A good friend told me that if you always fish your "Go To Fly" it will always remain your go to fly because it's a self fulfilling prophecy of sorts.
Stripers often key in on the forge in the area ... hence they're a bitch to catch during a "crab hatch" or krill hatch or worm hatch .... because the fishy looking flies crammed into your fly box often don't "match the hatch".
I was taught a real life lesson in this off of the Brenton breakwater one year when fish were breaking all around but none would take a standard deceiver. I switched to a small surf candy and hooked up most every cast. The fish were on small minnows not larger baits like mullet or bunker.
The top 5 flies are based on style of tie ... and should be "Right Sized" for the forage in the area. Easily the best and most productive fly I've used (casts the easiest) is the SURF CANDY.
Before I turned on to that a CLOUSER or DECEIVER made the day. Lately the CREASE FLY has been very productive (on Shad and Stripers). But when you're in the Newport area fishing the White Wash .... try a White Water Witch (something black) ... you'll be glad you did. ROCKfish ON!!
