The Light Chartreuse Egg Fly is one of the most effective roe patters available. The color combination of this fly is great for catching fish in almost any water condition. This color is exceptional when the fish have been spawning for some time and they are seeing lighter colored eggs.
The intricately designed and attractive Bead Head Yellow Sally Stonefly Nymph (say that 3 times fast) is a proven fish catcher in fast freestone rivers of the Western United States. It is sure to produce anywhere else that these prolific little stoneflies are found. Fish the Bead Head Yellow Sally Nymph deep in riffles, pockets, and pools or even as the dropper under a dry fly.
The Orange Egg Fly is perhaps the most popular roe color. Almost every freshwater fish will eat eggs including Steelhead and Salmon. Whether you are fishing in famous Steelhead run, your local river or even the gravel point on the nearby lake, the fish have learned that these glowing orbs are an tasty meal. Fish that are not spawning will hold in areas near the spawning fish and sometimes even travel with migrating fish for the opportunity to eat their misplaced eggs.
This classic saltwater baitfish streamer popularized by Lefty Kreh has caught fish for years and continues to produce all around the world. This Deceiver, Yellow-Green fly is a muti-purpose baitfish pattern that has proven effective on almost any saltwater species. Several colors and sizes should be in every fly box even for those anglers going after some of the more predatory freshwater species.
The Olive Conehead Sculpin is one of the most realistic sculpin patterns available. The realistic shape along with the lifelike swimming action of rabbit make it a fly that fish find hard to refuse. The addition of a cone gives gives this fly a pulsating effect when retrieved, and helps get the fly down deep. Olive is the most recognized color for sculpin, and it will work great in nearly any type of water.
Bitters were originally developed for Bonefish on the flats around Belize. They have now been proven to work all over the world. This fly will catch a variety of saltwater fish and freshwater anglers are finding the Olive Bitter to be effective for Carp, Bass, Panfish and many others. This pattern will imitate small crabs, shrimp, urchins, crayfish and other items fish feed on. The glue covered eyes and synthetic materials create a translucent silhouette that fish find irresistible.
The Wooly Bugger is perhaps the most versatile fly in fly fishing. The Black Grizzly Bead Head 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 Salmon Egg Unreal Egg Fly is one of the most realistic roe patters available. The internal red glass bead gives the fly a 3D effect and mimics a fertilized egg exceptionally well. The color combination of this fly is great for catching fish in clear water. This color is exceptional when the fish have been spawning for some time and they are seeing lighter colored eggs.
The Parachute Pink Albert dry fly is one of the most versatile Mayfly patterns available. The impression of this fly on the water will imitate both a Mayfly dun and a spent Mayfly spinner. This is a great color for matching Pale Morning Duns and other light colored mayflies. The versatile profile of the Parachute Pink Albert will often produce fish when other patterns won't. Parachute flies land upright more than traditionally patterns. This makes them easy to see and less likely to spook a selective fish.
The Mahogany Dun Comparadun provides a great mix of lifelike silhouette, visibility, and buoyancy. Many fly fishing experts go straight to comparaduns when a mayfly 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 Mahogany mayflies are present.
Developed around the classic trout waters of Yellowstone, Orange Bead Head Serendipity Fly has become a favorite especially of pocket water fishermen on the famous Madison River. The array of colors and sizes allows this fly to be used for caddis and midges or simply as a searching pattern. Trout in all types of water, even in large stillwater environments, seem to love the segmented buggy look of the Serendipity.
A large profile leech pattern, this Purple Bunny Leech Fly will get attention from a distance. Cross cut and Zonker style rabbit strips give this fly a lifelike pulsating action proven to stimulate strikes from trout, salmon, bass, and a variety of other species.
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 Yellow Sally Fly can be the forgotten stonefly but they are actually quite important food in most trout streams. Some Yellow Sally's even hatch in mid stream currents so pay close attention to where the fish seem to be taking them. This hatch matching dry fly is effective wherever the smaller stones are found.
Black CDC Ants are great searching terrestrials and also work well when blind cast where fish are likely to hold. This black ant fly also works well when presented to rising fish that refuse other offerings. A fish that begins feeding on ants will often key on them even when they aren't noticed drifting in the water. This high floating and visible pattern is among the best ant dry flies available.
Immitating anything from an annelid to an earthworm, the Worm Brown San Juan Worm fly simply catches fish. It's much easier to handle and keep than "garden hackle" as well; no coffee can necessary.
The Beadhead Rubber Leg Prince Nymph is a proven classic fly that will continue to be an effective fish catcher in most trout waters around the globe. The flashy peacock herl body entices strikes and the split tail and wing give the impression of a stonefly, backswimmer, or dark mayfly nymph. This fly may not imitate any particular trout food but it just looks like something tasty. It pays to carry several different sizes and varieties in the fly box at all times.
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 has the same hackle as the Humpy, Yellow.
Every freshwater fish will eat the Chartreuse Egg Fly including Steelhead and Salmon. The Chartreuse color will catch fish in any water condition and triggers strikes when others roe fly colors don't seem to work. Whether you are fishing a famous Steelhead run, your local river or even a gravel point on the nearby lake, the fish have learned that these glowing orbs are an tasty meal. Fish that are not spawning will hold in areas near the spawning fish and sometimes even travel with migrating fish for the opportunity to eat their misplaced eggs.
The Grey Ray Charles or Gray Ray for short is a killer sow bug pattern with a little extra flash and charm that you just can't resist. It has real star power and the fish like it too.
The Bitch Creek Nymph Fly has been a big fish catcher for years. The contrasting colors and the motion of the rubber legs give this fly attracting qualities fish can't pass up. These features make this one of the better patterns for catching fish in high or off colored water. Bitch Creek Nymphs will work almost anywhere but are most effective in waters with stoneflies or crayfish.
This is a newer version of the classic Bugger tie. The Olive Cone Head Burgin Bugger incorporates a realistic two tone tail, a flashy krystal chenile body and lifelike rubberlegs. These features along with the cone head give it a natural look that resembles sculpin, leeches, crayfish and more making it one of the most versatile streamers available. Every angler should have Buggers in their fly box and the Burgin Bugger should be at the top of the list.
The Black Bead Head Rubber Leg Stonefly Nymph has the best features of other patterns all in one effective fly. The realistic profile makes big fish inhale this pattern as if it were candy. The dark buggy profile of this pattern makes this a top choice for fishing in high or off colored water. This lifelike pattern is productive for nearly any fish and will work even in waters without stoneflies.
The Carnage Green Drake dry fly is one of the most realistic Drake patterns available. The perfectly tapered extended foam body along with an exquisite tail and super fine legs match a Green Drake exactly. The parachute hackle makes it float upright with a low profile. This closely matches the mayfly duns on the water and makes the fly extremely easy to see. These features make it one of the best patterns for flat water and selective fish. The Carnage Drake will work on almost any water and is a must have pattern. Green Drake Emergers and Duns are easy to catch and have a tremendous food value. This makes big fish feed when Drakes are around. Anglers eagerly await the first signs of hatching Drakes and often travel great distances to fish the famous hatch.
The Olive A.P. Emerger Fly is one of the top patterns for imitating a callibaetis mayfly or damselfly nymph. This fly was developed for the shallow lakes of Oregon by well known stillwater angler Denny Rikards. When aquatic insects start to become active, lake anglers are finding the A.P. Emerger to be a one of the most constant patterns they fish. When the fish are difficult to catch, having versatile patterns like this that match a variety of food sources will greatly increase your success.
The high floatation properties of foam has made this Brown Foam Ant Fly a favorite among terrestrial fishermen. Some fish seem to prefer the realistic segmentation and suggestion of legs provided by this pattern to other ants.
The pulsating action and unique light catching qualities of this Brown Sparkle Leech Fly make it a useful pattern in most trout lakes around the world. It is most effectively fished on a sinking or intermediate line wherever trout may be cruising or suspended.
This is the classic spun deer hair hopper fly. Dave's Hopper Fly has a very realistic shape and good buoyancy. This pattern has been catching trout for years wherever terrestrials are likely to fall into the water.
The A.C. (Anything Caddis) is named for its ability to truly cover any caddis species, and stages within the hatch. This AC Caddis, Pheasant Tail pattern is a go to fly for you box.
Definitely made for big fish, the Red Rubber Legs Tarantula is the fishing fly to throw when you need some attention. Aggresive fish can't resist the multiple wiggling legs and bright colors of this popular trout fly. Fly fishermen all over the West and in all parts of the fly fishing world have found this to work when trout just feel the need to eat.
The Dark JRS was originally created by Western fly fishing guide, Jake Ricks, to imitate a local clinger-type mayfly nymph. This now proven pattern combines properties of several proven fish catching nymphs into one super nymph. This exclusive RiverBum nymph pattern has proven to be the ultimate all around nymph in many fly boxes around the world. This fly effectively matches several varieties of mayflies and stoneflies and simply looks tasty to hungry trout. If you don't know what to try this is a great searching or prospecting nymph fly that seems to trigger strikes in all kinds of water.
The Black Stillborn Midge is a proven pattern for midge emergers. The thin, white foam and hackle keeps the top of the fly on the surface while the body of the fly hangs from the surface film. Keep some on hand in each color and size you'll be glad you did next time "noses" start to appear sipping midge.