Claude is a relatively new member, but very much engaged – witness his previous contributions to Burley Line.  In the lead up to 2017 winter, he made some enquiries about files he should be tying over winter.  He sought advice from some notable fly tiers (and one not very notable at all – ie Bill). Readers might want to consider the final assembled list and contribute comments (I’m sure Peter will add ‘iron blue dun’ to the dry list).

Howdy Bill, Evan, Lyall and Nathan,

So my original intent was to find ‘5 flies of each type’ that I could tie over winter. As I’m fast learning, there is no simple answer … especially when trying to search what some of the recommended flies look like and you get multiple versions! I may have to get that Aussie Trout flies book I’ve been trying to avoid buying. I have added some links to some of the flies (not to buy, just to see what they look like). Below is a summary of the feedback I have received.

Thanks again for your advice 😊.

Dry:

• EHC – normal and CDC
• Royal Wolf (some ‘big’ to suspend nymphs)
• Black Mayfly spinner (doubles as an ant pattern)
• Midge ball?
• F Fly (a super simple dry with a CDC wing): https://www.troutflies.com.au/f-fly-black.html and http://flyandlure.org/articles/fly_tying/5_easy_to_tie_cdc_f_fly_patterns
• Stimulator: http://www.goulburnvlyflyfishing.com.au/Information/Fly%20Patterns/fly%2013%20royal%20stimulator.htm

• Some kind of muddler (marabou or minnow) for the lake. Interesting, Bill looks here for “something that floats and puts out a good wake when retrieved whereas Peter has always argued that one should retrieve slowly if at all.  I suppose it all depends on what the fish think it is at the time”

Most agreed with #14 or #16 for trout, but reminded Claude to consider some oversized dries to suspend nymphs and down to #18 for finicky eaters.

Emergers:

• Parachute Adams
• Aero Wing Emerger
• Possum Emerger
• Shaving brush
• Klinkhammer See http://www.goulburnvlyflyfishing.com.au/Information/Fly%20Patterns/fly%208%20klinkhammer.htm
• CDC emerger

Nymphs:

• PTN – all pheasant, peacock hearl, flashback, bead heads (copper, black, gold, orange, weighted, unweighted)
• Black/brown nymph – with and without Pheasant tail?
• Nathan’s trout run nymph?
• Sexy waltz worm? – an interesting fly I found on an Orvis podcast (https://loren.teamfreestone.com/tutorials/nymphs/sexy-walts-worm) will give it a try locally
• Scruffy hares ear
• Midge Pupa Chironomid: https://youtu.be/Nac9l3h_eXk
• Frenchie

Don’t forget to tie a variety using weighted/unweighted, bead head or not (copper or tungsten)

Wets:

• Biblio – https://www.troutflies.com.au/bush-bibio.html
• Woolly bugger: https://www.troutflies.com.au/flies/the-complete-wooly-bugger-collection-boxed.html
• Glo bug (using a beetle pattern?)
• Pat Kennedy suggested Hotlips
• Shrek:  https://www.troutflies.com.au/the-shrek-collection.html
• Magoo

Carp Flies: Evan provided some specific carp advice and added that “A lot of trout flies double as great patterns for Carp and Redfin, the following would be my ultimate Carp box in various weights, sizes and being creative with colours ie. nymphs don’t always need to be natural 😉”

• Spork size 6-10
• Unnamed jig Fly of mine that looks like a carrot…
• Buggers with and without hot spots, rubber legs, flash
• trout nymphs with and without hot spots, rubber legs, flash
• damsel nymph 
• parachute Adams size 10
• glo bugs

I suspect Claude was anticipating only a few fly patterns to concentrate on, but this is what happens when you ask 4 or more people for fishing advice J  I really appreciate his sharing this journey with us, also to the other contributors for their knowledge.  We’d welcome any additional thoughts from you too.