Consumers say I'm using the wrong fly.

[OkieBrad]

I was trying to research if “eyes” added value to a fly and I came across an old F&S article. It discussed Umpqua's top selling 25 trout flies of the previous year. The results was not what I expected. I was expecting sales to be directly proportional with quantity of fish caught. I have some ideas why this is weighted top heavy on dry flies but I would like to have your opinions. I have caught the most trout using a zebra midge but my experience is very limited. What has worked best for you?

• 1. Parachute Adams
  2. Kaufmann Stimulator
  3. Cutter's Caddis
  4. Schoeder's Parachute Hopper
  5. Puterbaugh's Foam Caddis
  6. Mathew's X-Caddis
  7. Dave's Hopper
  8. Lawson's Foam Beetle
  9. Schlotter's Foam Flying Ant
  10. Dennis's Parawulff
  11. Sloan's Yellow Sally
  12. Barr's Copper John
  13. Mercer's Micro Mayfly
  14. Mercer's Biot Epoxy Golden Stone
  15. Egan's Rainbow Warrior
  16. Mercer's Psch Prince
  17. Barr's Bead Head Emerger
  18. Olsen's Hare's Ear
  19. Crystal Bugger
  20. Pheasant Tail
  21. Craven's Juju Baetis
  22. Peterson's Skinny Nelson
  23. San Juan Worm
  24. Burks Crystal Hunchback
  25. Zebra Midge

BTW: None of these flies have eyes.

[Paul Arden]

Ha! In the last twelve months, I've used relatively few flies:

Gurglers, size 16 and 18 pt nymphs, various CDC dries, Shipmans, suspender buzzers, rabbit cats whiskers, olive rabbits, deer hair caddis, and some big white bunnies - with eyes

Cheers, Paul

[Graeme H]

I was expecting sales to be directly proportional with quantity of fish caught.

I would expect the number of flies sold to be proportional to the number of flies lost (i.e replacing flies = increased sales).

Not being a freshwater fisherman myself, is it safe to presume many dry flies are lost in fresh water fishing due to overhanging vegetation and to very light tippets being snapped when fighting fish?

Another biasing factor might be that flies with eyes (eg. Clousers) are simple to tie and are not bought so often, whereas the flies listed above are more complex and therefore worth paying someone else to tie them?

cheers,
Graeme

[alex vulev]

I have only 4-5 of those mentioned in my boxes and Im using regularly just two of them. there are better flies than that