How Many Flies

[macfly55]

Here is the scenario.. your getting ready to go spend some time on a local river.. maybe lake.. you have already determined which flies and what size(s) you will be taking with you..

now.. in general.. based on your own experience.. how many of each fly and and size fly would you normally take with you.. ??

For example. you know you be using black bh wb in a size 8, 10, and 12.. how many of each size in this type of fly would you take with you??

MacFly [cool]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]This probably not the answer that you were looking for but I am always prepared for any occasion. I just bring all my flies with me. This bag hold several hundred flies, leaders & tippets of various sizes. I also have another bag which contains all my reels & spools. Since I travel alone, room is not a question. No problem in carrying a 2,3,4 & 6 rod in their travel cases. Now if TN2 & FGD were to tag along & bring all their goodies well instead of using my crossover an 18 wheeler would be the way to travel.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[flygoddess]

If I know what flies work, I usually take or try to take 6, but tht is to cover whom ever I am fishing with.
On stillwater I generally don't loose flies but it has happened one or two times and it is always the fly I have ONE.
River a little different story, it is easier to loose flies on rivers with brush/trees or fighting the fish in the current and a light tippet.
I can say, On my Pontoon or Navi. I do pack all flies, but rivers I take one small box with nymphs, one with dries, one with chironomids or pupas and one with woolly's or sculpins.
Up on the creek, one box, filled with WD40's (always size 22) a few Royal Wulffs and a few BWO's generally in 18's and 20's.

WINTER TIME Everything in 26 and smaller.
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[macfly55]

if you know a fly works.. as you said at the beginning of your post.. and you are not fishing with someone.. how many of each would you normally take..

I am thinking at least 2 of each size and color chosen.. this is not only for my information.. but is mainly to set up MacLarry with a good assortment of flies to take with him (and maybe his wife) in one.. at most two fly boxes if possible..

MacFly [cool]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]As usual I read more into your post than not. Once I reach my destination I will carry 3 or 4 fly boxes in my vest which includes an assortment of drys, nymphs, midges and maybe some streamers if I am tubing. Most of the flies that I tie, range in size from 10s to 20s with 14-18 the predominance. Like with a Griffith Gnat I tie them only in 18s & 20s. Colors will vary slightly from fly to fly. I will have at least 6 of each size available. I tie Royal Wulffs in sizes 10-14. Might have 4 of each in my box. Since I just started tying WD-40s & Humphies[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]will have a few of these flies as well. Heck everybody likes going to a smorgasbord, so why not prepare one for the fishies.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[flygoddess]

Sure, two is a good choice. I pretty much stick with one size, possibly two of any particular fly.
To make it worse, when we go on a trip of two or more days, I take my tying stuff with me. I have it condenced down to a travel size for shows, so not a problem.

I always fear having ONE fly that is killer then loose it.[laugh]

Or another example, I was fishing a Yellow and Brown Chironomid and the fish loved it, but one wanted to keep it. Well you guessed it, it was my last one after rigging everyone else up. I happen to have a Yellow Copper John, so tried it, it worked or I would have been on shore tying.
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[macfly55]

I am not trying to beat a dead horse here but want to make sure I have the right idea.. so I will give an example of what I am thinking..

I will be getting some wb's for MacLarry.. I am thinking this way..

olive crystal wb in sizes 8, 10, and 12.. I will buy two of each for a total of six..

black wb's.. same sizes.. again for a total of six..

there are like 5 other flies I am looking at for him.. two to three sizes each.. a couple with two colors in the various sizes..

does this sound reasonable as a good set of flies to start with??

I am looking at probably a total of 40 - 50 flies, maybe to 60..

MacFly
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[flygoddess]

That would be complete, but I do feel you could skip a size. Maybe an 8 and a 12. Then you can get more different patterns.
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[macfly55]

are you reading my mind again sis.. I was thinking that last nite after I posted my last reply.. 10 - 12 by size and I can get a better variety for him.. now that sounds like a plan..

MacFly [cool]
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[macfly55]

here is the list Ihave so far.. and this is based from a middle tn board I checked before I left for vacation..

Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle (size 12 and 18)
Copper John (size 12 and 16 or 18)
Griffith's Gnat (size 12 and 18)
Olive Crystal Bugger (size 8 and 12)
Parachute Adams (size 12 and 16)
Black Ant (size 12 and 16)
Red Ant (size 12 and 16)
wd-40 (not sure on size)
Royal Wulff (not sure on size)

any suggestions on the missing sizes and what streamers etc would be good??

MacFly [cool]
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[tubeN2]

I would go with a 1/2 dozen of each.

It would come in handy to have extras and I could loan 1 out to whomever is down on their luck and didn't bring an appropriate pattern with them.[cool]
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[macfly55]

on some I willmay do more than two.. but this is a starter set for MacLarry.. gots to get him a few tools as well.. like a dehooking tool in case I "catch" him again.. [angelic]

MacFly [cool]
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[flygoddess]

I am going to say #22 or at least a #20 in the WD's, but Zebra's are great also in the same size.
Wulff, I like #18.
Funny thing, when I am tying a new pattern, I always tie 4 of ones I am sure will work, and two of ones that I am not sure.
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[Dryrod]

[center][font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]BTW what is MacLarry's target species?[/size][/#008000][/font]
[center][font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]The flies that you select would make a difference.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[macfly55]

so like 18 and 20 in the wd40, 18 in the wulff.. I might go a size larger on the last one.. but then again.. he is younger than me and his eyesight is much better ... :-)

MacFly
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[macfly55]

for the most part it would be sunfish (crappie, bluegill, etc).. then bass, trout, rock fish ..

on the Duck River.. where I think he would go a lot are the sunfish.. but were also hooking into small bass and trout..

MacFly
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[Dryrod]

[center][font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Well how about a few poppers?[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[macfly55]

already have a few of those.. I was looking at a fly site.. maybe a couple of clousers.. and a couple of crayfish (saw lots of those in the water).. or I may just say heck with it and get him one of those all in one fly combos with box.. []

MacFly [cool]
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[Dryrod]

[font "Garamond"][#008000][size 4]Ah Clouser Minnows - now I like tying them I guess because they are easy to tie. Chartreuse & white with a bit of flash and dumbbell eyes. Why don't you tie up several yourself for ML.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[macfly55]

Ive never tied those.. and Im not sure I have the material to do so.. and et cetera et cetera.. (could not come up with any other exscuses off the top of my head).. [sly]

MacFly [cool]
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