Winter Fly Box

[jtram]

Im between that and a midge attractor pattern I just came up with that I dubbed "chub candy" because I wore out the chubs on during its maiden voyage.

[Al Agnew]

I don't much change my fly selection in the winter as opposed to warm weather.  Pretty much keep the same three fly boxes, a dry fly box, nymph box, and streamer box.  Some of the dries probably won't get used during the winter but they aren't taking up much room.

What flies I choose, winter or summer, has more to do with water conditions than anything else.  Of course, if there's a hatch of some kind I'll fish it, but otherwise, as has been said in the other thread about hoppers, I might use a good sized dry as an indicator fly in slow water, with a small nymph on a dropper.  Otherwise it's all streamers and nymphs, and the murkier the water the bigger the flies I use.

[fishinwrench]

#8 pine squirrel leech (olive).

#12 Mohair Leech (olive, Amber)

#12 beadhead crackleback (lt.olive)

#14 copper John (Green, Copper)

#12-14-16 RFSN 

#12 North fork special

#6 Rubberlegs

#12 Y2K (yellow/orange)

#12 BH woolly buggers (black/olive)

#18 thread midges (tobacco brown, primrose) 

#22-16 X-caddis (tan, bright green/tan)

#16 Coachman Trude

#18 foam ant

#14 foam beetle

[mic]

11 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

I don't much change my fly selection in the winter as opposed to warm weather.  Pretty much keep the same three fly boxes, a dry fly box, nymph box, and streamer box.  Some of the dries probably won't get used during the winter but they aren't taking up much room.

What flies I choose, winter or summer, has more to do with water conditions than anything else.  Of course, if there's a hatch of some kind I'll fish it, but otherwise, as has been said in the other thread about hoppers, I might use a good sized dry as an indicator fly in slow water, with a small nymph on a dropper.  Otherwise it's all streamers and nymphs, and the murkier the water the bigger the flies I use.

Yes Al... but in this fantasy you only get one fly box. LOL

[mic]

One of the reasons I posted this was because I really don't know what mine looks like.  I think my goal for 2016 is to simplify my fly selection, which is hard for me because I enjoy reading about new patterns, tying them, and trying them out.  My problem is, I think, I don't get good enough time with any one of them to get good.  So I think this will be my "new" fly box.

1. Simple midge pupa flies (dark colors for winter so grey and black)
2. A mix of zebra midges
3. A mix of disco midges
4. Griffin's knats (for Blue Springs Creek)
5. A mix of wet flies
6. A mix of scuds (for Blue Springs Creek)
7. Now a top water fly... a big and ugly (Indicator)
8. A couple of Clouser minnows (for trout parks)
9. Small selection of Woollys

[jtram]

47 minutes ago, mic said:

One of the reasons I posted this was because I really don't know what mine looks like.  I think my goal for 2016 is to simplify my fly selection, which is hard for me because I enjoy reading about new patterns, tying them, and trying them out.  My problem is, I think, I don't get good enough time with any one of them to get good.  So I think this will be my "new" fly box.

1. Simple midge pupa flies (dark colors for winter so grey and black)
2. A mix of zebra midges
3. A mix of disco midges
4. Griffin's knats (for Blue Springs Creek)
5. A mix of wet flies
6. A mix of scuds (for Blue Springs Creek)
7. Now a top water fly... a big and ugly (Indicator)
8. A couple of Clouser minnows (for trout parks)
9. Small selection of Woollys

Dont forget one big bead headed nymph (prince, pt, copper john, etc). Recently stocked fishes love em in 8-12.

[mic]

Maybe I should follow my grandpa's advice for golf... take only one club and your putter.  I know that trout eat midges.  I know that midges are a primary, if not the primary food source in the winter.  Maybe I should just take a box of midges (all three stages) and fish just it all winter. 

[DaddyO]

I, mostly, fish tailwaters.  So my year round flybox consists of Midges, Nymphs, Scuds and Soft Hackles.

[DainW]

I think these are all good patterns. Here are a couple that I would add to it:

1. Grey RS2 - size 20

2. Rainbow Warrior - size 20

3. Barr's Emerger - size 20

4. WD-40 - size 20

I like to go small in the wintertime, since most places the insects that will be hatching are small midges and baetis. Any of the above behind pink san juan worm or black pat's is usually the ticket in wintertime for me.