What Flies, Scuds, Nymphs, Etc Do Best For You?

[BredMan]

This is a request to those who are experienced fly fishermen and would care to share some knowledge on what works best for you. Being new to this sport but old to fishing in general, I have spent and wasted way too much money on tackle that was sheer marketing hype and ended up as junk. I have tackle boxes full of lures that are real pretty but don't catch fish. I'm sure everyone has been in this this boat at one time or another. Anyway, to avoid making this same mistake with my new quest to accomplish the art of fly fishing, would anyone care to comment on what works best for you? This may be a loaded question to some but I have found that I will drag everything and anything with me for a fishing trip and use only a handful of things.

So with that said, for now the scenario would be tackle (flies, scuds, nymphs, eggs, etc) for Missouri trout parks and Taneycomo. What critters, colors, and sizes do best at a given time of the year? What do you carry? I certainly hope I haven't entered sacred ground here! If so I apologize. I just want to get things that really work and not work at things that really don't!!

[laker67]

BredMan,

Tan and light to medium shades of grey, sowbugs/scuds, work in all of missouri and arkansas waters. Always carry some egg patterns in the winter time. Scud sizes 14 and 16, and egg patterns at 14. 7 and 6x tippet sizes are the best choice. Weight each fly with a spit shot on the tippet according to water flow. On or near the bottom is always the best choice. Good fishing to you.

[Bman]

So with that said, for now the scenario would be tackle (flies, scuds, nymphs, eggs, etc) for Missouri trout parks and Taneycomo.

For Taney, SCUDS

[Snow Fly]

Bman:

I would think you would want to include some Cracklebacks with various body colors, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith, San Juan Worms seem to be back in vogue on numerous waters in Missouri & Arkansas. Take a look at this web site under Fly Patterns which show a lot of other options that are successful on the tailwaters of the White River system, Click on this........... http://taneycomotrout.com

Tight Lines

[Snow Fly]

Sorry: The above should be to BredMan not Bman

[jdmidwest]

I wish it was that simple. I can catch fish all day long using one fly, but there are times that it does not work at all...

You will need to carry a variety of flies in different sizes in order to catch fish consistantly just like fishing for any other fish.

Best bet, go spend some time with a fly fishing friend and learn from him. Local fly shops in Taney will give you good tips on what is fishing best there. Trout Parks are a different critter all together, I have seen a park trout eat a cigarette butt and pass on my best tyed fly.

Find a mentor and learn to fly fish. Take a class and read some books on how to cast. Hire a guide and pay attention. Be prepared to spend some money and buy affordable but quality equipment to start with and you will enjoy things better. Don't cheap out on waders, rods, or fly lines. Did I mention, learn from others experiences.

I hope this helps, you are about to enter a very addictive sport.

[Terry Beeson]

... I have seen a park trout eat a cigarette butt and pass on my best tyed fly...

C'mon, JD... Admit it... you went home and tied a cigarette butt fly that afternoon didn't ya....

But you have a great point there. It's NOT that simple. I've carried flies in and tied the first one on and couldn't keep 'em off it, then the next time tied every fly in my box with not a hit. There is no real set rule and one guy will tell you scuds, the next one streamers, the next one dries...

It all boils down to this... Just like the plug chunkers, fly flingers have to adapt, improvise, and overcome for the conditions. I take some scuds, some streamers, some dries, some emergers, some eggs, some... well, you get the idea. But I have a C&F fly box that holds a lot of flies and I have a few of each.

The best advice is to fish whatever you fish the right way... and then if you don't catch 'em, it's the fish's fault!!!!!

[laker67]

I have seen a park trout eat a cigarette butt and pass on my best tyed fly.

I would have never admitted that in public, jd. Did you happen to notice what brand it was?

[Danoinark]

There is a prolific year round midge hatch on Taney. I would consider zebra midges in various sizes and colors. I also have success with soft hackles in olive, orange and black.

Dano

[Thom]

Bredman:

I live in O'fallon and would be happy to meet with you sometime and share some patterns that I have found to be great on Taney. I have all of the suggestions given here in my fly boxes and will share what I have learned . I agree with Dano that the midge patterns are great on Taney and almost always work at some time during the day. The scuds, egg flys, san jauns, cracklebacks, jigs of all kinds, wolly buggers all are great there and easy to fish with a little practice.

either PM me or go to my website Thomharv.com to get contact info and give me a call. We can do a Hardees or Mcdonalds breakfast and I will give you a little Taney 101 mini course on what has worked for me.

Thom