If you were to fill you fly box, what variety of flies would you put in it? I am tying flies to have a variety of flies to use when I am not fishing and don't have much in it yet. What should I make sure I have with me?
To the "top 5" I would add some common "match the hatch" flies like Blue Wing Olives, Sulphurs, Light Cahills, and Tricos. And some attractors like Royal Wulffs and Humpys. And any other flies that are common on the water you usually fish, if not covered by the above (like blue quills in north central PA).
also,don't forget the nymphs. when all else fails, go deep. My stand by is a 14 black stone fly nymph. But, they must be on the water you fish. a wet or two wouldn't hurt, cover your bases.
1) Bead Head Copper John Nymphs (sizes 14-20)
2) Tricos (any size or variation)
3) Sulfur Imitations (esp. the ones with funky snowshoe hair wings)
4) Green Weenie (sizes 10-14)
5) Quill Gordon (sizes 14 and up)
6) Cahills (esp. emerger varieties - small)
7) Blue Winged Olive (size 18 and up)
8) Midges (esp bead head zebra midges - 18 and up)
10) A weighted Polish-style nymph or two (14 and up)
Bass (esp. smallies)
1) Dahlberg Diver (6 -4)
2) Clouser Minnow (6 -4)
3) sneaky Pete (6-4)
4) Muddler Minnow (8-4)
5) Big, dark stonefly nymphs (6 and bigger)
6) Gummy Minnows (salt water sizes)
7) Any deerhair popper (6 and bigger)
8) Big Dry Flies (eg. a HUGE Green Drake)
9) Parachute Hoppers
10 BIG stimulators (8 and bigger)