I tie a lot of flies, and have a pretty substantial supply of flies because I am lucky enough to work for myself and have two tying stations set up so I can tie while talking to clients.
While I have a lot of flies I do not like tying flies that take more than two minutes to tie. I am deeply sceptical that the fish I am fishing to will take more often because a fly looks more realistic. I believe they take my flies because the flies look like food and are presented in the right place.
My evolutionary advantage of not being able to tell the difference between colours, matched by my minimalist approach to gear means that I do not want to carry large numbers of flies.
The other thing that is always at the back of my mind whenever I fish is that most fish I have fished to will take a #16 Hare & Copper. It doesn’t matter where in the world I have fished, what style I am fishing I catch fish on a #16 Hare & Copper. A #16 heavily dressed pheasant tail does the same job.
These different thoughts all contribute to a limited range of flies to try. They are also limited by the two weight – I will not be able to cast big flies.
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