Overdress

[superscot]

Gents came a cross an article in an overseas mag on the subject of over dressing flies, Now I canny tie flees to save myself just wondered your thoughts on the subject. Example  below

[attachimg=1]

The authors final words were 

Reducing the bulk needs to be a conscious consideration whilst tying flies. The author believes in the maxim "less is more".

Thoughts

[scoobyscott]

On most occasions I would agree, certainly for nymphs and olive imitations. Most shop bought flies are overdressed too

[bushy palmer]

I'll often carry a couple of variations of each pattern. For rivers I'll use a heavier dressed pattern in fast water and a lighter dressing in slower water.

The same is true for lochs- I carry some very heavily dressed patterns which seem to work well in very rough conditions.

[Rabmax]

I only fish rivers & carry both fat & slim patterns.Slim mostly for your Olives slightly fatter for caddis. Guess it depends where you fish what they prefer.On the tributaries i fish they prefer buggy not necessarily fat but buggy.On the maine river they can be more picky & sometimes want sparse.I am a big believer on adding movement to your nymphs & dry flies.Just look at how good a Cdc & Elk is at catching with those long cdc barbs wafting about. Just about everything i tie has either partridge,Cdc,or picked out guard hairs.Shop bought flies will probably be ok after a good scub up with some velcro.

[Highlander]

The flies shown as "overdressed are not in the least in my opinion. Less can be more but not in all cases. I suppose the author may just be making a point but examples are poor in relation to the dressing.
Tight Lines

[Wildfisher]

but examples are poor in relation to the dressing.

I'd agree, none of those flies is overdressed.

[bibio1]

I think flies dressed too sparse are not that effective. Look at a march brown nymph.... they are thin but wide. I also think that the clyde style nowadays is totally different to even 40 yrs ago. Remember hooks are far thinner now.

[rannoch raider]

I would be happy with any of the flies shown. The examples described as overdressed look fine to my eye anyway and I would be quite happy to use them. The damsel in particular could well benefit from the movement of the longer picked out fibres on the body?

[garryh]

When tying wet flies I deliberately tie the same fly slim or fat ,if palmering some sparse some bushy,so when I look in the box I have a choice to suit conditions.
Garry

[Wildfisher]

problem is i need a massive tuft to see them these days

welcome to old age.  :lol: