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The Most Versatile Fly in the World
Okay ... Most of you got the last quiz answer. (Amy and Kim were on opposite banks, one was staring into the sun's glare.) Let's try something a bit more subjective ... see if you can land on what I think is the most versatile fly pattern in the world ...
Kirk and Tim were fishing on the Colorado River by Glenwood Springs in September. They made a $20 bet on who would catch more fish, using only one fly. It was a typical early fall Colorado day ... in the 30s in the morning; up to the mid 60s by midday. It was breezy, partly cloudy, and the water was pretty clear, but not terribly low. Both anglers were using 5-weight rods, with 4X leaders, and 4X tippets. They agreed to adjust weight, use strike indicators, whatever ... but they had to stick with the same fly pattern. At day's end, as Kirk snatched the Andrew Jackson bill from Tim (having caught 20 more fish that day), he spilled the beans and showed his friend the "secret pattern." Tim couldn't believe it ... here he had been fishing a Prince nymph all day (not a bad call for all-around conditions), but Kirk was using one of the oldest tricks in the flyfishing book. What was it, and why did it work?
Deeter
Kirk,
You told that story all wrong! If you remember correctly I was fishing a 6 wt with 0x slinging streamers all over the place, and of course catching a ton more fish than you.
Apparently you recall a somewhat different story... If I was to try and guess the correct answer to your obviously skewed memory lapse I would say a BWO. Perhaps a little lighter on the tippet though. Perfect time of year, perfect temps, some clouds, clear water...
Or you could have been a low down dirty SOB and been throwing an egg all day.
Posted by: tim romano | January 23, 2008 at 10:46 AM
I'll say it was a hare's ear soft hackle.
it worked, well... just because! ha! a soft hackle wet fly is definitely, in your words, "one of the oldest tricks in the flyfishing book."
yrs-
Evan!
Posted by: Evan! | January 23, 2008 at 12:35 PM
I would guess a woolly bugger as it is one of the all time most useful baitfish immatations ever
Posted by: Alex | January 23, 2008 at 04:59 PM
I would guess a woolly bugger as it is one of the all time most useful baitfish immatations ever
Posted by: Alex | January 23, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Well wooly bugger is taken, so I'd say muddler minnow. Any variant including marabou colors and or cone/bead heads.
Posted by: Evan V | January 23, 2008 at 08:01 PM
but you didn't say woolly bugger with a propeller.
Posted by: joey | January 23, 2008 at 09:03 PM
spoon 'fly' (don't laugh, you know it works)
Posted by: joey | January 23, 2008 at 09:04 PM
crayfish imitation...Browns luv em!
Posted by: as moeggs | January 23, 2008 at 09:26 PM
wow stealing my idea lol
Posted by: Alex | January 23, 2008 at 10:11 PM
You cut a hole in Tim's net?
Posted by: | January 23, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Okay, whoever posted that last comment gets my vote of approval. That would be something Deeter would do...
Posted by: tim romano | January 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Timmy
You are so right. Once I asked Deeter to net one by him, and there was nothing but an airy net.
As for universal fly - RS2... Can be fished dry, nymphed, and emerger.
Posted by: Anthony | January 24, 2008 at 12:17 PM
All I will say for now is that Evan V is the man...
Posted by: KD | January 24, 2008 at 12:43 PM
RS2! I was close.
yrs-
Evan!
Posted by: Evan! | January 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM
hmmmmm best universal fly huh im gonna half to say some nynph maybe prince nynph
Posted by: alex zelkan | January 26, 2008 at 11:27 AM
prince nymph with a propeller
Posted by: joey | January 26, 2008 at 03:28 PM
i know! i know!! he dipped his fly in some stink?!??!
Posted by: joey | January 26, 2008 at 03:29 PM
You gave it away. The famous 20 incher, witch was created in that neck of the woods.
Posted by: Cunn | February 02, 2008 at 03:39 AM