Part of the fun about fly tying, for me, is making variants.
I will tweak a pattern to give it a slightly different look. A tweak can be major or minor, but can help attract trout
I don’t think it matters much for most waters. But, it has made a big difference for me when targeting highly pressured trout at the Swift. My theory is that trout at times will mouth a fly out of curiosity.
When making nymphs, ones that have worked for me include:
- Bright-colored threads in the winter
- Flash material, rather than wire, to rib a fly
- Peacock herl, which is iridescent, for the thorax
- Loon UV Fly Finish to coat a fly and give it a subtle glow
- Adding soft hackles to nymphs
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Variants, they can make a pattern so much more effective. I've learned this from many I have tied.
Share with us your secrets, Obi-Wan?
I do the same. Lately I have been working on these no hackle dry flies, and progressing toward getting better at the wings for this particular style of fly. The last couple of times at the vice I have tied in a sparse amount of hackle to represent legs before tying in the wings and they look pretty good. The trout will be the judge though.
That's a great idea.
Also, on a separate note, I don't fish with "full" hackled dry flies, as they sit on top of the water, and I've read that trout prefer dries that sit in the film and look more susceptible (e.g., emergers, Comparaduns, etc.). But, who knows what trout will want on any single day?
I have read the same about the dry flies being most effective in the film. I keep the few hackles I tie in unusually short and sparse, cutting them down if need be. Who knows if they will do any good, but it makes for a good winter project.:)