I have just been tying my Grayling season supply of Klinkhamer Specials over the weekend - 150 flies in sizes from 10 down to 20, a selection of each size.
You know how it is, you get into the swing of it, become robotic (hope you don't stuff any up though) and dream away on fishing topics. Jolt your memory?
Now I know that sometimes in hatches or when fish are feeding, it is better to give them something different. That is a bigger or smaller size in the same pattern.
I can recall the enormous dun hatches we get on some of the tarns and lakes in Tasmania. At times there would not be a square foot of the entire water without a fly on it (yep true so start salivating you people). The fish would focus in on each 4999th fly so you either had to count and get the fly out there or try something different. These flies were about a size 12. Well, I would tie on a size 10 and cast out in front of the fish. I hardly got a refusal, especially if it was black.
Again in Tasmania, we get huge gum tree beetle falls onto the water when the temperature gets above 20 decrees Celsius. Same thing, in fact I think the fish get intoxicated by the eucalyptus oils in the beetle. These are about a 14 so on goes a 10 black beetle. Result the same.
So it goes that big fish need big meals (either large food particles or large quantities).
What do you think? What has been some of your experiences? Do you carry a range of sizes in the same pattern?

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"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

...depends....

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an interesting mix of apathy and panic

Clive M

hi phil ,yes i try to carry a very good range of sizes,but in the same context as you write i often try a smaller pattern which seems to work equally aswell for me at times when they are gorging on a certain size, as they say a change is as good as a rest,any way my klinks (parachutes to you) are not as big as yours

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Ahah,
Now Bruce, why is it that we always want to go smaller on streams? I understand the 'match the hatch' approach and really support it BUT when you consider that Hans Van Klinken, came out here with size 8 KS's and out fished the likes of Oliver Edward's 8:1 then why smaller sizes.
I read with interest some comments regarding the hooking ability of Partridge Klinkhamer hooks and also some of the scoff at fishing dry flies downstream. BUT that is exactly why the fly was designed - to hook Grayling which has a different mouth structure.
However, that is not what this thread is about. I am trying to search out what people really think about fly size when fishing - or do they just follow the magazines blindly:

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"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

Hi Phil;

I try to carry a variety of sizes for the same pattern but it's the old story of, "Depends on the situation". Massive hatch then I'll tie on slightly larger so as to get their attention. Small hatch then I'll probably try to match the size if the water is still or very clear and if the water is tinted or there is a fair amount of current I'll go for a larger size. Then you have to factor in on how educated are the fish, if you're on a very heavily fished C&R stretch of river then smaller seems to work better. However, on average I'll either try larger or match the size and will only go smaller if I'm not getting any takes.

Vt

Hey very good VT.
Exactly the right approach. I am amazed sometimes on the other spectrum of size.
Take this situation. You look for the insects and think the fish are taking a size 16 small upwing. You know that because you can see them hatching in the surface and they look about a 16. You select a very small imitation, tie it on say a 7x tippet and cast it out on the water. Ever noticed how big that fly looks compared to the insect. The hook size is right most times but t is the bulk that we add to out flies that makes them look larger.
And guess what, a fish takes them. So are we fishing the correct size or is it a large one?
See how fascinating fly fishing is. We think trout are intelligent but we have outfoxed them with a big fly.hihihihihi.
Makes you think about matching the hatch hey. That is why spider patterns are so effective, they are a closer match that a traditional dry.
Anyone up for debate on that?

__________________
"A traditional wet fly addict"

Uk representative and Instructor for Fly Fishing Masters - www.flyfishingmasters.co.uk

Distributor for Terenzio Silk and Artificial Silk Fly Lines - Pay distributor retail price.

phil , i remember you telling me that about hans and mr edwards when we went on the cover, i think i might have to try and tie a few "large" klinks up .

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Hi', Phil. Anyone who carries a restricted range is basically restricting either himself or herself. The range of sizes of our natural insects, flies and beetles, goes from about a size 8 down to less than a size 30. For practical purposes, to meet most demands of the game, I'd say a range of size 12 down to size 20 for pretty regular use, and a couple of sizes up and down in a much reduced number of patterns, to meet exceptional circumstances. Size 14 to 18 would cover a lot of naturally occurring bugs. Cheers. Terry

I like to carry a range of sizes normally 14/16/18 and just a few outside of this. I wish it was for logical reasons, however it is more a case of 'suck it and see', if something is not working then I like options either smaller, bigger or just different. I know I will never use most of the flies I take,but I will still take them because, you never know !!!

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[I]"The fish and I were both stunned and disbelieving to find ourselves connected by a line." William Humphrey in "The Armchair Angler"[/I]

Tend to carry the same size range as Regan. What I have noticed though is if a trout is feeding on a steady supply of duns, and refuses my offerings, I like to throw a big daddy over it. Works a lot of the time????

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)