Next newbie question please. Fly quantities

[DavidH]

In your experience, how many of a given fly type do you carry with you for a day's wading and fishing? I know this may vary with aggressive casters and risk takers but overall, what is a good quantity of each please?

[gunrod]

This is hard to answer. You have to factor in how long you will be away (day trip vs. a week), type of fishing and area you are fishing.

Generally I like 3 to 5 of a particular fly in a few different sizes.

[fishinlk]

It depends if I'm fishing stream trout or steel. Steel I'll try to have at least 8-10 of the flies that I rely on most. For stream fishing it's usually more 4-6 of a given pattern but at least 3-4 similar patterns with the same number of flies if I'm targeting a specific hatch.

[TODDFATHER]

I find more value in having a larger assortment of fly's on hand than how many of a particular fly and/or it's progression thru a size range. With the larger assortment I've always felt that I could turn a fish or two even at the most difficult of times such as when a specific hatch is in progress. As a newcommer to fly fishing you might want to consider variety as your primary asset.

You asked a specific question and Fishnlk, and Gunrod gave you their answer as relates to them. As you can see, it's an individual thing inasmuch as they are all seasoned fly fishermen and what they do might not be in your best interests. Making no attempt to put words in anyone's mouth, I think the "old salts" would likely advise the importance of variety for you in your learning stages.


Toddfather

[DavidH]

Looking for replies like yours to help me estimate quantities. Thats what you are giving me. Much appreciated.

[SALMONATOR]

Tough question, I agree. Alot depends on the target species, and the time of year. Spring steelhead and fall salmon runs, I usually have an entire box reserved strictly for stoneflies in different patterns and sizes (probably around 50 flies +/-), another box full of ESL's and buggers, a third box for just egg flies, and another box or two with various other patterns ranging from 1 to 6 or 8 of each fly.

Trout season I almost alway's carry the box I've set aside for my Adams', Tan Adams', and Borchers Drakes. Probably atleast a half dozen of each size and pattern from size 12-18. The early part of the season (late April-early June) I carry a couple additional boxes with all the flies I may encounter (BWO's, Hendrickson's, sulpher's, March browns, varrious caddis, etc.) and try to have a half dozen in at least 1 or 2 sizes of each as well as a few nymph patterns.

Once the big bugs start hatching I can usually get by with one box. half dozen each of a couple brown drake patterns, half dozen each of a few Hex patterns, and throw in a few Isonychias and Adams for any pre-dusk fishing.

Late season I go back to the full Adams box and another 1 or 2 containing a hodge-podge mix of streamers, terestrials, nymphs, dries, this, that,1 of these, 3 or 4 of those, who knows?

I try to have at least 6 of each of the patterns in each of the sizes that I know I'm gonna fish alot by the end of winter and at least a few of the others. Makes it easier to just fill in the casualties as the season goes on rather than hurry up and tye a bunch of these and those by next weekend. Also leaves me some tine to spend a chink of my summer replentishing my salmon/steelhead boxes for fall after the damage they will suffer in the spring.

Ya' get all that? :D Sorry for posting the long version. Wish I could have just said "four" or "six" or "two", but it all depends on alot for me. ;) Good luck.

Al

[Steve]

Depends how many tree trout you want to catch too ;)

[SALMONATOR]

LOL!! That's why I like at least 6 of each of my fave's Steve. I can usually lay a bet that close to half of them will never live to see a trout's lip.;)

Al

[steelslam]

i tyied 2 flys of a pattern i liked once. fished them in the mannistee below tippy. 5 casts an 3 fish an both flys were gone, so now i tie at lest 6 of any partern even if i'm going for just one day fishing.

[Beaglernr]

Interesting question and like the others in here, sure depends on each person.
Personally I carry what I call my current box..what I think is may be hatching on the river/lake during the time I am fishing.

I have a general box...this is normally generic drys that work most of the time...ie. such as an adams

My streamer box..(my personal favorite) streams I like to use when nothing is hatching.

My nymph boxs...two of them..one for caddis..one for other stuff.

I store my flies in large compartmentalized boxes..cheap to buy and then change over my fly boxes are required.

One of my buds has a slug of cheap plastic fly boxes for each hatch, he just labels them and picks out the ones he needs.

How many flies...as many as I can stuff in. My personal theory is feed the trees and rocks so they do not attack me at night when night fishing.

[DavidH]

Great responses. I should think about 8 to 10 per pattern for my novice struggles until I learn more and until I can start tieing my own. Appreciate it!