03-21-2012, 07:29 PM
You have more than enough to get started. 90+% of my days fishing I'll use just 1 or 2 types of flies in a single size each. I try to keep my line in the water as much as possible because that is when I catch fish. In the backcountry if fished correctly probable ever single fly you're bringing should be able to produce fish.
Last June I got into the leading edge of an incredible stonefly hatch several miles from my car, road or even a trail. Literally caught 50 trout in an hour. Didn't actually have any traditional stoneflies with me. My standby size 10 prince nymph was good enough. Sure I would have preferred a stonefly nymph and dry but I had complete confidence that what I had would work well.
People really make this too hard. When I hike in for hours to fish I never have more than 50 flies with me. I probable average 20 fish per fly before it gets too beat up or occasionally lose a fly. The stonefly hatch stands out as the single time I wish I actually had some other flies with me but it was still some of the fastest fishing I've ever experienced. Back country fish are stupid. They scare far easier but fly selection is almost a nonissue within reason. The key is stealth and presentation.
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Last June I got into the leading edge of an incredible stonefly hatch several miles from my car, road or even a trail. Literally caught 50 trout in an hour. Didn't actually have any traditional stoneflies with me. My standby size 10 prince nymph was good enough. Sure I would have preferred a stonefly nymph and dry but I had complete confidence that what I had would work well.
People really make this too hard. When I hike in for hours to fish I never have more than 50 flies with me. I probable average 20 fish per fly before it gets too beat up or occasionally lose a fly. The stonefly hatch stands out as the single time I wish I actually had some other flies with me but it was still some of the fastest fishing I've ever experienced. Back country fish are stupid. They scare far easier but fly selection is almost a nonissue within reason. The key is stealth and presentation.
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