooks to fish high in the water column. A bit of shot can get them down deeper if needed.
Nice thing about being a steelheader is I have one fly box for summer run steelhead and one box for winter run steelhead. The difference being the winter’s flies are big, bright, and gawdy; the summer flies are small, dark, and buggy. Along with the one fly box I will carry a tip wallet, leader spool, nippers, and hook file. I need no more to hunt steelhead anywhere in the country.
When I have a situation like that, tiny stream wild brookies are usually the game, and lately, my go-to setup for that is a 6’9" 1wt. I wet wade in a pair of wet/dry barefooting shoes and only take 1 spool of tippet, floatant, nippers & hemos, and a single small, thin fly box. I sayall this because that has an impact on the fly selection I take. In this box (about 2x3") I carry 2 each of:
Where I fish, (Pacific N/W trout waters) I would take;
Wet-
Black or Olive Wooly Buggers
Pheasant Tail Nymphs
Scuds
Copper Johns
Dries-
Parachute Adams
Elk Hair Caddis
X-Caddis
Royal Humpies
