Mike Lawson speaks of basically four colors used to tie dryfly bodies: Olive, Pale Yellow, Gray (or Dusky) and Tan.
I can think of a couple more colors which would seem needed: black or a dark brown and possibly a rust or reddish-orange for spinners.
How fussy do you think the wariest fish are to shade of color? Anotherwords, that the fly must be a pale or dark olive as opposed to a down the middle of the spectrum type of Olive?
Go read “Flies Only”.
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/fliesonly/:09b45]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/fliesonly/[/url:09b45]
It is a series, on dry flies and how the fish see them from underneath the water. Read the whole series, and then make up your mind, on how important the color of the body is on a dry fly. ~Parnelli
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 29 August 2005).]
I enjoy matching the colors as close as possible and find it fun trying to do so.
BUT I don’t think it matters as much as I try and convince myself that it does. My experience tells me silhouette and size are most important to match in regards to a natural and without a good presentation neither matter.
I don’t pretend to know about color in dry flies, I don’t think it makes a great deal of difference, but don’t know. It appears to make a huge difference in wet flies though, and all the old wet fly guys spent a lot of time worrying about color. As far as dries go, if I can’t tell my fly from the ones I see floating along, it gives me great confidence and I seem to catch fish. For what that’s worth. I like seeing a fly that looks like what’s out there.
Eric
Here is something to think about. Color is the last thing that trout look at, size, shape then color. This just means that in still water color might matter alot to a fish checking out the fly, but in fast water a fish does not have the time to check out the color.
I agree with ashbourn. I think that size and profile are far greater in importance than color. This past spring there was a blue-winged olive hatch on a stream I was fishing. The hatch was about a #20. The smallest BWO I had was a #18 and the trout would rise to it, but refuse it at the last second. I switched to a #20 Adams and the trout nailed it without hesitation. So this leads me to believe that size is much more important than color, closely followed by profile.
I am curious. What scientific studies support student Ashburn’s statements about the order in which a trout perceives things? These are very positve statements and the research supporting them would be great reading.
I think color can be important to the fish and the fly. My guess is the way a fish see’s the fly from below and how the color effects what they see.
I do know that it has made a difference on flies that I have tied and used on the local Spring Creek’s. Such as Nelson’s, Depuy’s and Armstrongs. I use to guide these creeks a lot. By a lot I mean several days a week. The local fly shops all carried the same flies from the same wholesale dealers and so the colors were the same. I can’t tell you the number of times that I changed the colors of the flies just a small ammount and caught fish with a fly that was the same tie but for the color.
I tie a Compara-Dun to match the Sulfur that has a very Orange body. The local tie has a pale yellow-orange body. These flies are the same except for the color. I found that mine worked much better.
I gave some of these Sulfur’s to Charlie Waterman and his wife a number of years ago out on Depuy’s. He and his wife were getting ready to fish so I gave him several. Later that night he called and thanked me and told me they had a great day catching fish with the flies I gave him. I know that my client and I had a good day also.
I believe it was the color of the fly that did the trick. I also think it is how the fish see’s the flies color through the water that makes a difference. I can’t prove it but I have seen it to many times to not use it as a way to catch more fish.
You can’t make one statement that cover’s all fishing. I know that on Spring Creeks and Tailwaters color can be very important. I also believe that Presentation then Size are a little more important than the color of the fly but when push comes to shove color can play a big part of it. Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 30 August 2005).]
When fishing the chalkstreams of the uk, apart from being considered bad form not to imitate the hatch, I am sure you would remain fishless from not doing.
If fish are feeding on BWO or Dark Olives, anything that is not a good imitation will be ignored, even if size and shape are similar.
I like what A.K. Best says: If you’re going through the effort to match the correct number of tails and their lengths, wing heights, and body shape and size, why not go ahead and try to match the color, too? It sure couldn’t hurt.
I also agree with Bamboozle: it can be fun.
However, how can people who are color blind try to do it if they are fishing alone? I’m not color blind, but my fishing buddy is and he’s constantly asking me about what color the bugs are.
Joe
Certainly fly proportion is critical. I also have the belief (like with Bass) that trout key in on certain colors at certain times. ie. Black/Blue, Red or Flo Orange/Blue (as in Clarlie Meck’s Patriot Pattern), Chartreause (ask Lefty), Olive/Gold Bead or Black/Red Gold Bead (as in the Rattlesnake streamer.
I’ve read JC’s information on what a trout sees, very interesting and informative. Color might be more critical on slow/still water as the fish has more than adequate time to study the “meal.” So, when I go fishing I try to match color as much as shape. Bluegill aren’t very particular about color, they’re looking for vulnerability, (my opinion).
One thing I’ve wondered since reading JC’s info is how the “meal” appears to a fish against the night sky. Color wouldn’t play into the mix as much then, if at all.
There’s almost nothin’ wrong with the first lie, it’s the weight of all the others holdin’ it up that gets ya’! - Tim
In “The Dry Fly - New Angles,” Gary says that water types and ambient light can make certain colors more visible to trout and hence attract their attention, but others not.
Concerning the effects of water types on fly selection, Gary says that drab (and/or oversize) dry flies will work better in foamy, fast-moving water. To simulate this situation, put your finger between your eyes and a light bulb, and your skin color does not show its true color but black or dark gray silhouette.
Concerning ambient light, Gary suggests to match the color of your flies to ambient light for better visibility of flies to trout. For example, the Book Mailer (that is, Greycliff Publishing Company) selling LaFontaine Double Wing series recommends eight important color variations: Brown = early evening; Gray = overcast days; Lime = afternoon; Orange = dusk; Pink Lady = early morning; Royal = brightest sun with glare on water; White = shaded areas; Yellow = midday.
That being said, while I am convinced that “body” color of dry flies can matter, I am not sure about the importance of “hackle” color. Do you think color-coordinating hackles on dry flies make a difference? I heard in this bulletin that different hackle colors may diffuse light differently, so hackle colors may not be trivial. What do you think? Body colors vs. hackle colors.
[This message has been edited by adso4 (edited 30 August 2005).]
I do not remember who did this study, but the reason color is the last thing looked at is becuase of way the trout eyes are. Just by studying their eyes we can figure out how animals see. Trouts eyes like ours have the ability to see color, but is not like we see color, it take more work to be able to tell different colors apart, along with the affects the light and the water has on the colors is would be kinda like us when we are in the dark and bright lights are turned it takes a bit before we can make things out.
Joe Fox
With no disrespect intended to any recent revelations on the importance of color; a very interesting and enlightening read on the subject can be found in the classic ?Dry Fly and Fast Water? by George M. L. LaBranche. I?m sure most of us geezers know of this great book but lest I prejudice the value of his work with the younger fly fishers out there; I won?t reveal the copyright date but let it suffice to say you won?t find the book at Borders.
In any case read the chapter entitled ?Imitation of the Natural Insect?. In that chapter Mr. LaBranche discusses several things in regards to color among which is the effect of REFLECTED color from the stream bottom on the appearance of artificial and natural flies; another thing to consider when deciding what?s important and what isn?t.
He also discusses the importance of color in regards to dry flies versus wet flies and other factors. He even goes as far as to list in order of importance; what he feels are the most critical considerations regarding artificial flies:
1st - Position of the fly on the water.
2nd ? Its action.
3rd ? Size of the fly.
4th ? Form of the fly.
5th ? Color of the fly.
While I can?t say if he is absolutely correct or not; the list read in context with the chapter is very interesting. It just goes to show you that when we?re all dead and gone this discussion will still be taking place as long as the trout refuse to tell us THEIR preference.
Bamboozle- That is my take on how it goes.
The secound he gives I take as part of the first which “Presentation” and the rest are right in line.
I have the book but have not read it in many years. Like you have said there isn’t much new in Fly Fishing we just keep bring up old things to talk over in a new time. Ron
What I got from JC series on “Flies Only”, I saw his present ion of the whole series at the 1999 Fish-In…
Colors are not as important as size and the insect/fly imprint (dimples) in the water surface (as seen from the fish’s view point.
The wings do not come into view until the last moment before the fish either takes the fly or not.
Fish are nearsighted, and cannot see anything clearly except up close (very close). Think of the Fish Eye lens used in photography, and you can understand what the fish sees. That is why fish have a cone-shaped window of viewing.
Water surface is a mirror (as seen by the fish), reflecting the bed of the stream.
~Parnelli
Color at night has been an interesting experiment since I have recently messed around with glo in the dark colors on certain patterns. Has anyone else thought about glo-in-the dark color combinations ???
Just outta curiosity !!!
De Feo di some amazing studies with color on his patterns.
[This message has been edited by MR.JML (edited 31 August 2005).]
MR.JML:
Did you catch anything on the patterns?
I’ve always wondered about using glow-in-the-dark fly dope at night to see what happens but since I have pretty good night vision, (for now), and I can set the hook by ear, (for now); I haven’t tried it yet.
I’d love to make a glow-in-the dark White Fly for smallmouth bass, it would help a lot!
I’ve read JC’s “Flies Only” series several times and have learned a lot that’s not available anywhere else.
Many of the images illustrate his research on how to imititate a mayfly dun. His photos clearly show that when the dun has fully emerged, the body is above the film and does not show until the trout gets very close.
Many dry flies imitate bugs floating much lower than a fully emergered mayfly dun. We specifically design flies with bodies that are below the film.
The parts of the fly below the film are much more visible than those above and show much more color. Put some flies in a glass of water and see for yourself. Depending on the position of the light, some colors show up very well.
JC’s slant box duplicates a trout’s eye view more realisticly than a fly floating in a glass, but you can see that there are conditions where the trout can see the body color very clearly.
When almost all the light is coming from directly above the fly, all you see is a dark sillouette. As more of the light comes from below or the sides, the color appears.
Since we fish in varied conditions, bright sun overhead, cloudy, low sun, under trees or other dark shadows, I think that the fish can sometimes see the dry fly body colors, so I like to carry a variety.
I wish that it didn’t matter, so I wouldn’t have to worry about size, pattern and color, but sometimes it does.
BTW - I had much more luck early yesterday evening on a #10 orange stimulator and a #12 bright yellow trude, than I did with flies that more closely matched the size or color of the caddis and mayflies that were hatching. However, as the sun set, a switch to a small, brown Quigly Cripple was the hotter ticket.
Doesn’t really prove anything except - sometimes the fish want something and sometimes they want something else.