JOhnStoeckel

I probably have too many -- something like 8-10. On the stream, I carry a large foam box with an assortment of dries, nymphs and streamers; a large compartment box of dries; a small compartment box of small dries/nymphs; and a small compartment box of terrestials. In the car or at home, I've got a couple of large compartment box of nymphs; a large box of streamers; a large box of mixed bass flies; a large box of bass nymphs/streamers; and a large box of bass poppers/sliders. I frankly should clean out a bit as I can't keep track of what I have. I've gotten to the point where I tie some flies and then discover that I already have a bunch that I'd forgotten about. Or I assume I have a stock of some standard pattern and when I go to restock my on stream supply, I find out that I'm out. I enjoy tying flies and trying new patterns and materials. But for fishing, a dozen or so patterns in a few sizes each will catch plenty of fish on almost any day.

I've always hand whip finished and found it easier and more versatile (you can finish at any point on the fly -- not just behind the eye). I recently heard someone describe hand whip finishing as "old school" and was starting to feel dated. I'm glad to see that almost half you are equally dated!

My favorite is the Peper Trico ... Hook: your favorite #20 or smaller hook with a wide gap Tail: split hackle fibers, extra long Abdomen: tying thread Thorax: black dry fly dubbing Hackle: Pale blue dun or grizzly, extra long (wing length) palmered over thorax and clipped flush on bottom Note that Trico tails and wings are disproportionately long (at least around here). The tails and wing should be 1.5 to 2 times the shank length. This is fairly easy tie, more visible than a standard spent spinner pattern, and it catches fish.

A pattern that really works well in the summer and fall here in the upper mid-west is the Dornack Black Wet Fly. It's a very simple tie, but is very effective at imitating a drowned beetle/ant/cricket ... Body: black rabbit (or other buggy nymph dubbing) Overbody: 10-20 strands of black Krystal flash, tied in at the rear, twisted and pulled forward as shell back Hackle: black hen, wet fly style Fish this deep like a nymph or as a dropper behind a dry fly.

In addition to the traditional picks that others have mentioned -- Adams, EHC, PT, and HE, I gotta have a Black Wooley Bugger and a Black Foam Beetle.

A favorite, easy tie from the upper midwest is the "Pink Squirrel". See http://www.couleeregiontu.org/Tips.html