Thoughtful Fly Poll

[Phil Lilley]

A good friend from St Louis asked me this question the other day and I thought it was a good one. Think about it before answering.

[mizzouflyfisher]

Phil-

Can we add a 4th element? I would vote for presentation as the most important element of any fly. I know presentation is not an intrinsic quality of the fly, but I think you can catch fish on almost anything if you fish it the "right" way, whatever that might be given the numerous circumstances/considerations that go into fishing a given fly at given time on a given stretch of water. I know this is overly wordy, but you get the point. If not presentation, I'll have to think about what is the most important.

Mizzouflyfisher

[Phil Lilley]

I didn't do presentation just for that reason- it would get most if not all the votes.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I throw color right out the window.. as I am color blind to a pretty good degree. Red is Green is Brown. Blue and Purple are identical. I see shades of these colors but I could never tell you what they are. So for me, color is out.. and for the record.. I have caught trout on blue midges.

Shape ranks up there pretty high.. as it is about equal to size.

Size is the key to running a correct setup. I usually start from the size 20 range and work backward. Midge dropper in size 20 on 6x, scud or sowbug in size 14 on 4x or 5x and the indicator placed where ever I need to succesfully get a good drag free snag free drift.

So for me, I would have included Conditions as a 4th element. If it is sunny one day and foul the next.. I will change up my rig altogether.

screaming reels - Briam

[Rolan Duffield]

I vote for size. Size is the first thing that I would change, depending on the type of water I'm fishing. Color is second.

[Danoinark]

I agree Brian Shape is important too....

You mean you start with your largest and go to the smallest? You never fish a size 18 midge?

Maybe that is why my midgin is terrible....Dano

[McManus]

Thoughtfully, I'd say: shape, size and color--in that order.

[jOrOb]

I definitely say shape. I have a working theory that silouhette is the key to an effective fly, and that most of the things we add are useless as far as the trout are concerned.

Size would definitely be second, but only because it is misused. Has anyone every had great success with a really big fly during a small hatch? I think it is called hatch busting. Size is a big factor, but if your shape is wrong, they aint gonna eat any size of it.

Color does play a factor, but it is probably more of a dark/light thing. Like Brian pointed out, conditions make the difference.

Presentation to me is a separate issue. There are too many variables to factor presentation into fly selection. I usually do it this way:

Select the fly

Select the rig

Select a presentation

Catch (hopefully) fish

Then I adjust backwards

Presentation

Rig

Fly

At least that is how my son has taught me to do it. He is the real fisherman, I am just the chaeuffer.

[Don]

I agree with Mizzou. Presentation should be of equal factor. Shape is first because it defines what the feed is. Color and presentation are next, depending on combinations of many factors of course. Next is size.

[Gavin]

On a subsurface fly, I'd go with color and size... because they have to see it before they can eat it. On a surface fly size and shape are more important than color because a surface fly is viewed with the sky as its background, and I think the fish key on the siloette, not the color. Cheers.