Wee changes.

maharg · #1 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 04:25 PM

I have really noticed over the last few posts of flies, that a wee change can make all the differance.
I love to tie the flies as the originator intended them to be, but a wee twist here and there can make all the differance.
Scratch and Ruthvenflyfisher, to name but 2, seems to be a masters at this and more power to them.
I dont suppose that the fish really care but the flies look so good who cares. Suppose it builds confidence with the angler and so no bad thing.
What's your thoughts on this?

Scratch · #2 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 07:01 PM

Hi Graham, I don't know about 'master', but one tries! One of the plus points of my sad little existance is having plenty of tying time to fool around with such 'wee changes'. Remember though... for every aesthetically pleasing, or productive tweak you see on here... there's a dozen that get consigned to the recycle bin!

It's easy to get carried away with tweaks and variations on a theme, and I'm as guilty as the next man for churning out countless, pointless variants. What I try to do these days though is to only make changes for a reason. If you truly believe in your reasoning and your changes are based on some kind of logic, then you'll truly believe in your pattern.... and catch lots of fish!

maharg · #3 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 07:16 PM

Fair comment Rob, so a case of less is more?

Do you think the wife will wear that

g bigtrout · #4 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 08:16 PM

Hi Graham,

Been doing a few tweaks on patterns for a while now, different tail, colour of hackle,tinsel, dubbing,wings and so on, but always aim to stay in basic shape and size of patterns. Pops always accuses me of keeping a secret box

...and he is right

I seem to enjoy watching resident bows swim up and down ignoring the usual patterns and thats when i reach for the secret box with the little tweaks and hook one, thats when pops says... yeah secret fly....

. Quite fun though to watch a fish ignore a fly then take another with only the tail or hackle changed.

maharg · #5 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 08:24 PM

So we can put you firmly in the camp that a wee change makes all the difference.

Still unsure as to this concept!!!
One guy I know wouldnt fish a salmon fly he liked because it only had 4 strands of crystal flash in the tail. He was adamant it had to have 6!!!!!!!!
The jury is still out for me but I will be experimenting with this over the coming season.
Will try two similair flies on the same cast and rotate their positions once a fish is caught and see whats what.
As I said the variants probably do more to lift your confidence,but not to sure if the fish care.

g bigtrout · #6 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maharg

So we can put you firmly in the camp that a wee change makes all the difference.

Still unsure as to this concept!!!
One guy I know wouldnt fish a salmon fly he liked because it only had 4 strands of crystal flash in the tail. He was adamant it had to have 6!!!!!!!!
The jury is still out for me but I will be experimenting with this over the coming season.
Will try two similair flies on the same cast and rotate their positions once a fish is caught and see whats what.
As I said the variants probably do more to lift your confidence,but not to sure if the fish care.

Now you mention salmon....A well known fly the Bann Special.......is very deadly tied back to front, same materials but works better other way round IMO....Caught my first salmon on the fly with it back to front and it was deadly for others.