most productive soft hackle trout fly

[raven4ns]

Thank you, guys, for your help. I may have a question or two depending on the explanation you gave so I hope you will bear with me. Many thanks once again for your suggestions and help.

[letumgo]

I've had very good luck with the following patterns:

Partridge and Orange
Partridge and Yellow
Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Spider
Leisenring Hares Ear Spider
Stewarts Spider (black)
POP Flies (my own series of soft hackles)
February Red (very old pattern - circa 1496)
Doug Duval's Tan Flymph is an outstanding fly.

[Mike62]

I don't know that I have a 'most productive' pattern. I have so much fun tying and fishing many of the patterns I see members posting; mine always pale by comparison. This season has been a wonderful experiment in fishing flymphs tied with bodies spun on antique silks and a spinning block. I had as much fun making the spinning blocks as I had tying the patterns.

But to echo some of Ray's choices: Stewarts black spider is always in my vest as are GRHE soft hackles and P&O's in smaller sizes.

[NJpatbee]

Partridge and Orange with a hare's ear thorax.

[Althehackleman]

So a little funny history of using soft hackled flies.
Years ago I taught fly tying at a fly shop. The other instructor and I taught soft hackles during the classes. So I taught that I felt the two most important flies were Partridge and Yellow for sunny warm days and Partridge and Green for early and late season. We had a couple that took the classes from us both and after I taught the soft hackle flies they mentioned to the other guy what flies I liked. He challenged me about that because he liked Partridge and Orange for summer and Partridge and Purple for early and late season.
We both agreed to use only the other guys flies for the next season.
Guess what, we both liked the other flies and use them to this day.
Of course I use others too, but the first fly used is normally the patterns noted.
So fish on

[Bazzer69]

I think the Partridge & Orange and Stewart's Black Spider, although I don't keep records of such things. Both are older patterns that work very well.

+1 on these two patterns, I believe it’s not so much the pattern but how it’s fished.
Barry

[raven4ns]

Thank you everyone for your help. Now I have a small list of soft hackles that have proven themselves to you. Some I already have tied while the others will have to wait until I get the materials needed. Thank you again for your help.

[Bazzer69]

Tim, if you need any hard to get materials gIve me a try. I’ve been helped by many members of the forum myself in the past and I am happy to pass it on if I can.
Barry

[raven4ns]

Thank you, Barry, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. As I mentioned to a friend on here just a few days ago, I've never come across a forum whose members were so generous with their time and resources. I sincerely thank you and the other members who have been so generous.

[hankaye]

raven4ns, Howdy;

There is this book, the title is "Year of the Spider", by Philip Story.
In it he takes the another book "Yorkshire Trout Flies" by T.E. Pritt
In the intro. Mr. Story relates that " TE Pritt not only provided
patterns that have worked for centuries, he also told the reader
when, where, and how they should be used."
I think you may enjoy it as much as I have. Good sense of humor,
well written and walks you right through the year.
https://www.amazon.com/Year-Spider-Phil ... 1493732528
It's a free read for Kindle right now.

hank