I need a point fly

[Steve]

A week in Orkney and a week in Wester Ross and almost all my fish were taken on the bob or the dropper, with only 2 fish taking my point fly,
anyone recommend a really good fly for me to try?
Steve

[Clan Ford]

Steve,

Try a guest - done me pround on the lochs over the last few seasons, it doesn't always live up to its name

Norm

[Wildfisher]

Silver Invicta is my main tail fly and it catches loads of fish. If I want to get deeper I'll use a guest

[Fishtales]

My HillLoch Nymph always on the point of my three fly cast size 12 or 14.

[wag99]

Silver Invicta worked well for me last year in orkney.

[paulr]

Aye a pearly pennel is my go-to point fly.Sometimes with a silver bead head if i want it to get down a bit deeper.
Paul

[Wildfisher]

Also never forget the humble Butcher. Still a great flee and one of my fall backs. Tie some up in 14, 12 and 10. Seldom fails, one of the all time greats.

[IrishFloatTube]

Amber Chomper = if fished fast, corixa and also = if fished slow, sedge pupa
Silver body black spider = good particularly in the sun
Norm

[haresear]

On a new water in the absence of any clues as to what might be hatching I might well tie on one of any of the general searching patterns like a butcher, cinnamon and gold or similar, especially if fishing the flies quite quickly. I tend to use more or less anything in this situation and if gold isn't working I'll try silver, or black, red...etc etc..
I don't really have any favourites among the attractor patterns. I just have a selection of attractor flies in various colours and ring the changes until I get some action.

If on the other hand I see or expect to see olives for example, I'm more likely to take a more imitative approach and use a small olive quill or similar, fished slowly. If I think I need to get down a bit, I might use a pheasant tail nymph instead or any weighted nymph, like a hare's ear.

I suppose my point is that all flies will work at times. It is a case of firstly observation and secondly trial and error.

Alex

[haresear]

Is it not the case that bob flies tend to catch the most anyway?

That is probably fair comment over the course of a season, but not always the case on any given day. At Ossian last week, my first 6 or so came to the olive on the tail. Even with my failing memory I can remember a few days when the tail produced best.

Breac, going by your reports this season, are you surprised Steve won't take your advice?  Only kidding Derek :lol:

To be serious, Invictas in their various forms are perfectly good general patterns and make a passable sedge pattern too.

Alex