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  #1  
Old 09-03-2013, 07:53 PM
trigger7mm trigger7mm is offline
 
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Default Smallest fly?

What is the smallest fly you have ever caught a trout on. To me a size 14 is small, especially with my tired old eyes.
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  #2  
Old 09-03-2013, 07:55 PM
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#18 PMD. Caught a few nice little Cutts with it.
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  #3  
Old 09-03-2013, 07:59 PM
fish gunner fish gunner is offline
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Cool

Sz 20 black gnat kills on the bow in the spring. Sz 18 ant was getting some interest on monday eve on the red deer.
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  #4  
Old 09-03-2013, 08:54 PM
trigger7mm trigger7mm is offline
 
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Default smallest fly

It amazes me that a hook that small will stick in a fish. LOL.
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  #5  
Old 09-03-2013, 08:55 PM
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about a size 18 for me these days... I can't see that well anymore.
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  #6  
Old 09-03-2013, 09:12 PM
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Lornce Lornce is offline
 
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Size 20 Tricos. 22 inch Brown.
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  #7  
Old 09-03-2013, 11:36 PM
Moefoe Moefoe is offline
 
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Had to toss size 20 Trico's tonight on the bow...worked out good!
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  #8  
Old 09-04-2013, 12:13 AM
scel scel is offline
 
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I almost always use size 16 or smaller dry. I actually cannot remember the last time I used a size 14 or larger dry and actually caught fish.

I will use size 8-10 SJW/stoneflies, but I almost always use size 16 or smaller droppers.
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  #9  
Old 09-04-2013, 07:39 AM
chucky chucky is offline
 
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On Monday i tried a size 20 trico, that was basically the only flies around hatching. And to my surprise it was the most productive fly i used so far that day! My first fish on a size 20 weren't all small ones.
It was easier to follow on a calmer water but you end up guessing where your fly is and tightening when there's a rise in the area...
It sure works and i'm gonna carry these in my box more often!
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  #10  
Old 09-04-2013, 08:32 AM
brown trout brown trout is offline
 
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#22 Tricos work very well. I tied up a bunch of #24s that I'm going to try sometime soonish here.

People could also be using very small nymphs and catch some nice fish. I find a lot of people use too large of nymphs, like #12-14 on average, yet the average nymph in a stream is smaller than even a 16 (or probably even an 18). I regularly use #18 PTNs as my dropper nymph off a dry or a tandem rig.

Nick

**Hint** If you buy Orvis large eye hooks (often packaged and distributed by Daiichi) you can still use 5x on the #22 and 6x for the #24, giving you an actual chance at landing a big fish.
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  #11  
Old 09-04-2013, 09:03 AM
Taco Taco is offline
 
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I've caught fish on a sz24 dry but I've reached an age that I'll be GDed if I'm gonna fish a fly that takes me 20min to tie on or use an indicator fly to be able to see where the damn thing is floatin' at
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  #12  
Old 09-04-2013, 11:18 AM
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I've used down to an 18, don't really like to go below a 14 as it takes to long to land fish on small flies. Maybe my hooks are crap, my tiny sizes are all tied on ancient Mustad dry hooks, they seem to straighten easily.
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  #13  
Old 09-04-2013, 04:56 PM
Bow flyman Bow flyman is offline
 
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Size 20. Both PMD and BWO regularily hatch in this size range. The main caveat here is that problems increase exponentially with each size of hook smaller than 14. I have lost a few very nice fish on these tiny hooks, given the leader diameter requirements and the hooks themselves.
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  #14  
Old 09-04-2013, 05:05 PM
BeeGuy BeeGuy is offline
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18's and 20's all the time icefishing; nymphs
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  #15  
Old 09-04-2013, 06:32 PM
trigger7mm trigger7mm is offline
 
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Default smallest fly

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taco View Post
I've caught fish on a sz24 dry but I've reached an age that I'll be GDed if I'm gonna fish a fly that takes me 20min to tie on or use an indicator fly to be able to see where the damn thing is floatin' at
LOL, I'm in the exact same boat as you Taco. These old eyes can't see much below a size 16, if even that.
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  #16  
Old 09-05-2013, 05:18 PM
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#20 PMD, 21" brown

often fish #16 and 18 copper johns and evil weevils too.
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  #17  
Old 10-04-2013, 12:20 PM
Chuck Feathers Chuck Feathers is offline
 
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#24 griffiths gnat, lots of rainbows up to 2.5lbs during dusk midge hatches.
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  #18  
Old 10-04-2013, 12:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Feathers View Post
#24 griffiths gnat, lots of rainbows up to 2.5lbs during dusk midge hatches.
X2 - Used them all the time in WA state on the seep lakes in the central part of the state when the midges were on. Locally - a #20 trico...
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