My Minimalist Excursion

[FishyboY]

for a fly box for a minimalist i would go for the C&F Large 8-row with a page in it.... You can carry as many flies as you want in that one fly box with a page in it.

[Adam]

I have a few H2O bug boxes from the dungeon that I am going to use for now...but that C&F with the swing leaf is definitely in my sights.

[Adam]

Here are the dry flies

Ausable bomber...fantastic for brookies
Stimulator
Adams..I like the parachute style
Brown Iso
BWO...up to a 20...I don't fish anything smaller.


I like a big generic white dry to use when I fish dry dropper...

[Flyfisher]

some kind of ant pattern you can fish them dry or wet and they will almost always catch some fish.

[mike734]

I don't know if you do a lot of dry fly fishing or hatch matching. But when the time comes I would definitely carry some generic cream flies (sulphurs & cahills). I just tie generic gray parachutes, cream parachutes and mahogany parachutes which cover a great deal of mayflies and general imitations.

I like that u have Isos...a must when they're in season...the Adams can be used for a Hendrickson. Also olives are a must have on any stream anywhere.

With all these flies I usually only carry them when there are flies hatching that I can match with them. If it's April you won't catch me with creams or mahogany...there's no sulphurs, cahills, or isos around. You can imitate the Quill Gordons and Hendrickson's both with an Adams of appropriate size. See what I mean?

I would carry some caddis though. A few 14&16 sparkle pupa and elk hairs or downwings or something in a tan brown grey maybe. I like to carry some small black caddis early season but then I ditch them when they stop becoming important. Just like I carry little black stones early season then put them in the big box in my truck until next year. Your box should be the fullest around bug week when the most variety of insects are hatching.

Did that make sense? This is just my minimalist view...there's something very satisfying about making it on stream with only two fly boxes. Good luck

[Walshmiko]

C&F Is the way to go, there very light weight.. Nice looking too if you ask me

[Adam]

I don't know if you do a lot of dry fly fishing or hatch matching.

My dry fly fishing has been declining steadily. I just don;t like hanging around waiting for a hatch...if I am there while it is occurring then great....but otherwise my use of the dry fly has been small streams or as a dry dropper searching set-up.

[SperryWater]

I like this thread. My fly box "system" is also a mess - I think I will follow suit.

Not sure where it would fit in but I don't leave home without a some emerger patterns, in particular a BWO for which I like the WD40. Simple to tie and deadly.

[Walshmiko]

You Guys don't tie hatch specific Flies? Just out of curiosity why? I think In my one C&F box I have one Leaf Devoted to BWO,s, I have Criplers,REG Emergers,Duns,And Midge Tube Duns(CDC,Snow Shoe and Comparaduns too)From Size 16 Down to 22..Not to mention the collection of my Dandelion emergers..Maybe I go a little over board...But I never find my self saying I don't have the right dry pattern..Anyone use Dandelion Emergers? There great!

[Adam]

This could probably become it's own thread but the more I read, the more I talk to folks, the more I ponder...I am convinced it is more presentation than imitation regarding flies. Will there be times when I get caught, maybe...but I can't say for sure.

Attractor and searching patterns have worked for years...why not reduce one of the variables (ie 9000 fly patterns) and focus on technique and presentation. I am of the belief that often folks (myself included) are spending more time out of the water switching flies instead of targeting the right water with the right technique.

So no...I am not a hatch specific guy anymore.

Let's pick a great fisherman...choose who you wish. Do they catch more fish because of the flies they use? Nope not buying that one. They catch more fish because of technique and presentation. If you give them a pt nymph or an adams they will still catch more than most of us on any given day because of execution not fly. I firmly believe that and for that reason I want to improve my techniques and applications.