A well presented fly in the right place first time will take most fish I fish to. The pattern is not that important. Fly size and depth is the most important factor other than presentation.
My flies are very basic, where possible they are 360 degree flies that always swim correctly. They are tied with a lot of material for durability, and are straight forward to tie.
Hooks
I only use 3X heavy, even for dries as the lighter gauge bend. This does not seem to affect my take rate. Any heavy gauge will do.
Kamasan B110 12, 14
Kamasan B175 10, 14, 16, 18
Kamasan B200 10
Colours
I am badly colour blind so can’t really see colour that well. As a consequence I am not pedantic about colour and it does not seem to matter.
Nymphs
Hare and Copper 14 Copper Bead, 16 weighted, 16 unweighted, 16 tungsten
Hook Kamasan B175
Tail: Pheasant
Body: Hare guard hair from the back, spiky rough stuff
Rib: Copper
Tie it rough so it has more action.
14 has no lead but a copper bead, copper works better on browns according to a mate who is a good fisherman, i dont know the difference but go with copper anyway.
16 weighted has four wraps of 0.20 lead
16TB has a 2mm black tungsten bead
Green Caddis 12 Tungsten bead, 14 TB, 16 TB 16
This is a very simple fly that is used as a bomb for a two fly rig. It is easy to tie, sinks fast and catches plenty of fish.
Hook Kamasan B110 (14), B175 (16)
Body: Caddis Yarn, Danville #61 is what I use but I don’t think it matters much
Rib: Copper wire
TB: 3.5mm
Leech Yarn Caddis 14 tungsten
I tie this fly with left over leech yarn, and it catches a heap of fish as they really like the green colour. This is a bomb for slower or shallower water. The leech yarn traps air and has more surface area than the one made out of caddis yarn so this fly does not sink as fast.
Hook Kamasan B175
Body Olive Mohair Leech Yarn
Bead 3.5mm Tungsten
Tie it rough
Epoxy Fly 16
Hook Kamasan B175
Body Black tying thread or 2mm tungsten bead
Glue UV epoxy
Small amount of tying thread on the middle of the hook shank. Epoxy on top. This is a little fly that sort of represents a snail and little black aquatic insects.
Olive Mohair Leech 10LS, 10, 10LSTB
Hook Kamasan B200
Tail: Thick Olive Marabou
Body: Olive Mohair Leech Yarn
Lead: one layer of 0.20 lead
TB: 3mm Tungsten
Pheasant Tail 16
Hook Kamasan B175
Thread Black
Tail & Body Pheasant Tail
Rib Copper Wire
I tie this fly with a lot of pheasant tail fibres because i want it to be durable and not catch one fish and lose all its tail. I flatten the barbs because this fly is easily destroyed if forceps are used to remove the fly from the fishes mouth. Other size 16s I do not flatten the barb.
Worm 10, 14
Hook Kamasan B175
Body Cabelas Earth Worm Chenille in Medium and Regular
TB 3.5mm, 2mm, 2.5m
Tied in a variety of lengths but most are the width of the cardboard chenille holder or half that for simplicities sake.
Koura 10LS
Hook Kamasan B200
Claws Brown Strung Marabou
Body Craft Fur Dubbing Brush
Bead 3.5mm Tungsten
Dries
Deer Hair Caddis 14
Hook Kamasan B175
Body Dubbed Hares Fur
Hackle Grizzly Hackle
Rib Copper Wire
Wing Deer Hair
Standard Elk Hair Caddis using red deer hair as it is free
Colour doesn’t matter much
Improved Kruse Mayfly 14, 16
Hook Kamasan B175
Tail: Deer Hair
Body: Caddis Yarn
Hackle: Grizzly very heavily.
This is a great pattern, easy to tie and always floats the right way. It is named after my good mate Mike Kruse who gave my brother some mayflies. When Jack ran out of them he asked for some Mike Kruse Mayflies, but I was skeptical about whether the wings worked or not.
This turned into the Improved Kruse, a very simple mayfly pattern with heavily dressed hackle that represents the wing. It is a similar pattern to the early wingless mayfly patterns.
I don’t think the colour matters too much, it is impressionistic and looks like a small mayfly.
Parachute Improved Kruse 12, 14
Hook Kamasan B175
Tail Deer hair
Body Green floss
Pylon White McFlyon
Hackle Grizzly
Royal Trude 10, 14
Hook Kamasan B175
Tail Deer Hair
Body Red Floss & Peacock Herl
Wing White Calf Tail
Hackle Brown
Standard Pattern. Tie it thick so it lasts, with lots of everything. I use a Trude rather than Wulff as it is a lot easier and quicker to tie, and doesn’t seem to affect the number of takes.
Coch-y-bondhu 14, 16
Hook Kamasan B175
Tag Silver Tinsel
Body Peacock Herl
Hackle Brown
Standard pattern, unweighted, used as a wet and a dry with sinkant.
Love’s Lure 14, 16
Hook Kamasan B175
Body Peacock Herl
Wing Peacock Sword
Madam X 10, 10LS
Hook Kamasan B200
Tail Deer Hair
Body Green caddis floss
Head & Wing Deer Hair
Legs Rubber Legs