Small egg patterns vs. large egg patterns for winters

[Straps]

If the water is fairly clear it seems that using very small egg patterns is more productive even in the winter. The smaller I go the more fish I hook. Does size matter?

[matt95]

Straps,
Just like any kind of fly, if the water is really murky, use a larger size fly. On and if the water is clear stick with the smaller sizes.

matt

[GameChaserFid]

I have seen a guy before catching the fish pretty good on large egg patterns.

[Straps]

Originally Posted by matt95

Straps,
Just like any kind of fly, if the water is really murky, use a larger size fly. On and if the water is clear stick with the smaller sizes.

matt

Depending on how murky the water is I may use a brighter pink fly with and litte Chartreause instead of going up in size. If the water is too murky I will go fish a smaller tributary up river or go home. I will usually never go larger than a size #4 for steelhead. This of course only applies to coastal rivers.

[Straps]

Originally Posted by GameChaserFid

I have seen a guy before catching the fish pretty good on large egg patterns.

Large egg patterns will work pretty well if the person fishing them knows where the fish are laying in a given stretch of water and the fish are in an aggresive mood. The only problem is that some fish are not in an aggresive mood, and will only take a smaller presentation. The fish that would have taken the larger fly will take the small one as well.

[358norma]

You ask if size of pattern matters and then go on to tell everyone how much better smaller sizes work regardless of water conditions? Why not just write a post saying "small egg patterns out fish large"? It's nice to see some new blood in the fly fishing forum but no need to ask questions and then answer them yourself

[Straps]

Originally Posted by 358norma

You ask if size of pattern matters and then go on to tell everyone how much better smaller sizes work regardless of water conditions? Why not just write a post saying "small egg patterns out fish large"? It's nice to see some new blood in the fly fishing forum but no need to ask questions and then answer them yourself

If I just posted an opinion than no one would engage in discussion.

[ling killer]

why would u ask anyways? seems to me everyone u fish next to is already absolete

[Straps]

Originally Posted by ling killer

why would u ask anyways? seems to me everyone u fish next to is already absolete

My wife is out of town and I am bored.

[avengerfish]

Originally Posted by Straps

Large egg patterns will work pretty well if the person fishing them knows where the fish are laying in a given stretch of water and the fish are in an aggresive mood. The only problem is that some fish are not in an aggresive mood, and will only take a smaller presentation. The fish that would have taken the larger fly will take the small one as well.

Maybe your large patterns arn't good to start with.. I find that bigger parterns are better in fast water regardless of size.. Of course I tone the color down the clearer the water... Most important of all is presentation... 90% of the fly guys I see have no concept of mending...

[Straps]

Originally Posted by avengerfish

Maybe your large patterns arn't good to start with.. I find that bigger parterns are better in fast water regardless of size.. Of course I tone the color down the clearer the water... Most important of all is presentation... 90% of the fly guys I see have no concept of mending...

My large egg patterns are as good as yours. Who fishes really fast water with big old egg patterns anyway or as you would say {Parterns}. Sounds like a good way to fish.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by Straps

The smaller I go the more fish I hook. Does size matter?

Most steelhead and salmon eggs are 6mm; some Chinook eggs may be 8mm. No need to fish larger unless you are fishing "big" water and want to get the fish's attention.

[358norma]

I find that it varies day to day. I fish 6,8 and sometimes 10 mill beads all the time. I tend to pick up more steelhead on the 10mill and more trout on the 6 and 8's. A mature egg from a 30-40lb fall chinook is pretty big. I find the color and shading more important than the actual size i.e. 8mil v.s. 10mil.

[ling killer]

all i really know about eggs is that they look/smell fishy or not, i try to stick to a simple borax tiny bit of sugar and salt when curing, something i can manage and i always fish a dime sized/thumbnail sized piece for steelhead. unless the water has no visability.

i like sandshrimp

[avengerfish]

Originally Posted by AndyK

Most steelhead and salmon eggs are 6mm; some Chinook eggs may be 8mm. No need to fish larger unless you are fishing "big" water and want to get the fish's attention.

Sockeye egg size 5-8mm

Coho 8-10 mm

Steelhead 5-8mm

Chinook 10-12mm

Chum 10-12mm

What is really relavent and should be apparent to die hard fly fisherman fish can't always judge size, just like the Canadian Geese Decoy's that are the size of small car!! When u are trying to match the hatch sometime bigger or smaller is better, every die hard fly fisherman knows that!

My large egg patterns are as good as yours. Who fishes really fast water with big old egg patterns anyway or as you would say {Parterns}. Sounds like a good way to fish.

Have no idea how good yoru patterns are... But, I can bet the fish can't tell mine from the real egg, not that this really matters for steelhead anyway...

Why wouldn't you fish egg patterns in fast water?? This is where LARGE egg patterns really shine, up to 14mm!!

I think some of you folks are underestimating the "real" size of salmon eggs and need to go straight to the source...

[avengerfish]

Originally Posted by 358norma

I find that it varies day to day. I fish 6,8 and sometimes 10 mill beads all the time. I tend to pick up more steelhead on the 10mill and more trout on the 6 and 8's. A mature egg from a 30-40lb fall chinook is pretty big. I find the color and shading more important than the actual size i.e. 8mil v.s. 10mil.

[Straps]

Originally Posted by avengerfish

Sockeye egg size 5-8mm

Coho 8-10 mm

Steelhead 5-8mm

Chinook 10-12mm

Chum 10-12mm

What is really relavent and should be apparent to die hard fly fisherman fish can't always judge size, just like the Canadian Geese Decoy's that are the size of small car!! When u are trying to match the hatch sometime bigger or smaller is better, every die hard fly fisherman knows that!



Have no idea how good yoru patterns are... But, I can bet the fish can't tell mine from the real egg, not that this really matters for steelhead anyway...

Why wouldn't you fish egg patterns in fast water?? This is where LARGE egg patterns really shine, up to 14mm!!

I think some of you folks are underestimating the "real" size of salmon eggs and need to go straight to the source...

It depends on how fast the water is but I do fish some. Its pretty easy to tell if water is worth fishing by looking at it. 14mm will catch fish in any water. Its not too big.

[sothereiwas]

Were talking about steelhead here, you guys are overthinking this. I have caught fish in July on beads when nothing is spawning. Its hardly a match the hatch scenario

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by sothereiwas

Were talking about steelhead here, you guys are overthinking this. I have caught fish in July on beads when nothing is spawning. Its hardly a match the hatch scenario

[Straps]

Originally Posted by sothereiwas

Were talking about steelhead here, you guys are overthinking this. I have caught fish in July on beads when nothing is spawning. Its hardly a match the hatch scenario

Good point.

[sherretb]

I have only one fly I tie. Same size/color all of the time. I have caught fish on only a few other patterns. Hum. Maybe I need to diversify.?

Ohh and a side note possibly for another thread: whats the difference again between a 9' 8 wt. indicator/split shot/egg bead and a 9'6" casting/spinning rod with bobber/split shot/bead?

[sherretb]

I have only one fly I tie. Same size/color all of the time. I have caught fish on only a few other patterns. Hum. Maybe I need to diversify.?

Ohh and a side note possibly for another thread: whats the difference again between a 9' 8 wt. indicator/split shot/egg bead and a 9'6" casting/spinning rod with bobber/split shot/bead?

[C-lice]

Originally Posted by sothereiwas

Were talking about steelhead here, you guys are overthinking this. I have caught fish in July on beads when nothing is spawning. Its hardly a match the hatch scenario

+3

I don't believe that there's any reason to suspect that steelhead mistake egg patterns for (literally) eggs all of the time. Sometimes they probably do, but not always.

Once one embraces that line of thinking, then one is free to consider small bead or yarn flies as what they truly are--attractors. Steelhead don't have hands. They have to take something into their mouth to get more than a visual sense of it (unless it has scent as well).

This is why, I believe, steelhead take most flies. What does a purple egg-sucking leech resemble? Does a steelhead think. "Why, there's a purple leech...AND HE'S GOT AN EGG!!! KILL!!!" Of course not. What does a bomber or a wog resemble? Hell, a green-butted skunk?

Egg patterns are no different. Steelhead bite flies, egg flies included (unless you're purposefully fishing an 'egg hatch') because they're attracted, because they're aggressive, and because they don't have hands.

[358norma]

Originally Posted by sherretb

I have only one fly I tie. Same size/color all of the time. I have caught fish on only a few other patterns. Hum. Maybe I need to diversify.?

Ohh and a side note possibly for another thread: whats the difference again between a 9' 8 wt. indicator/split shot/egg bead and a 9'6" casting/spinning rod with bobber/split shot/bead?

A sense of superiority.