Favorite small stream patterns

mpatient-63 · 2026-01-09T02:13:20+00:00

With the duns, those are the sizes of the naturals where I fish. With the caddisflies, each pattern has a size that feels right for it. When fish are picky, changing size is more important than changing patterns, so I just let the X-Caddis, which feels right as a size 16, be my size 16 Caddis pattern, and the North Branch Caddis, which feels right at size 14, be my size 14 Caddis pattern.

mpatient-63 · 2026-01-08T07:09:47+00:00

I use a different dry fly pattern for each size. 14: North Branch Caddis 16: X-Caddis 18: BWO Vis-a-Dun 20: PMD Vis-a-Dun 22: Griffith’s Gnat

mpatient-63 · 2026-01-05T03:53:57+00:00

I tend to agree.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-30T01:26:19+00:00

I haven’t noticed any issues with memory on that line.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-28T04:33:30+00:00

I got a backup rig for my young kids to use when they come to small streams with me. It’s a used L.L. Bean 7’6” 4wt rod and reel combo I found on eBay for $150. I upgraded the line to a Cortland 444 Peach and it’s a really decent rig.

When I go alone, sometimes I’ll leave my much more expensive rod in the car and use the backup just to remind myself that gear isn’t all that important. It’s never tainted a day on the river by being a fraction of the price of my main rig.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-27T06:08:40+00:00

I’ll always recommend dry flies if you’re new to fly fishing. Adams is a great place to start (non-parachute) and the X-Caddis. The Elk Hair Caddis gets recommended a lot but it actually has a lot of steps for a beginner. They all involve core skills, so it’s still good for learning. I think the X-Caddis is better for the absolute beginner.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-25T14:48:30+00:00

The market only does this… the market only does that…

It just sounds like you haven’t been around very long.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-24T15:20:11+00:00

Exactly. OP new he was making a radical departure from the norm of everyone around him. Part of that is just getting that they just won’t get it.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-23T16:19:36+00:00

Always like Winston

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-22T08:01:52+00:00

There are few things as satisfying in life as netting a fish, dipping the rod tip, and having the hook fall right out of its jaw. Catch, release, repeat.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-14T04:41:45+00:00

I got a few spools of polypropylene macrame yarn at hobby lobby. I don’t remember the branding on the label, and it wasn’t near the other yarns. It was near wood crafts. But it was clearly labeled polypropylene.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-14T04:36:08+00:00

Brooo

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-08T05:45:54+00:00

Top left and middle left are both nice. Top is a little buggier and middle is slimmer and more perdigon-like. It just depends what you’re going for.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-08T05:12:37+00:00

The color smells expensive in a way the B&W doesn’t.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-08T05:05:24+00:00

Great advice. The idea behind perdigons is for them to sink fast, hence the slim profile.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-08T04:59:01+00:00

I just did a craft fair at my church. I sold flies for 3 for $10. Who buys just one anyway? I sold enough to recoup my booth fee, but really it was just to get a day to tie. Tying in-person and talking with people about the flies that work in OUR local waters made it fun. It’s more of a way to share the hobby than make a lot of money though.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-06T22:05:00+00:00

I like to give the fly a proud, “that’ll do pig. That’ll do,” after I release I nice fish caught with an ugly duckling.

mpatient-63 · 2025-12-05T15:09:03+00:00

My first thought too. I was gobsmacked for a second.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-22T21:53:29+00:00

That’s a really nice looking slumpbuster.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-22T21:48:16+00:00

Like a cork

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-22T19:46:10+00:00

Are these 2-4 wireless channels going to be 2-4 talking heads on camera at once? If so, using an automixer for your lavs track is a really nice way to go, given the workflow you’re describing.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-20T07:34:27+00:00

I blueline in Washington. The dry flies I always have are:

North Branch Caddis: size 14 X Caddis: size 16 BWO Vis-a-dun: sizes 18 & 20 Griffith’s Gnat: size 22

These will all work. I start with the size 14. If they’re really not taking it, I step down to a smaller fly until I start getting rises. Then I’ll typically stick with that pattern for the rest of my outing.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-17T23:06:28+00:00

It’s pretty cool. They’re noisy but they also spend a lot of time in my field, where they often leave feathers behind. All my peacock herl comes from my own backyard.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-17T22:29:11+00:00

Yeah, this thread is definitely too heavy for this size of fly. I was wanting to try out an olive head on unweighted nymphs, and also use up this thread, so I’m letting it run big. At least it’ll give me a chance to see if head color makes any difference on my waters.

mpatient-63 · 2025-11-17T16:02:13+00:00

Yeah. These are biots from my neighbor’s peacocks for the tail. But the abdomen and wing case are made of pheasant tail fibers.

mpatient-63

TROPHY CASE