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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442 |
Goodness, I know little. Just hoping for some ideas to get started. Thought about buying an assortment, but, might be better of with known performers, ehh? West central Montana. I am looking to fish smaller waters, not the mainstems at least, afoot targeting pan size trout, C&R. I'll be trying out a couple new (budget) rigs, one 8'4" #3 with WF3F and one 9' #4 with WF4F. Yet to buy leaders and tippet too. Never used a tapered leader and looking forward to it. Maybe a few that mimic terrestrials? A few nymphs? I have tiny amounts of experience with dry flies only. Any exceptionally versatile flies to absolutely have? Truly - it is appreciated.
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16 |
I tend to use smaller flies than most because fish see a lot of pressure and flies.
purple haze size 14 to 18.
Lightning bug 16 to 20
orange stimulators 14 to 16
Griffiths gnat 16 to 18
Pats stone fly 12 to 14
prince nymphs 16 to 18
size 14 elk hair or Goddard caddis. I prefer Goddard pattern
size 16 to 18 comparaduns for the finicky fish
pink San Juan worms 14 to 16
can throw in a few hopper patterns too, chernobyls
sparkle minnow pattern too
soft hackles in 16 to 18 aren't bad
can add a small dropper nymph like a lightning bug on the larger dry flies. 18 inches of dropper tippet
Buy a 9 foot 5x and 6x leaders. Cut off the last 2 feet add 2 to 3 feet of flouro tippet. 4x to 6x tippet as needed for dry flies
I cut off the last 3 feet for a nymph rig 9 foot 5 x leader, add tippet.
most use a thingamabobbers as indicators. I like small piece of Antron dressed with floatant.
what month?
Last edited by ribka; 03/21/20.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,813 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,813 Likes: 3 |
I have a lot of flies bought over the last 40 years.. But the ones I use most are prince nymph, gold ribbed hares ear, (mostly bead head), grey hackle peacock, royal coachman, elk hair caddis.. Those with a few wooly buggers are the ones I use 90 percent of the time.. If I am fishing waters I am not familiar with, I stopped in a fly shop and buy a dozen of those they recommend...
Molon Labe
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 665
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 665 |
Don’t forget the Chubby Chernobyl’s,
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442 |
Thanks guys. Sixteen doz on the way. Hopefully that's not excessive. Seems about standard. I'm going to try some of those Thingamabobbers too. Ribka, I've supposedly lived here three years, though I work, so far it seems, on the road. Got a hankering to stream fish a few places I've seen outside of the Gold Medal country. Could be April - November. My prior fly, err fishing, experience has been pretty rudimentary and I've always wanted to try some lighter fly gear... So, I am treating myself a bit. Again, many thanks for the tips and recommendations to ya'll.
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26 |
Boomer, the 3 Wgt will be fun, but a 4 Wgt 9’ rig is much more useful. Especially if it’s windy.
I think you’ll have better luck with the smaller sized flies sized 16 to 24 on a 9’ 5x leaders.
And you got some great advice from Ribka.
Just be warned..... It’s addicting! 🤠
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11 |
I nearly always begin a session with Gold Ribbed Hare's Ears. A variety of sizes from maybe 6 to 16.
1Minute
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,372 Likes: 16 |
Sierra trading post is good place to get discount flies but site is down try this too https://www.mrfc.com/collections/fly-saleGreat folks and can call get advice
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442 |
Yah, STP doesn't want their servers to get the chinky virus.
My Madison River neighbors just got an order, thanks for the head's up. I'm a sucker for $0.44 flies apparently!
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,259 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,259 Likes: 1 |
I have a lot of flies bought over the last 40 years.. But the ones I use most are prince nymph, gold ribbed hares ear, (mostly bead head), grey hackle peacock, royal coachman, elk hair caddis.. Those with a few wooly buggers are the ones I use 90 percent of the time.. If I am fishing waters I am not familiar with, I stopped in a fly shop and buy a dozen of those they recommend... Good info here. I've caught more fish on olive gold rib hares ears and elk hair caddis variations than anything else. But I am a generalist, not a purist by any means. That means I fish a ton of different ways mediocrely.
"Faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money." -Tom T Hall
Molon Labe
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,469 Likes: 26 |
Yah, STP doesn't want their servers to get the chinky virus.
My Madison River neighbors just got an order, thanks for the head's up. I'm a sucker for $0.44 flies apparently! WHERE ??? 🤠
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 32,130 Likes: 1 |
If you put Taco Bell sauce in your ramen noodles it tastes just like poverty
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,190
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,190 |
For small streams I have had Grey Hackle Yellow work when nothing else would. If you can find some they would be worth a try.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,258
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,258 |
For small streams I have had Grey Hackle Yellow work when nothing else would. If you can find some they would be worth a try. +1 Have also found 14-16 Renegades and 14-20 parachute Adams to be useful.
Ed
A person who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes the person who never asks is a fool forever.
The worst slaves are those that put the chains on themselves.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442 |
Yah, STP doesn't want their servers to get the chinky virus.
My Madison River neighbors just got an order, thanks for the head's up. I'm a sucker for $0.44 flies apparently! WHERE ??? 🤠 I'm not a fish but some of these looked pretty tasty. After a point, the $0.49s dropped to $0,44 in my cart so I just kept going to get free shipping at $50. LOL https://www.mrfc.com/collections/fly-sale
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,190
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,190 |
For small streams I have had Grey Hackle Yellow work when nothing else would. If you can find some they would be worth a try. +1 Have also found 14-16 Renegades and 14-20 parachute Adams to be useful. Adams are always worth having on hand for sure.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,358
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,358 |
Blue winged Olive's Will start soon.
Scud's and Midge's are working now.
March Browns, Skwala here in the Bitterroot.
Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 87
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 87 |
Fine folks at Madison Rivers Fishing Company (mffc) have always great sales during off season like now. They are in downtown Ennis but customer service over the phone works too.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 31,442 |
Speaking of Madison River Fishing Company, they're offering free shipping, no minimum, until April 30 to help out in troubled times while shuttered through April 10.
"I can't be canceled, because, I don't give a fuuck!" --- Kid Rock 2022
Holocaust Deniers, the ultimate perverted dipchits: Bristoe, TheRealHawkeye, stophel, Ghostinthemachine, anyone else?
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 330
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 330 |
Don't forget to have a few Kaufmann's bead head stonefly nymphs with rubber legs in your box. Brown and black.
Stopped by a nondescript roadside spring creek in WY after punching an elk tag and had a quiet sit and watch for about 10 minutes. No risers but did see a good number of stonefly shucks laying about. Turned over a few rocks and found the original hosts. Tied on said Kaufmann's under an indicator and let it slide along the rip-rap seam. Didn't go far before I had the pleasure of introducing myself to a plump 14" local. Several more followed suit on that stretch. Fond memories....
Lightning bugs as a dropper are money too. Had the pleasure of fishing the Yakima with Larry Graham a handful of times before he lost his race with cancer. He developed that fly and it served both of us well. He had a few tricks to it that are typically not in the commercially tied variety. Gave one of Larry's originals to an ArkAngler's guide after bringing dozens to hand with my own copy and he kept trying to get a good look at the dropper I'd tied on. Told him about Larry and to give credit in accord.
Let us know how you do 'Boomer.
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