Fly Colours and Light

[Scratch]

A few years ago, T&S published an article by Stan Headley which included a very interesting table (below) which attempted to summarise the effectiveness of common fly colours in different types of light. Stan used three categories for light - 'Bright' (Sunny), 'Good' (Overcast but bright), and 'Poor' ('Dark' day, or going dark/gloaming etc)

Colour/Light	Sunny	'Good' Light	Poor Light
Black
White
Claret
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Pink
Peach
Ol/FB/HE
Silver
Gold

Ol/FB/HE = Olive, Fiery Brown, Hare's Ear

= Variable/occasionally good

Pretty self explanatory, and a very intersting and useful guide/rule of thumb. I check back and refer to Stan's table every now and again, but not being as geeky/studious as Stan, I'm not sure I have a whole lot to add; I'd go along with most of Stan's observations, and as for the rest, well.... just not enough fishing days in the year for me to take notes and add anything of worth... which is why I'm asking you lot! Any thoughts on Stan's Table?

And what of the colours and shades that weren't mentioned, like 'Coral', 'Sunburst', 'WOI', 'Magenta', Pearl/'Mirage' etc? Or any others you can think of? Tell us your thoughts, and I'll pop them in the table below in the next post.

Of course, it's all just the tip of the iceberg, with many others factors coming into the equation, like background (lake,loch bottom), water clarity/colour, angle of sun..... angle of dangle! And so on. Interesting stuff though.

[Scratch]

Colour/Light	Sunny	'Good' Light	Poor Light
Magenta
Coral
W.O.I.
Sunburst
Pearl
Chartreuse

Likely these shades fit in to Stan's table in an obvious way.... for Magenta read Pink etc. Maybe not though?

[dabhoy]

Certainly for myself i would have to say that the likes of pearl is good in any condition and sunburst is best in the good light condition just my observations.
I will be interested in what others think.

[stuartpengs]

Never found blue good in any light. Except when it's pitch black for sea trouts.

[sightbob]

Dont know if I agree with Mr Headleys chart.Personnally would change
the gold and silver.
John

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by sightbob

Dont know if I agree with Mr Headleys chart.Personnally would change
the gold and silver.

To what?

[shortea]

i think the shade of the colours would make a difference eg a lime green or chatreause can be very good in poor light as opposed to a dark green or olive

all the best Nick

[sightbob]

Sorry Scratch Id Swap them round.

[menteith]

I completely agree with Stan chart on the gold and silver issue but i think it more about wild trout, broonies to you and me. I have fished on Loch leven for more years than i care to remember and i have found than gold in a pattern has never been a good in poor light conditions. Silver has always been really consistant in most weather conditions. Last season when most angler were pulling fish out left right and centre on buzzer patterns, myself included. I began to try different body ribs and cheeks to try to come up with a good reason as to why this gold and silver thing worked especially when i knew that the fish were in thegame so to speek. On the weeks leading to my national semi final on the loch i began to have succcess on a paterns but tyed with 2 different ribs ,1 with a gold prismatic rib the other with plain old silver. The silver rib pattern worked on most light level but the gold always stood out when i had good light and very sunny periods ( not good weather for the fish in loch leven) but i was catching and catching well. When the day of the national came i was well prepared for any weather changes no matter what. and hey the records speek for themselves. I wiil always follow thiese findings but only for wild fish, rainbows there a differrent monster altogether.


Graeme.

[doobrysnatcher]

Originally Posted by stuartpengs

Never found blue good in any light. Except when it's pitch black for sea trouts.

from what i read and" im only a novice" blue is an excellent colour in peaty or stained water, it takes on a shade of green i dont recall where i read it though