25 Greatest Flies Of All Time

[Greg]

Field and stream recently put out their list of the 25 greatest flies of all time. In my opinion it's not a bad list. I was surprised that the Clouser was #1 but considering it is used in both fresh and saltwater I guess I can see it. I've never used a black ghost and was surprised by that as well. My favorite dry fly is the griffith's gnat and I was pleased to see it made the list. Here is the link if you haven't seen it:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fiveflies

Other thoughts?

Greg

[dave potts]

Field and stream recently put out their list of the 25 greatest flies of all time. In my opinion it's not a bad list. I was surprised that the Clouser was #1 but considering it is used in both fresh and saltwater I guess I can see it. I've never used a black ghost and was surprised by that as well. My favorite dry fly is the griffith's gnat and I was pleased to see it made the list. Here is the link if you haven't seen it:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fiveflies

Other thoughts?

Greg

Can't believe the Pheasant Tail Nymph didn't make the list.

Dave

[ness]

Can't believe the Pheasant Tail Nymph didn't make the list.

Dave

Before I go to the article, I'm gonna post a quick top ten. Now, I may not be able to convince you of this, but I would have had Closer Minnow and Pheasant tail nymph even if I hadn't read the two previous posts. Probably wouldn't have done Griffith's Gnat - just don't think about them, but I know it's a great fly. Here goes, and these are in no particular order:

1. Wooly bugger

2. Adams

3. Stimulator

4. GRHE

5. Elk hair caddis

6. Gray Wulff

7. Partridge soft hackle

8. Madame-X

9. Clouser

10. Pheasant tail nymph

[Yakfly]

No scud/sowbug/crustacian pattern?

No San Juan worm/annelied pattern?

No midge larva pattern?

No caddis larva pattern?

I have no problem with the 25 on the list, all fine flies I suppose. I do question all the dries, to me the EHC and Dave's hopper would suffice on top.

[zsmith62]

Field and stream recently put out their list of the 25 greatest flies of all time. In my opinion it's not a bad list. I was surprised that the Clouser was #1 but considering it is used in both fresh and saltwater I guess I can see it. I've never used a black ghost and was surprised by that as well.

I suppose the clouser made the top of the list because of it versatility as well, but as far as the black ghost goes, I have a number of reasons why it made the list:

I assume it maybe made the list due to it being an older streamer pattern that possibly influenced a lot of other patterns.

It may have also made it because it is so old and still is fairly effective.

They don't see much use around here in the tailwaters but I suspect that they see more use in some of the smaller waters where throwing a large streamer would spook more fish than it would entice.

Keep in mind that the article only mentioned this particular fly being used for trout. However, when I first started fly fishing I ended up buying several cheap fly kits to build up my fly arsenal. In the streamer kit, there was a black ghost. I never used it for trout, but I managed to hook several bluegills before losing it.

As far as the pheasant tail nymph not being put on the list I suspect it was because there were so many other generic nymph patterns that had already made the list. i.e. the Hares Ear, the Copperjohn and the Prince that going ahead and adding the pheasant tail would probably have been overkill.

[laker67]

What!!!

No fur bug, mini-jig, purina fly, or gut fly. They must not have surveyed any self-respecting park fishermen, such as myself. These flies are just like your master card, "don't leave home without them".