Predator Fish

[Off in the Bushes]

I was thinking as I was tying a few flies what is more important to a predator fish the pattern or the color. As we all know that a poorly presented fly will not attract fish.

[shakeyleg02]

Originally Posted by Off in the Bushes

I was thinking as I was tying a few flies what is more important to a predator fish the pattern or the color. As we all know that a poorly presented fly will not attract fish.

Depends on what predator fish you are targeting

[Off in the Bushes]

I was thinking Alberta species like bull trout, pike and walleye.

[Bhflyfisher]

Confidence

Pattern

Cover water

In that order. However I still see people stand in one place, and not move, expecting that they'll get fish on the next cast in the exact same spot. These fish are either eating it on the first pass, maybe the second, rarely the third, but after the 4th, they aren't there. Similar to steelhead, bull trout should be fished, cast, step, cast, step unless you move a fish. Theres no reason to stand in one spot and make repeated casts.

Even pike, you should be working the entire weedbed/flat. No reason to continue casting in the same place unless you're continually moving fish.

[rycoma]

Personally I have seen both. I voted pattern because the pattern of colors is the key I believe the reason being all bait fish and fish in general are usually darker on top then on the bottom. There for it would stand to reason that patterns carry that idea forward. Dark color on top lighter on on the bottom. I use black top chartreuse on the bottom. These two colors are known for there vibrancy in strained/murky water. I have used straight back and straight chartreuse the two tone ones out fish solid ones 3 or 4 to one. I don't fish streamers for trout to often but holy crap this set up is deadly for pike all year. I'm sure brown or natural over white would be just as effective on bulls in the fall.

[lannie]

Pike and Bullies its the pattern first. Best presentation for them is just pounding the fly into the water. Strip hardddd.

[Muskeg]

Agree with rycoma, I choose color, that being chartreuse and black
In any pattern will slay.

[jeprli]

Pattern first - size, style, materials

Color second

Over time I came to a conclusion that color does not really matter as long as you can present your fly at the depth where your target fish is. Bulls, pike and walleye are not picky eaters. Get it in front of them and they will most likely eat it, some require better presentation than others.

[Ozzzzz]

For pike, anything big and gaudy! Just get the pike mad, and he'll bite at anything!