The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I'll be doing some stream fishing with my wife this summer. She's new to fly fishing. She likes to fish large dry flies because they are easy for her to see (don't we all). Let me get to the point. What's your favorite easy to see #14 or 16 dry fly for freestone streams, that floats well, and can still attracts smart fish. I like parachute Adams. I used to like humpys but they don't work for me like they used to.

I like to use a #14 Royal Stimulator...its big and bright making it easy to track on the water especially in low light. I usually sling a dropper fly from the Stimulator, often a #18 Zebra Midge or Fox's Poopah.

Yeah, I forgot to mention she doesn't like to fish two-fly setups. Have any of you tried the parasol emerger pattern?

I also like a parachute adams, and other parachute flies that are appropriate for the appropriate hatch. Visibility is definitely an issue--position, drift, float. Royal trude is another good one. Or in the summer if there are hoppers around those are always great. And you can flop them on the water with a splash and it's a good thing, not a bad thing.

In order of visability:
Stimulator
Elks Hair
E/C caddis

1st two work about the same but for me the last one is money. And with the nice elk hair post its fairly easy to see.
Para adams is a different bug, so ifn ya see mayflies throw that. Not many troots will pass it up.

Just about any dry fly can be modified to be a high vis fly. Take your favorite and add a white or chartreuse post. Or in bright light conditions, a black post. Or even a black and charteuse post to cover both low light and bright conditions.

BTW: Para Adams, EH Caddis, Little Yellow Sally (my own design)

Phil

Parasol emergers do work. I bet Charlie will jump in on this one. Ol Fishcouner caught a nice fish with one of Charlie's parasol emergers attached to it at Bidwell a couple of years back. Ol Fishcounter gets this crazy notion to copy the pattern, fish slime and all. And you know what? It worked. Try posting patterns in fluorescent colors of poly materials for visibility on any parachute pattern. Phil has it as far as chartreuse, but try a fluorescent red or orange as well- anything that will stick out there on the water for contrast. If that don't work, go to the big bugs for the visually impaired fly fisher- tarantulas, cicadas or any foam pattern and add a contrasting piece of foam on top for visibility.

I have to echo Phil's recommendations for a visible post on any dry fly...I like to mix the white and black material because the creates a contrast that makes it easier to pick out the fly on the water in most light conditions...including that *@#$%^&**& glare that always seems to follow the drift of my fly.

Paul

Thry some of the Wulff patterns.. Easy to see also like a humphy just a little different

Jet

A good old-time pattern that works well for me is an Irresistable Adams (deer hair body).

Also, if you have not tried them in the Sierra, a BLACK humpy works better (in my opinion) than any other color.


Buzz

I was thinking you might also consider a Chernobyl Ant. This pattern has great visibility and doesn't require constantly applying floatant to keep it on the surface.

no/msg