In article , riverman
wrote:

Certain mayfly nymph patterns insist on three tails. Has anyone done an
experiment where they have tied up several identical patterns, differing
only in the number of tails, and fished them in the same water? I'm
wondering if it really makes any difference at all.

--riverman

Yes they have, and quite a long time ago. I'll have to look it up.

In the UK, it's generally accepted that they can't, and that you'd be
daft not to put 4, 5 or even 6 tails to make room for the ones that get
chewed off.

Lazarus

--
Remover the rock from the email address