Types of Bugs

[racfish]

I had met a friend some time ago who had sent me from the UK hundreds of flies used in fishing in the UK.My question is...Are fishing flies from different regions in your own area a waste of time? Do fish really make distinctions about flies or is a bug just another meal?
Another qustion I have is how do I know what bug is which?and which one is best for a certain area.Are there sites that let you know whats in hatch at any perticular time? Thank you.

[Anglinarcher]

Good question, and one that is not all that easy to answer.

Most flies are tied to suggest, not imitate, a food source, so a fly may suggest several different food sources, or bugs.

Second, ants are ants, an olive green mayfly or a tan may fly are the same no matter where, even if the exact name differs.

Having said that, there are flies that seem to work more regionally than across the world. Still,...................

The Mutaka from Australia is great minnow fly no matter where you are. An Adams is a great general purpose may fly pattern everywhere.

I probably would not fish a Stone Fly pattern in lakes, nor would I fish a damselfly pattern in a river, because you don't have those bugs in that type of water.

As for hatch charts, check on some of the fly fishing forums around the country, and most fly shops can help direct you for the local area. It does help to have a size 18 blue winged olive may fly pattern if the local waters have them coming off, but don't worry to much about the exact color, just the size and profile.

[zen leecher aka Bill W]

you could probably get by with about 5 different flies (various sizes of course) that would fit most needs

Adams dry fly
Carey Special
chironomid pupa
Hare's Ear nymph
Zug bug

Of course I usually carry more than 5 flies myself

[Marc Martyn]

Two years ago, I visited my daughter in New Zealand. Prior to my trip, I e-mailed a fly shop on the south island and asked what flies work well. I got back a reply from him with a list of patterns that are successful and started reading the list. To my surprise, I had about 95% percent of the patterns already in my fly box. The only one that I ordered from him was a Blow Fly pattern. That fly is common in NZ and in Australia. It is a bright blue fly, similar to a deer fly. You find this fly around sheep herds. Needless to say, there are more sheep than people on the islands of NZ.

While fishing Amber lake last year with an adult damsel pattern, a fish broke off my last blue damsel adult pattern. I looked through my box and the only thing that had any blue on it was the Blow Fly pattern that I got in NZ. Thinking "why not", I tied on the fly and continued casting for the rainbows feeding on blue damsels. My first cast with it, I caught and landed a very nice 21" rainbow!

So......yes, use the flies from the UK. After all, that is where fly fishing got it's beginnings.

http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReadArti ... =16&id=290

[Anonymous]

These are the answers I wanted.Thanks gents.I'm gonna start throwing them and see what catches what dosent.You guys all mentioned names like Adams or carey? Is there a chart online or anything that you gents know that shows these bug charataristics.?I'm not a great reader but I do read ,of course pictures are always helpful.
As an ad on .My buddy is buying us leaders and some other things we need ,I got the bugs and were heading to the upper Snoqualmie Sunday.Hopefully monday I'll have pics.