Good link

[Abalone]

Gary LaFontaine said that the three main methods of deciding on a particular fly are empiricism (trial and error tempered by previous experience), generalism (actually a denial that fly choice is very important), and naturalism (bug watching).

Empiricism—"I'm going to use a Pink Lady because that fly worked last year at this time when the river was in this condition."

Generalism—"These fish will take any fly as long as I present it properly."

Naturalism—"I'm going to use a Hendrickson to match these mayfly duns that are on the water."

For more on this go here: Great article.

http://www.midcurrent.com/articles/techniques/lawson_unmatching_hatch.aspx

[Chromaflage]

Great stuff! Thanks for the link. :cheers: I do believe, howver, that he omitted a very important and often used fourth method..... Randomism.... "Close your eyes, open your fly box, and pick one." If you can do this without running the hook into your finger up to the barb, your off to a good start. :grin:

CrF

[Abalone]

I have done a version of that. Open the fly box, the wind blows and the fly flies out of the box. The fly goes Fifty feet and wham. Don't you with you had another one ?

[Slow and Low]

Good thread. Kind of funny people can write down what most already know and sell books. Luckily I'm no better at matching the hatch than writing things down. I keep trying.

Tight lines.

[Grantspastor]

The method I use is "skepticism"...that is believing the fish will not take any fly I choose :noway:

[Meskel]

My method is “power of persuasion” See I cover the brightest looking fly in Power bate and letter rip. I just call it floatant. I have never had anyone say a thing at the fish hatchery. :wink:

[float2ber]

LOL. :laugh:
OK, what do you do when fish are rolling just under the lake surface, no bugs are flying or floating, and you have tried every conceivable nymph/emerger in the box with no results? Very frustrating.

[Steve L.]

I just keep trying different emergers and cripples, my only option since they outlawed concussion fishing with explosives :laugh: :laugh:

[float2ber]

They did?? Nobody never tells me nothin'!! :blush: