I fish lakes a lot and now only carry one leech pattern in olive, black, burgundy and red. I carry one mayfly nymph. One damsel in four shades. One dragonfly nymph in four shades. One dry ant pattern. One water boatman pattern. Two caddis pupae and a wet fly that I fish as a caddis pupae. A Tom Thumb in various sizes and colours and elk hair caddis in various sizes and colours.
These flies are all fairly quick to tie and use minimal materials. Everything goes to hell in a handcart when it comes to chironomids. I have one larvae in green and red but way too many pupae patterns in various colours and styles. I counted over 800 I was carrying once. They don't make me a better fisher but at least I'm prepared.
Hopefully.
The mainstay of my patterns, other than the chironomids, are representative of what I need and I fish them in a way that makes them attractive. I do not tie any that are complicated. My damsel and mayflies don't even have legs but they work because I use them when that's what the fish are on to and I fish them as they should be fished, and where they should be fished. Some people tie flies that look like they'll bite you and I admire that but my stuff works for me and that's what I think is important.
Another thing that I do is carry a dark brown and a dark olive felt pen with me. A few touches will sometimes make the day.
These flies are all fairly quick to tie and use minimal materials. Everything goes to hell in a handcart when it comes to chironomids. I have one larvae in green and red but way too many pupae patterns in various colours and styles. I counted over 800 I was carrying once. They don't make me a better fisher but at least I'm prepared.
Hopefully.
The mainstay of my patterns, other than the chironomids, are representative of what I need and I fish them in a way that makes them attractive. I do not tie any that are complicated. My damsel and mayflies don't even have legs but they work because I use them when that's what the fish are on to and I fish them as they should be fished, and where they should be fished. Some people tie flies that look like they'll bite you and I admire that but my stuff works for me and that's what I think is important.
Another thing that I do is carry a dark brown and a dark olive felt pen with me. A few touches will sometimes make the day.