Fly fishers in many places are finding that Tan Bead Head Scuds are very productive trout flies. They are especially important flies for fly fishing in tailwaters and spring creeks. Some large fish key specifically on scuds because of their very high nutritional content. The Bead Head Tan Scud excels in nutrient rich trout streams below reservoirs and spring creeks, and can also be used where scuds are found in trout and grayling lakes.
The Wooly Bugger is perhaps the most versatile fly in fly fishing. It can imitate or at least suggest any number of trout foods. Every angler should dedicate one or multiple fly boxes to the several colors and variations of this fly. The unweighted version is especially useful in stillwater situations where sinking lines are used and the bead head varieties can be used where a weighted fly is called for.
The H & L Variant attractor fly is a classic pattern that continues to prove itself. The wing and tail are tied from buoyant calf hair. This is one of the most visible dry flies and makes it a top choice for fishing in faster water. The tapered body matches a variety of insects and makes the H&L Variant work in many different conditions.
Designed to imitate a stonefly, hopper, or caddisfly, the Black Stimulator has proven itself to work in a variety of dry fly fishing situations and demands a spot in every trout fishing fly box. Hollow hair and ample hackle allows this fish fly to ride high and even hold a fairly heavy dropper fly. Whether tossing it during a hatch or using it as an attractor fly this pattern is always worth a few casts.
This American version of the classic British Pheasant Tail mayfly nymph continues to catch fish wherever slender mayflies are found. The peacock thorax on this nymph also gives it a bit of irridescent flash that makes it an effective attractor fly and a great searching pattern. This fly has caught more fish than perhaps any other nymph in the history of fly fishing.
Fly fishers in many places are finding that Olive Bead Head Scuds are very productive trout flies. They are especially important flies for fly fishing in tailwaters and spring creeks. Some large fish key specifically on scuds because of their very high nutritional content. The Bead Head Olive Scud excels in nutrient rich trout streams, especially spring creeks and some large tailwaters, and can also be used around weed beds in lakes.
Designed to imitate a stonefly, hopper, or caddisfly, the Orange Stimulator has proven itself to work in a variety of dry fly fishing situations and demands a spot in every trout fishing fly box. Hollow hair and ample hackle allows this fish fly to ride high and even hold a fairly heavy dropper fly. Whether tossing it during a hatch or using it as an attractor fly this pattern is always worth a few casts.
Enrico's Ghost Shrimp is an excellent modern design, and a perfect addition to any bonefish box. The sparkly fibers create a nice amount of reflection without being too "flashy" - an excellent trait for fishing in areas where fish have seen a lot of brighter flies. The Ghost Shrimp features a great-looking set of crustacean eyes which also form a weedguard - great for fishing areas with snags. The larger size (#2) of this fly can also serve quite well for redfish, seatrout, and other estuary dwellers.
Tarpon fishing in the shallow flats of the Florida Keys is perhaps the trickiest way to fool these migratory monsters, but when you use a Paradise Sunset Tarpon Fly, your chances go up! Tied on tough, chemically sharpened hooks, these flies are built to last
The Natural Copper Zonker is one of the top selling Zonker colors. The combination of colors make the fly irresistable to most fish. This pattern will match most minnows and has also been used to imitate insects and crayfish. Most guides and avid streamer anglers will always make sure to have this color in their fly box.
The Bead Head Hot Pink San Juan Worm is an effective pattern that will imitate annelids, aquatic worms, earthworms and simply will catch fish. The bright color will attract fish and it makes this a great fly for searching and one of the top producing flies in high or murky water. Anglers are finding San Juan Worms to be effective all year long in all types of water and will catch most freshwater fish.
The Undertaker Salmon Fly was created with Atlantic salmon in mind but has a following among steelheaders as well. It is useful in low light situations and is a great pattern to use when fish seem to be striking short.
Available in several different colors, the Orange General Practitioner is simply a classic. It has a unique profile that has proven effective on sea run fish on both coasts and around the world.
The Red Copper John is a popular and effective pattern has taken the fly fishing world by storm. This fly sinks quickly and can be used as a deep nymph or a dropper. Fish seem unable to resist the combination of color, flash, and realistic shape. it is best fished where mayflies or stoneflies are common and even works in certain lake situations. Most guides and serious anglers never enter the river without several sizes, colors, and variations of this pattern in the fly box.
The Wired Rubber Legs Copper John adds a realistically segmented abdomen to an already effective pattern. This fly sinks quickly and can be used as a deep nymph or a dropper. Fish seem unable to resist the combination of color, flash, and realistic shape. The addition of rubber legs and realistically curved body creates an added attractant that makes this fly irresistable to hungry trout. Several sizes, colors, and variations of this pattern in the fly box will greatly add to success on the water.
The combination of crystal dubbing, high floating foam, rubber legs, hackle, elk hair and a flashy underwing make the Olive Foamulator come to life. The addition of foam and other synthetics have improved the Stimulator profile and made it buoyant and very durable. Foamulators are very effective when there are Stoneflies or Grasshoppers around and have quickly become one of the most popular all around attractor patterns.
A marabou body and tail gives this shrimp pattern enough movement to entice strikes from even the pickiest of fish. It is most useful on bonefish and other flats species.
The Natural Mouse Fly, also called the Mouse Rat, is among the most unique fly fishing flies out there. This was developed as a bass fly but somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that wet rodent is a welcomed delicacy for not only largemouths, but pike, big trout, salmon, smallies, and many other fish species. Truly, there are few fly fishing situations as strangely rewarding as catching big fish on a fly tied to imitate a small mammal. Give it a try some evening and see what eats mice in your river or lake.
The addition of a bead head, black krystal chenile and flash to the popular wooly bugger makes this fly come alive. No matter how you fish a Krystal bugger, it is one of the most effective patterns there ever will be. Due to the versatility and its ability to catch any fish that swims it is a must have fly pattern.
The Bitch Creek Nymph Fly has been a big fish catcher for years. The bright color and the overall buggy feel make this an effective pattern when your favorite stream is a bit high and murky. The bright color set against black also makes this an effective pattern to trigger Steelhead and Salmon.
The Yellow Gold Lead Eye Zonker is the go to fly for aggressive fish that will attack a bright color. Fall brown trout and many other aggressive fish love this bright minnow imitation. The heavy lead eyes make it easy to fish this screaming Yellow Zonker near the bottom.
The Conehead Autumn Splendor is a spin off from the famous Platte River Special. This pattern adds a conehead for extra movement and weight, life like yellow rubber legs for a realistic action and the effective wooly bugger profile. This color combination is especially productive for Brown Trout and is a popular choice with anglers fishing during the pre-spawn period.
The Czechs are masters of nymph fishing for trout, and this fly pattern is designed to get down hard and fast where the fish are feeding. The heavy weight of the Tunghead makes it the anchor for a Czech dropper system that has proven deadly on so many American rivers.
Midge patterns are overlooked by many fly anglers. Midges are most commonly used to match Chironomid hatches but often work great when fish refuse other dry flies. Chironomids hatch year round but fish target them when mayflies, caddis, and other insects are less abundant. Fish feeding on midges will rise more often due to needing to eat more of the small insects to make a meal. The Gray Midge is a fly that will work on any water and should always have a spot in your box.
The combination of crystal dubbing, high floating foam, rubber legs, hackle, elk hair and a flashy underwing make the Yellow Foamulator come to life. The addition of foam and other synthetics have improved the Stimulator profile and made it buoyant and very durable. Foamulators are very effective when there are Stoneflies or Grasshoppers around and have quickly become one of the most popular all around attractor patterns.
The Peacock Trude is a classic fly fishing fly that won't go out of style. The down wing provides fish with a different silhouette than most attractor flies and can work when stoneflies and caddis are about on the trout stream. Fly fishermen from Alaska to Argentina have found Trudes to work when other trout flies seem to be ignored by fish.
These small light colored may flies were designed for the angler who would rather sleep late. Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) usually hatch mid to late morning. But, during some magic days, hatches can continue into the late afternoon. In our local rivers these hatches start in June and run into August. This pattern drifts wonderfully in the water, imitating the dunn as it emerges from the film.
The Ultra Foam Bass Popper Frogs are a bass and panfish angler's go to bugs. Popper flies bring a new level of excitement to warm water fly fishing. This bass and panfish fly uses enticing wiggling legs a realistic frog profile to draw explosive strikes from ambushing fish.
Sometimes known by older fly anglers as a 'goofus bug' the Red Humpy is no doubt one of the finest of dry flies around. This fly fishing classic is very buoyant, colorful, and has the profile matching a variety of insects. The Humpy dry fly is a useful attractor pattern and seems to work exceptionally well for brook trout and grayling. This fly is the same as the Humpy, Wulff, Red, but it has the standard elk hair wing.
The Gray Drake Comparadun provides a great mix of lifelike silhouette, visibility, and buoyancy. Many Yellowstone area fly fishing guides go straight to comparaduns when a hatch brings up actively rising trout. This fly pattern floats in all but the fastest and roughest stream currents and trout seem to prefer this fly to many of the traditional hackled patterns. Fly fishers around the world should consider this a staple fly where large gray mayflies are present.
The addition of a parachute hackle and white post has taken the popular Madam X to new levels of fly fishing popularity with the Royal Parachute Madam X. The PMX, as it's known, is a must have in any trout fishing fly box. It may work for a hopper, a stonefly, a caddis fly, or an attractor fly but whatever the reason the fish come up with, it just seems to work. Fly fishing guides all over the world are making this their go to fishing fly.
This classic saltwater fly is probably the most popular saltwater pattern in the world. The Black Clouser Deep Minnow is effective on nearly every predatory saltwater species. It is especially useful for stripers, bluefish, bonefish, redfish, snook, seatrout, and many others. It has also become a very popular freshwater streamer pattern. Every fly fisher should carry an array of sizes and colors of Clouser Minnows to be ready for anything.