Orvis fly patterns

[DanaC]

www.orvis.com/store/shop.asp?dir_id=1236&shop_id=1447

This is Orvis' catalog of all the flies they carry - WITH material lists. Very good photos, so if you need to tie something new you know what you need and what it's supposed to look like when you're done.

Now if only they'd list tying instructions...

[JoeOverlock]

Those are some nice pics.

I tied some of these up this year
www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=68Y3&feature_id=&dir_id=1236&group_id=1240&cat_id=5838&subcat_id=7159&shop_id=

I got the pattern from the book "Emergers". Real good book!

[Mark Patenaude]

At some point, after you have tied enough flies, you should be able to look at a particular pattern and know how it is tied.

Its the materials used that will be the question. However, with that said, the trout don't care. It's usually the pattern silouhette that is most important with color running a distant 2nd.

Mark

[JoeOverlock]

So you're telling my that the trout won't mind if I use Uni-Thread instead of Danville?

[DanaC]

Mark, if you ever get a chance to meet A.K. Best, try telling him that color doesn't matter. Then let us know when your hair grows back ;D

[Mark Patenaude]

I don't think you read my post correctly. I didn't say that color doesn't matter. I said that it is 2nd in order of importance behind that of the fly's profile.

I am very familiar with A.K.'s opinions, however, one man's opinion doesn't make it so.

This subrogated level of importance of color has been proven over and over again by many during the various hatches, especially for those that occur during limited light conditions such as the "Hex" hatch which I fish every year in Wisconsin. As long as the fly is big and looks somewhat like a Hex you will catch fish- in the dark. Also, as we know big Browns are nocturnal feeders and I always throw dark colors that will present a good silouhette against what limited light there is during the night.

The subrogated importance of color is also proven by the current use of "hi-vis" materials used for wing posts and other portions of the fly. The fly is easier to see and the number of takes is only marginally reduced.

This is a good topic for discussion...

Mark

[JoeOverlock]

I agree 100% about color not being super importaint. Color does matter, but I'll never tie the same pattern with four different shaded of brown to try and dial into the bite.

Also, once you go sub-surface the water color will change you flies color to the fish. In some waters a bright pink will even show up as a brown or even light black color.

Check out "What Fish See" from Amoto Books. We have a copy of it in the club's library if anyone is interested in reading it. I highly recomend it.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/1571881409/104-6302949-2901541?v=glance&n=283155

[ctroy36]

Joe:

I'd like to read that book. Put me on the list.

[Mark Patenaude]

Joe raises a good point about color changing under water. I have a good book on Steelhead flies that goes into great detail on the colors that fish see given certain light conditions and water clarity. When I have a chance I'll type up an abbreviated version and email it to Joe to post in an upcoming news letter.

This also applies when the materials, especially dubbing gets wet. Tie an Adams with "Superfine - Adams Gray" dubbing and get it wet, it turns almost black...

Mark