What are the must have, top 5 dry fly patterns? Well as with any list, this is purely subjective, and based on this writer’s opinion, as well as the location and species that I fish for most (UK or US small streams, and trout). Here are the top 5 dry flies that you’ll […]
I’m not sure why caterpillar fly patterns aren’t as popular as hoppers, beetles, and ants, but they should be! Especially useful in waters with overhanging trees and bushes, a big caterpillar makes for a big meal for a hopefully big trout. They’re easy and fast to tie, and they float really well. This version is
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This Realistic Caddis Pupa fly pattern looks so good you might not want to fish it, but if you do, it’s incredible for targeting trout and other freshwater species that feed on caddis pupae. This versatile pattern imitates the transitional stage of the caddisfly’s lifecycle as it transforms from a larva into an adult. Caddis
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This variation of a caddis nymph larva is a simple and fun fly to tie. Here I use bright green / chartreuse floss for the body, and use a couple different shades of permanent marker to create an ombre effect going from dark green at the butt to light green at the head of the
This Quill Body Caddis Dry Fly is a remarkable imitation of adult caddisflies. Its defining feature is the quill body, here tied using Polish quills, aka hand-stripped peacock eye quills. This meticulously designed body perfectly mimics the segmented look of caddisflies, enhancing its realism. Complemented by a wing made from elk hair, and a Whiting
This little midge pattern is great for off-color water, and especially good for finicky fish when tied really small. It’s remarkably quick to tie, I usually whip off about 12 of these in 20 minutes or so, and sometimes tie a whole range with different color wires, and even use differentUV dubbing instead of the
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The original Walt’s Worm was named after and created by Walt Young, who fished it on Spring Creek in Central Pennsylvania. The Sexy Walt’s variation adds a hot spot, and sometimes a second color of dubbing behind the hot spot. This pattern was tied by Raymond Collette, aka @theokayfisherman on Instagram and YouTube. Check out
The caddisfly, a common insect in freshwater ecosystems, plays a vital role in fly fishing. Us enthusiasts have developed numerous dry fly patterns to imitate caddis flies. These patterns often feature elk hair, CDC (Cul-de-Canard) feathers, and hackle to mimic the insect’s distinct shape and fluttering behavior. This pattern features a caddis green biot for
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How to tie the Adams The Adams fly is a classic dry fly pattern renowned in fly fishing. Created by Leonard Halladay and named after his friend Charles Adams, this versatile fly imitates various mayfly species that float on the water’s surface. Its distinguishable features include a gray or brownish body, grizzly hackle, and upright
This is a semi-standard wooly bugger, with the addition of some red rabbit rubbing just behind the conehead bead that’s brushed out to give the appearance of gills, or… blood? Anyway, it’s a red hotspot that seems to trigger fish pretty nicely. The Woolly Bugger is a renowned fly pattern cherished by fly anglers worldwide.
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