C.B., i like fishing in the film a LOT! Flies that look or act like energers are just as fun as a dry fly, because you get to see all the action, AND it's easier for the fish to be fooled by "vulnerable" appearing flies, and less chance of them missing the strike. i'll use almost any type (various birds/hen or rooster), of a feather for a soft hackle, as long as it wraps well and i like the look (coloration/mottling/etc.) of it. i'm also a HUGE fan of Snowshoe Rabbit.....the Usual, and various variations of it being my all time favorite types of flies for suface Trout fishing. Little Midge imitations can also be made using Snowshoe, down to almost any of the really small hook sizes. Stuff looks "buggy," is durable, and floats like a cork. If your in the south.....gimme a call whenever your in the Ozarks. You should try and make the Sowbug Roundup in March.....17th, 18th & 19th.
One more thing.....i don't think in terms of genetic or non-genetic.....if i like it, i'll use it, simple. But understand.....i take a totally different approach to tying, between doin' fishin' flies and doin' artistic flies. For artistic flies.....i don't think about fish or fishing that much at all.....(other than philisophically).....i'm just a painter with a hook for a canvas. But fishin' (Trout), flies.....i like buggy, mottled flies, with movement and natural earthy colors.....unless of course we're talkin' steelie fishin' and such.....then i go KArazy with HOT WILD colors.
Also love to tye Pike flies that have a TON of movement and alllll kinna fliped out color schemes. Pike are so cool.....they eat anything and fear nothin'! When i tye for Pike all i want is a fly that will drive 'em up a tree.....know-what-i-mean? Durability is a non factor in terms of a priority.....i love to tye so much that how long a fly may or may not last is a non-factor.....a destroyed fly just means another opprotunity to get to the vise again.
i do tye them as durable as i can.....but i don't nessessarily use the "Most" durable of materials is what i mean. i use what pleases me, for the way the fly looks, and behaves in the water. My Pike flies do have a couple things in common with my artistic flies.....1. the use of both natural and synthetic materials together, and 2. the use of some pretty interesting hooks.