Flies to Carry

Here are 22 flies that can be used to cover most fishing situation. They can be carried in multiple sizes and colors (when appropriate, like humpys and elk hair caddis) to help meet the variations on the river. Nymphs can be carried weighted and unweighted. Learn to tie them with our Fly Tying Workbook. Good fishing!!!

Lake Fishing:
Lakes and ponds can be most effectively fished from a float tube (remember that your rod does not float), a small boat, or you can wade a shallow lake and cast back toward shore. This eliminates spending most of your time catching trees and shrubs. Bass and pan fish are often hanging in or above weed beds out in a shallow area away from shore. Casting from shore can be productive when casting to the edges of weed beds and stripping back.

• Wets: In still water, you want wet flies that provide good motion when stripped back toward you, or that imitate a bait fish. Five flies that work well in most still water situations are the Wooly Bugger (#6-10), the Marabou Muddler (#2-10), the Damsel Nymph (#10-12), Munroe’s Leech (#10), and the Mickey Finn (#6-10).
• Drys: Lakes and ponds have significant insect hatches. You can usually ask the local tackle shop for information on a particular lake. All of them have caddis hatches from April through October, also mayflies, mosquitos and dragonflies. Carry Elk Hair Caddis (#14-18), Humpy (#12-16), Devil Bug (#14), Adams (#12-16) and Damsels (#10). Beginning in July, Terrestrials like Grasshoppers and Ants fall or are blown into the water. Ants and beetles are found in trout’s stomachs year round. Casting back toward shore, especially near overhanging brush or trees can be productive.

Stream Fishing:
Streams have different hatches even at different altitudes on the same stream. These are basic flies that can be used in most situation, though in that “exact match for a major hatch” moment, you may have to switch to an ant of grasshopper to get their attention and give up matching. Cast to current lines (where two currents meet, or an eddy fence where the fish could rest in slow water), behind rocks, and especially to undercut banks.

• Wets: Nymphs are 90% of trout’s food and is what they are mostly feeding on unless there is a major dry fly hatch going on, or an unlucky terrestrial. General imitation or stimulation are the key with nymphs, so carry a size and color range. Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear (#14-16), Zug Bug (#14-18), Pewan Nymph (#12), Black Beaver Nymph (#14-16) and Pheasant Tail Nymph (#14-18) cover the color range and are proven flies. I also carry a Brassie (#16) to imitate a midge larva. Later you may want to add a stonefly nymph.
• Drys: Dry flies are exciting to fish because you get to see the take. Adams, Humpys, Devil Bugs, Elk Hair Caddis, Mosquitos, Royal Wulff (all is size #12-16), Damsels (#10), and Terrestrials (especially Ants and Beetles, Grasshoppers when it’s warm) will cover most general situations. A Light Cahill (#12-18) will often do during a mayfly hatch. A Griffith’s Gnat (#16-20) can imitate most midge hatches.