My Winter Bag

 With regard to small flies on larger tippet, I've fished size 22 zebra midges on 3X tippet on the Canyon section of the Henry's Fork and have caught many large and well educated trout. So yes, I agree and can attest to this working. I've found that when I see a fish refuse a fly its more than likely fly choice or micro-drag and not tippet size...Yellowstone Bound September 22, 2016

 

I have three tackle bags that I use during the year.  One is my Freestone Bag for the Millers, the EB, the WB and the Ware.  It hauls the usual assortment of  dry flies in the size 14 to 20 range and a few in the 22 to 24 range just in case.  It is heavy on the soft hackles (of course) but light on streamers (I get bored by streamers) and yes, it has some wooley buggers.  A few 5x leaders and the same tippet and I'm all set.

My second bag is my tailwater bag (as in the Swift or the Farmie).  There is very little heavy artillery in this pack. My soft hackles include some 14's but are heavy on the 16's and 18's. It seems that the dries are either versions of sulphurs and BWO and all are small. (down to 26 or so) There is a tiny box of ants and that's it for terrestrials. Hoppers and such are found in my freestone bag. And I have enough small larvae patterns and scuds to keep me busy.  They take up so little space. Leaders are 5x and 6x. I carry spools of 7x and 8x which I hardly ever use. Both bags have a tiny container of micro shot.

Here's the truth - by mid season both bags are a total mess. I tend to load up on too much leader material, carry too many leaders and assorted fly fishing toys and way too many flies.

That brings me to my third bag and I'll call it my pocket. This winter I'll carry no bag, carry only one fly box, one spool of tippet, one extra leader and that little container of shot. With just that I should be able to handle anything that the Swift throws at me and It will be a good test of my organizational skills for the upcoming season.  Maybe Tenkara taught me a lesson.  Keep it simple!!!

This Winter So Far

The brookie run is starting to wind down but the rainbow fake spawning seems to have picked up. I had a fair day on Tuesday in the bubbler arm mainly because I really had no idea what flies I had with me.  I straightened that out on Wednesday evening (read above) and took a half dozen big bows on a Swift Serendipity size 20 and lost some more.  There are a lot of fish in the Swift.  Book me!!

Leader Size

Check out the quote at the top of the Post.  Then check out the posted comment on this blog from July of 2015:

I barely ever use 7x...maybe on a few super tiny flies but I only buy a spool every year to keep it fresh not because its gone. I fished the highly technical South Platte in Co for the last 7 years...presentation is king. The really good fishermen never really use anything below 5x except on occasion for the tiny bugs. I used to use 6x and 7x on the Swift exclusively but realize after many years that I was probably casting from the wrong spot more often than not. You hit the nail on the head Ken..
to all readers here there is a lot of great information randomly dispersed throughout Kens blog...well worth the time to go through it-you will be a better angler. Thank Ken for his great blog.  BobT

If you think you need 7x, 8x or smaller to catch trout on the Swift you are mistaken unless you are fishing on the surface. 5x and 6x will get it done down through size 28. Tie your flies on wide eye hooks if you have problems "threading the needle". If the fly is sunken and not being dragged through the water you are doing it right.  The lesson to be learned from the two comments by guys who know what they're doing is that presentation is KING. Tippet size?  Not so much!

Ken