4 Must have flys

[wt bash]

Olive and starling softhackle
Deer hair caddis
Grey Fox variation
Black Nosed Dace variation

[mattrevors]

Parachute Adams
Elk Hair Caddis
Stimulator
Bead-head nymph of some sort

[tbblom]

Belly ache minnow
Copper john
San juan
Elk caddis

[dean_mt]

Originally Posted by tbblom

Belly ache minnow
Copper john
San juan
Elk caddis

You're a nymphin' fool tbblom!
And maybe the most honest guy here......
San Juan Worm

[stenacron]

Originally Posted by Walter1023

If I have to be a minimalist......I'll have to keep all my flies dry and give up my nymphing - which is where I've been heading anyway:
1) Rusty Spinner in all sizes
2) Parachutes in all sizes tied in 2 colors....dark and light (how's that for covering my *ss) My generic My s because[COLOR="Silver"]
3) CDC Caddis
4) Ant patterns

Oh good call... RUSTY SPINNER! How did I miss that one?

I would swap out Rusty Spinner for Egg-laying Caddis on my original list.

[Pocono]

Warning - Thread Hijack in Progress...............

Stenacron, I like your Leisenring quote. I used to live in the Poconos and fished most of the waters that were home to Jim. His book got me in to soft hackles and flymph-type nymphs. His recipes still work well on the waters in the Poconos / Catskills.

..............and now - back to your top 4!

Pocono

[wabi]

CDC caddis #12
foam ant #14
Griffin's gnat #16
green weenie #10

[jcw355]

Adams dry in parachute and traditional types and sizes
Midge pattern that works where I fish
Micro jig
Pheasant tail nymph in different sizes

[webrx]

I agree with troutdoorsman that it depends on when you fish (time of year), but it also depends on where you fish. He has a good list for the river on his post. Since I am fishing mostly stillwater these days, my list would be based on where I am fishing as well as when (and what is working/hatching right now).

My top four over the last month....
Mallard and Peacock with a bead
Martis Midge - trimmed short on the front
Black Buggers (with rainbow flash)
CDC baetis emerger (on the water now) or Damsel Nymph (just starting to see them and once they start going strong, you need these in your fly box at the lake)

d

[HuronRiverDan]

Partridge and Yellow, Roberts Drake, PT nymph, Foam Ant. Wouldn't fish anywhere in MI without those... Would carry some in various sizes...

Dan