On Mar 18, 2:59*pm, David LaCourse wrote:


Larry, when I first learned to ff in the 40s, dries, wets, and
streamers were the only kind of flies my parents and I used. *However,


Way back when, when medium sized Sierra freestone streams were what I
fished most, I gradually moved from mostly fishing attractor dries to
mostly fishing a #14 primrose and partridge ( light phase ) soft
hackle on a heavy hook. It, imho, did a good job of suggesting
several clinger and crawler drowned duns as well as small stones
common on these waters. Fish that wouldn't rise would eat it
without hesitation. I fished it upstream, no indicator, sometimes
you could see it, often not.

Many, many times I've set the hook certain a fish would be there but
totally unable to say that I 'saw' anything to make me do so. It was
a magical feeling ... one that makes me think I'd really like
indicator-less nymphing, if I did it enough to develop confidence and
that sixth sense. But, life is short ( ain't it ) and I don't
drive a thousand miles to some great dry fly waters, to practice
nymphing G So I'll probably never really grow to like nymphing,
although I can sense it could have great appeal beyond just
effectiveness.