If you were limited to one fly only - what would you choose for your local waters?

[Maniototoflyfisher]

In my area with a slow flowing river, lots of backwaters and dozens of irrigation dams I'd pick a corixa if I was limited to one fly for the whole season. Whether, if I used a non descript hare and copper type nymph or similar I'd do just as well I'm not sure. It sure would be frustrating not to have a CDC emerger, damsel or cranefly dry when the trout were feeding on the surface. However, when trout are not fixated on one food source there's not many fish that will refuse a corixa twitched in front of them.
What's your choice?

[Johnno]

Easy. PTN.....

Boring I know, but it works. Everywhere.

[Johnno]

Here’s my waterboatman...

[Southshore]

If I was mainly fishing the waters that you describe Maniototo then I would be using my #16 waterboatman with a creamy poly body and PT legs. Before it became illegal, I made a wingcase from a Kea feather but now have to make do with a substitute like peacock herl. the Kea was better.
So my pick would be the very versatile hare's ear spider tied in all sizes and weights. From a bottom hugging heavy nymph to an unweighted sedge it's hard to beat.
(ps I also like the PTN and would probably sneak one onboard) sorry

[fraser hocks]

Hummm would have to come down to time of the year. Narrowing it down to middle of summer I'd have to say a blue blowfly humpy. Early season or late season it would have to be a PTN tied Sawyer's original way.

[Johnno]

If I was limited to two... the second would be a Black Spinner.... with a Hare and Copper as the backup....

[Maniototoflyfisher]

You're cheating Johnno! Can you describe or post a photo of your black spinner please.

[Johnno]

Black thread on a #12 to #18 hook, black saddle fibres for a tail, black superfine dubbing for a body and a black hackle. That’s it. Use it on your stillwaters high summer. You’ll see why I rate it.....

[Maniototoflyfisher]

Thanks Johnno - very similar to my "grizzly dry" - I use a grizzly hackle rather than the black hackle. I also tie one with a stripped peacock herl body with black hackle. Both take lots of fish in stillwaters when midges are around.

[Southshore]

Black thread on a #12 to #18 hook, black saddle fibres for a tail, black superfine dubbing for a body and a black hackle. That’s it. Use it on your stillwaters high summer. You’ll see why I rate it.....

John Morton tied a #16 black spinner with a single upright wing. Very deadly on the fringes of the Tekapo and Pukaki canals. Today you only need a salmon pellet imitation made from lead and a 12 weight rod to land the 20kg pellet-fed rainbow