Ha! That's the trick I've been trying to learn for nearly 50 years. In my
experience, presentation is the no.-1 concern and size is the second. Color,
shape, etc. have far less effect on the numbers of fish I take (although I
don't discount them entirely). I fish almost exclusively with drys, using
streamers sometimes early in the season, and then it's almost always the
Matuka. I don't stick with drys due to any purist, stuck-up kind of thing. I
just enjoy it more and after all of these years, enjoyment is what I want
and the number of fish I catch only plays a part in that fun. I've fished
with lots of "match the hatch" guys and on the average I do just as well
with 3 or 4 patterns in sizes from 14 to 24. I've found it a must to fish
with a pattern and size that I have faith in. I fish it better if I think
it will catch a fish. The one thing I've learned in those 50 years is, if
fish are refusing on the take, go smaller.

Gene



"Peter Charles" wrote in message
...
How do you go about knowing "what the fish will take at any given
time"?

Peter

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