Show us your cash cows and your white elephants

[Cap'n Fishy]

We had a clarion call at the weekend from Wingman for more fly photos, so...

It occurs to me that we all have in our boxes flies that take little effort to tie but catch loads of fish, and we all have flies that took a massive effort to tie and have never caught a fish (possibly for anyone ).

So, let's see your best and your worst. You don't even need to tie any flies. Dig out your boxes, and have a hunt for that fly that is a waste of (far too much) material.

At the same time, have a think about which of your flies that out of all your bread and butter patterns is the one that you can tie up a dozen in 10 minutes and will each guarantee to put fish on the bank for you.

To kick off, here's my own contribution.

I'm not knocking the pattern, I guess there are people who catch fish with it, or else it wouldn't get a write up in magazines... but...

Back in 2000, when we were heading over to Ireland, we were given a list of about 100 essential patterns to tie up. Two of these were the 'Raymond' and the 'Raymond Variant'. Variant? They don't even look alike! I had a go at doing them, but what a faff. I could barely get the whole thing on a size 10. Who decided all those ingredients were necessary to make it catch a fish, FFS?






I can't remember which is the Raymond and which is the variant. It must have taken me an hour each at least by the time I dug out everything required. I can't remember if either of them even got wet. They certainly never caught a fish and have spent the last 10 years languishing in the darkest recesses of my fly box, only occasionally catching my eye to remind me of those 2 hours of my life I will never get back.

Meanwhile, I present, the Shipman's buzzer. If ever there was a fly that was absolute simplicity to tie, simplicity to fish, and every season accounts for huge numbers of fish, this is it.



So, let's see your flies that rate tops in terms of bangs for bucks, and those you consider to be a waste of time, effort and materials.

Col

[North Country Angler]

Nice idea for a thread Colin!

Paralleling what you posted above in terms of reward v tying complexity, I have to offer these two:

1. Max effort. Can't say the returns are poor - they do catch fish alright. But in terms of the ridiculous time it takes me to tie them, and the fact that they don't catch any more efficiently than a good ole hare's ear, I give you my variant OE clinger nymph:



2. Min effort. I've had some funny comments about this suspender buzzer. I admit, it doesn't look too impressive what with its foam tag and all (and ignore the shuck on this one, I usually tie 'em without). It takes less than a minute to knock together. I've had evenings of 20 plus fish with this on a local fishery when other anglers have struggled to catch - it's my nailed on guaranteed midge feeding rainbow basher and I dont care what you lot think - I love it!

[roll cast]

Annoying useless flies - uside down flies except the spent spinner one


Good quick flies - buzzers - 60 secs on this one if I'm in the mood, good for sz 8 - 20

[Scratch]

Couldn't agree more on the Shipman's, Col. It was rarely off my leader (3 at a time) for several seasons, until I drifted over to the dark side, and sinking lines. A true 'classic'. I honestly can't think of a more devastating pattern.

I'll get back to you on the 'white elephants'

[Cap'n Fishy]

Originally Posted by North Country Angler

Suspender

Nice Matt - what's the body on the sussy?

Col

[North Country Angler]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Fishy

Nice Matt - what's the body on the sussy?

Col

Ah, the one in question is that nasty rootbeer gliss 'n glow stuff, but to be honest, a black thread body with white spanflex rib works a treat and is probably a tad more durable....

M

[emerger1981]

agree with you on the raymond cap'n.. cant stand it horrible looking fly
but number 2 im loving that one mate nice!
a shipmans do take some beating

[Shamus]

For me, one big 'white elephant' that comes to mind is the Rev Green and all the other Okey Dokey thingies. I appreciate the simplistic colour schemes, which are deadly on other patterns but the Okey Dokey just doesn't work for me.

Haven't got a pic, so this will do;

(_ * * *

.

[weight_forward]

White elephant, a waste of good jungle cock. I have no idea why, because all the components are fine, it even looks OK but never had as much as a sniff on one.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by weight_forward

White elephant, a waste of good jungle cock....

Damn fine shot though.