I think that is a good list. I carry most of them I am trying to downsize/lighten my gear. I remember being a Boy Scout, 12 years old All I carried was a little pouch on my belt with one box of a dozen flies, spool of tippit, and a swiss army knife.
That seems like a good solid list! I'd have a hard time leaving out a Pheasant Tail Soft hackle though. A great fly to swing, drift or just hang. I sure agree you can't go too far wrong anywhere with a dark Woolly Bugger. I used to help teach a lot of fly fishing classes, I did the entomology and fly pattern part. We would break down the four primary orders of aquatic insects plus terrestrials, then the main types of flies we use, etc etc. We'd always joke towards the end that, after all that, most of you will catch your first fish on a bugger! But we'd explain that the "bug talk" will help the next time you are confronted the amazing variety of flies in the fly shop. Just like you said.
I didn't learn a thing about flies. I was too busy dancing to the awesome disco music. But I'd use a San Juan Work. After spending multi thousands of dollars on Orvis and Orvis endorsed equipment, you tie on a hook with a small piece of brown chenille or yarn to imitate a worm. You can even use a bobber (strike indicator) to let you know when a fish ate the worm. $5 per worm.
If you’re going to fish lakes in BC do go without some black and some olive woolly buggers and a few Carey Specials and Doc Spratley’s in #8 or 10. Just saying.
Thank goodness I started fly fishing in the UK over 64 years ago. If I trusted to these recommendations I'd become very quickly frustrated and I simply don't believe these would "work anywhere in the world." You need to know some more basics... River or lake? Stocked or wild fish? Season? Weather and water conditions? Matching the hatch? Style of fishing? Trust to the knowledge and experience of local anglers familiar with the water. That's the whole purpose of a ghillie for, alas, there is no '12 flies catch all solution' to the problem of knowing what and how to fish for trout around the whole world. They're not bloody mackerel! What I'd call absolute basic essential flies, e.g., Black buzzer, Shipman's Buzzer, Black gnat (dry), Griffith's Gnat (Dry), Hopper, Olive Duns (various) would all catch rising wild trout in UK rivers and lakes, in summer, depending on the hatch. White Zonker, Rubber Legs Nymph, Chubby Chernobyl, Woolly Bugger, would not. Fact. But you're always very welcome to come and try. I'd definitely cheer you on and, with a good heart, buy you a pint for effort!
That's a good selection of flies. Thank you for sharing the info.
Save yourself a $$&%@ load of money and learn to tie all of them! And you will become an amateur entomologist which is an amazing hobby!
Excellent list, Tom! Thanks.
Excellent 👏 🎣 information Tom . As that reminds me to , check out what I need to replenish. In the fly fishing boxes 😊.
I think that is a good list.
I carry most of them
I am trying to downsize/lighten my gear.
I remember being a Boy Scout, 12 years old
All I carried was a little pouch on my belt with one box of a dozen flies, spool of tippit, and a swiss army knife.
No one talks about the Wooly Worm. It's been my go to for brook trout and rainbow trout in eastern Canada.
That seems like a good solid list! I'd have a hard time leaving out a Pheasant Tail Soft hackle though. A great fly to swing, drift or just hang.
I sure agree you can't go too far wrong anywhere with a dark Woolly Bugger. I used to help teach a lot of fly fishing classes, I did the entomology and fly pattern part. We would break down the four primary orders of aquatic insects plus terrestrials, then the main types of flies we use, etc etc. We'd always joke towards the end that, after all that, most of you will catch your first fish on a bugger! But we'd explain that the "bug talk" will help the next time you are confronted the amazing variety of flies in the fly shop. Just like you said.
Forgot the san juan worm works everywhere
They work in New Mexico, Tom ....thank you
They work in Montana, too.😅
Thanks Tom!
Green Wooly Bugger and pink topped Parachute Adams is great in NV and Utah
Your own snowshoe emerger for 12's down to 20's cracking fly is my favourite and harrops cdc biot dun a close second.
They work in Denmark - tnx for sharing
I didn't learn a thing about flies.
I was too busy dancing to the awesome disco music. But I'd use a San Juan Work. After spending multi thousands of dollars on Orvis and Orvis endorsed equipment, you tie on a hook with a small piece of brown chenille or yarn to imitate a worm. You can even use a bobber (strike indicator) to let you know when a fish ate the worm. $5 per worm.
Very nice
No F fly or klinkhamer? But a good starter for ten !
👍
What no Coleman Marchbrown?
If you’re going to fish lakes in BC do go without some black and some olive woolly buggers and a few Carey Specials and Doc Spratley’s in #8 or 10. Just saying.
8 flies: Egg, Mop, San Juan, Pat's Rubber Leg, Wooly Bugger, Walts Worm, scud. You will catch 80% of fish with these patterns.
👍🐈⬛🐾👏👏👏
Thank goodness I started fly fishing in the UK over 64 years ago. If I trusted to these recommendations I'd become very quickly frustrated and I simply don't believe these would "work anywhere in the world." You need to know some more basics... River or lake? Stocked or wild fish? Season? Weather and water conditions? Matching the hatch? Style of fishing? Trust to the knowledge and experience of local anglers familiar with the water. That's the whole purpose of a ghillie for, alas, there is no '12 flies catch all solution' to the problem of knowing what and how to fish for trout around the whole world. They're not bloody mackerel! What I'd call absolute basic essential flies, e.g., Black buzzer, Shipman's Buzzer, Black gnat (dry), Griffith's Gnat (Dry), Hopper, Olive Duns (various) would all catch rising wild trout in UK rivers and lakes, in summer, depending on the hatch. White Zonker, Rubber Legs Nymph, Chubby Chernobyl, Woolly Bugger, would not. Fact. But you're always very welcome to come and try. I'd definitely cheer you on and, with a good heart, buy you a pint for effort!