Flygoddess: Montana Nymph

[Browntrout]

Have you used the Montana Nymph ? If so, your opinion, and what size do you recommend ?
Thanks,
Browntrout
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[flygoddess]

I have and it is a wonderful fly! A woolly bugger of sorts but also a big ol bumble bee.
I would think 10 and 12.
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[SBW]

The first fish I ever caught while fly fishing was using a Montana. I still use them quite bit in streams with big stonefly nymphs. As previously mentioned, mine are all in sizes 10 -12.
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[Browntrout]

Thanks for the quick reply.
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[lunchbox]

A montana nymph is a pretty old school stonefly nymph (salmonfly) imitation. IMHO, there are far better patterns out there today....

Back in the day it was tough to beat
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[flygoddess]

Right you are, but going back to OLD SCHOOL once in awhile is fun.
I use allot of old school flies. Prince, PT, Haresear and they always work...oh yeah, then the copper johns. Royal Wulffs and Trudes plus the wets.

I know in Idaho at the right time, a big hook with black chenille and rubber legs is deadly for Stones
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[SBW]

I agree getting back to the "old school" at times. Right after I learned to tie the basics and starting feeling comfortable tying flies, I felt like I needed to progress in my fly tying. I tied or tried to tie everything I could find.

Here is it quite a few years later and I have come full circle. Even though I have learned a bunch over the years and I have noticed at times the latest and greatest doesn't equate to more success.

I now have multiple fly boxes with my pretty, advanced, high tech flies. They pretty much sit at home and I take with me my flies that have been and in my opinion will always be fish catchers - your old standbys.
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[Tarponjim]

I love old school flies. They've survived for a reason! Often, the simpler the pattern, the more effective it is because there is less "garbage" on the fly to look fake or drive fish to turn away. They're also easier to tie, and easier to lose without sheding a tear!

Yes, some of the newer designs are very pretty and "realistic" to the human eye. And once in a while new ideas prove very effective (LaFontaine). The older basics are hard to beat though.

It takes quite a fly to earn the simple, direct name of "Montana Nymph." That's a pretty high ranking in the trout fishing world! Sounds a lot better than "Provo Nymph" or "Nevada Nymph!" [laugh][laugh][laugh]
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[flygoddess]

And lets not forget a close second (sorry for the language but is the name) Bitch Creek
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