Thread: Choose just 3 fly patterns

Looking at the contents of my fly box recently reminded me I catch 95% of trout on various sizes of just three patterns. I fish predominantly Wellington region rivers with back-country watersheds, Hutt up to the Tukituki, occasionally the Otaki side.

Pheasant Tail, size 18-14
Hare&Copper, size 14-10
Coch-y-bondhu(bonddu), size 14-10

That's it, 2 nymphs, 1 dry. The Hare & Copper gets used when the visibility of the fly needs to be improved; faster or discoloured water, otherwise the PT is the go-to pattern, often size 18 for the smart fish that won't be taken in by a larger size. If taking off the top then a Coch-y, and if it doesn't raise them, then I'll try something else, but usually no interest in the Coch-y points to something else being wrong like drag/poor presentation/tippet too heavy for the conditions.

If you were limited to just three patterns, what would they be?

Tell us what water you fish please so we can understand the logic - and the reason for your success - behind the choices please.

Graigs Nighttime for my night fishing around the lakes
Parsons for harling off my Paddle board
Silicon smelt with the paddle tail for my salt water fly fishing

Pheasant tail or hare and copper bead head nymph. Royal Woolf or Humpy dry fly. I 90% use a dry fly and nymph combo.

What sort of water Stug ?

Originally Posted by Puffin

What sort of water Stug ?

Canterbury river fishing mainly.

Stu’s Hotrod HnC with tungsten bead.
Glister nymph.
Cicada.
Both nymphs usually fished in tandem 90% of the time. Bead head adds weight and is GTG on my rod 24/7.
Cicada. That’s a no brainier. Mohaka madness.
Done my dash lake fishing but maybe once I’m older and more broken I’ll be back there with my all time favourites a Killwell #1, Black Marabou with luminous body and Red Setters.

Ginger Mick, Ginger Mick, Ginger Mick on Taupo jigging. You need nothing else just one under the other and a 2 oz round ball!!
Remember you’ll be fishing in stagnant water with Severe Algie bloom all around you!!

Nickel spinner works well for me

Great thread. I grew up fishing the Tongariro and only know a handful of flies by name - Pheasant Tail, Hare and Copper and Glo-Bug. I have done a little bit in the Kouraru (sp?) dam with a Wooly Bugga but that's about it.

I am really keen to do a lot more in the Ruahines this season - I assume I should do ok on PT and H&C? How light should I be going on the tippet for water like the Makaroro or Ngaruroro?
If anyone is keen to do a weekend hunting/fishing trip I am super keen to do a bit of that this season and I'd love to pick your brains and/or tag along.