What Fly To Pick?
Don’t get too hung up on this. In very many cases, a fish like a trout will take any fly that vaguely looks like a food item. For example, if a nymph is small, dark-colored, in the water and can be seen, it stands a chance of being taken. Equally, if you are really stuck, on many stillwaters all you need to do is put on a big flashy lure, cast it out as far as you can and retrieve it at speed and you will get a take. Not always, but often enough to make life interesting.

However, all that said, it still helps if you can match the flies that you’re seeing as nearly as possible. The chances are that these will be what the trout are eating and your success rate will obviously increase. It’s not difficult to recognize flies if you know what you’re looking for.

Up-winged flies
The first important group of flies that makes up the bulk of the fish’s diet is the up-winged flies, notably the olives and the mayflies. Up-winged flies can be recognized by their vertically positioned, graceful wings and long, delicate tails. They start off mayfly as nymphs, develop into duns and then transform into spinners. Mating takes place before the female lays her eggs on the water and dies. They are beautiful flies to look at and the fish love them.

Roof-winged flies
Next up are the roof-winged flies. These (more…)

If you look in a catalog or go into a tackle shop you will see an alarming number of flies and it is easy to panic. Don’t. As you start out there are three major types of fly to kick your selection off. Firstly, there are lures, large flies tied to imitate small fish or simply to attract the curiosity of a trout. They are quite heavy to cast and you generally work them back quite quickly towards you. White, black, green, yellow and orange are good starting colors. Lure fishing isn’t the most intelligent side of fly-fishing but it certainly works, especially where the fish are stocked and not wild.

Up next are nymph imitations. Most trout and grayling spend most of their time feeding on nymphs of one type or another, and there are many anglers who never fish any other type of fly at all. Try to build up a collection of nymphs of different sizes, weights, colors and types. A good start is the pheasant tail. Gold head nymphs are also popular. Favorite colors are black, brown and olive green. (more…)

The Daves Hopper is a good grasshopper imitation tied with a spun deer hair head and knotted legs. Cast this fly with ease across that streaming Montana River. You know the trout will eat it up.

These flies are tied on Mustad or Dai-Riki hooks and are hackled with Hoffman (Whitting Farms) hackle. That means you’re getting one of the best hooks and hackle from a company who has been in business for almost 50 years.

This fly is available in sizes 8, 10 and 12 and is moderately priced at $1.35 each.

Trout lovers, grab your rod and tackle box. With the sow bug fly addition to your tackle box, you will never miss a fat trout again. This nymph is very popular among recreational and professional trout anglers.

Sow bugs aren’t actually insects. They are crustaceans, like lobsters and crabs only they don’t live in the water. They live in damp soil and usually come out at night.