What are your views on contrasts in flies for attracting fish?
Thinking back over the most killing patterns folk I know use, I am certain that contrasts are a major factor in attracting fish. Or at least bringing the fly to the attention of the fish. I am not talking about garish patterns here, more subtle combinations of blacks and whites, or perhaps greens and blacks, yellows and blacks. For example, the green tail added to the Kate Mclaren, or the white head hackle on Allan?s bibio. Over the past few weeks John and I have caught a lot of fish on his pearly black pennel muddler. This fly is weighted so it is not fishing like a conventional muddler and I wonder if the clipped muddler head works because the black of the fly contrasts with the white / grey clipped head? I know analogies can be dangerous. But when out walking my collie and watching her run after sticks, one quickly realises it is no accident that these dogs are black and white. You can see them a mile off as they run. The contrast creates a flashing illusion as the dog runs. It catches the eye. Difficult to miss. Maybe to the passer-by it?s not obvious at first that it?s a dog, but they will see it, handy if you are shepherd out on the hill. If the dog was a single colour, that effect would be lost. Are the fish seeing contrasts and / or subtle changes in fly profile ?