My Minimalist Excursion

[Walshmiko]

Adam, I also Believe technique is key, but I think it goes deeper then a drag free drift. I think the technique meshes with the fly tying aspect.. Don't get me wrong Im big on the search patterns, I just believe there's a time and place for everything I have learned. I would also like to beleive that the small things do matter, and that detailed angler has the edge.. I don't know, Im gonna tie up some generic dry Patterns for next season and give it a go.. Sucks that Ill have to wait till next year to do some on stream testing..

[mike734]

I agree with both of you gents. Don't get me wrong I don't NOT match hatches. Especially with my olives I have cripples, emergers, comparaduns from 14-28 missing a size or two. And I have general color flies that I match to the expected hatch. For instance if Green drakes are hatching I'm no dummy, I carry a #10 2xl Green drake no sense making a general imitation for an insect that has no twin. Just like the brown drake, I guess you could use it for a big Iso but there really no other insect similar to it so there's no sense in generally imitating that.

I guess what I'm saying is I'll generally match a color and I believe you can match almost every mayfly with cream grey and mahogany...and then my olive selection.

Now caddisflies are another thing...

[Adam]

Happened across this article tonight while online...

A flyfishing legend and his simple philosophy....good short read.

http://www.jackgartside.com/art_fly_fishing_master.htm

[littlej81]

I love Gartside! Great article.

[Adam]

An interesting post on The Flyfishing Reporter site...run by Sperry Water...

http://flyfishingreporter.com/3-tips...fy-fly-fishing

[northcountryman]

Good article, makes alot of sense! I find myself always reaching for the same patterns as well in my box. As far as the fish close first tip, I just started breaking myself of that habit of casting as far as I could when I first started fishing; happened when I cuaght a trout right at my feet one day!!

[Adam]

Fishing at your feet is something I have been told by many folks...Aaron, Loren, my grandfather....and yet I still sometimes forget.

[Adam]

Another interesting read....

commitment to 1 fly pattern intrigues me...but I don't think I have enough guts to go that simple.

http://www.tenkarausa.com/blog/?p=1043

[littlej81]

I agree with the article and with your statement.

[Upinjewett]

It is a an interesting proposition. I have a friend who is a DF freak who only uses Comparaduns in cream, tan, and mahogany in conventional sizes, and olive in smaller sizes, who does pretty well. I can't imagine going out without my Caddis box, it's saved the day on numerous occasions.