Fly Patterns 

 

There is an extensive collection of fly patterns used for fly fishing, we are trying create a great resource for both experienced and novice anglers. Check out descriptions and fly recipes of different fly patterns, including dry flies, wet flies, nymphs, streamers, and specialty patterns, we will also provide information and tools that will help the beginner start the fly fishing adventure. 

An awesome fly to start with in spring is the Elk Hair Caddis fly. They are an effective fly for fly fishing first thing in the spring. Created to imitate an adult caddis fly it has a profile that makes it look great to the trout below. It is a dry fly that is cast upstream and allowed to drift naturally with the current. The elk hair and hackle make it a high floating fly, which makes it ideal for pocket water or fast-moving water. It’s easy to see and follow which also allows you to see when the fish takes the fly.The Elk Hair Caddis fly was originally designed and tied by Al Troth, it was intended to be an emerger fly until the elk hair was added and then fished as an adult.

Size: 10-20

Hook: 2x fine dry fly 

Thread: Tan 6/0 or 8/0 Veevus or 70-140 denier  

Body: Tan Dubbing 

Wing: Light Elk or Deer Hair 

Ribbing: Fine Gold  

Hackle: Ginger, Palmered https://ebay.us/ojpnkw

Elk Hair Caddis Fly

Another great fly to use in the spring is the Goddard Caddis Fly, known for their realistic look. They are a high floating fly because of how it is tied. It is a simple fly to tie, but very effective, made with a deer hair body, a hackle wing, and a pair of antennae. The deer hair body gives the fly its buoyancy, and the hackle wing helps it look like a real caddis fly, adding antennas are not necessary by sometimes help. 

John Goddard and Clive Henry created this fly in the early 1960s. It can be fished in many different conditions but works the best in slow moving water. Dead drift it or skated across the top works or and with a dropper fly. 

Size: 10-20

 

Hook: 2x fine dry fly 

Thread: gray  

Body: deer hair 

Hackle: brown cock hackle (here from saddle) 

Hackle: Ginger, Palmered https://ebay.us/ojpnkw

Elk Hair Caddis Fly

Another popular spring fly is Puterbaughs foam caddis, a high floating caddisfly imitation that works great in many different water conditions. It is made with a foam body in many different colors, an elk hair wing, and a brown hackle color. It has a caddisfly silhouette in the water and is easy to see and track. Because of the foam and elk hair it stays on the surface of the water and works great in turbulent water, during a caddis fly hatch and when using a dropper fly setup.  If fishing a dropper, match the hatch, if its caddis use a caddis nymph, if the mayflies are hatching use a mayfly nymph. This fly was developed by Dennis Puterbaugh.

Hook: Dry Fly  #14-18

Thread: Black

Body: 2mm Black Foam Strip

Wing: Natural Elk Hair, cow or yearling

Hackle: Brown Rooster

Hackle: Ginger, Palmered https://ebay.us/ojpnkw

Elk Hair Caddis Fly

A March Brown dry fly is a classic fly that imitates a March Brown mayfly. They are a small fly, usually no more than ½ inch long. The body is made of light brown or tan fur, and the wings are mallard flank. They are a  popular fly for trout, and it can be used around the year. They work the best during the spring, when mayflies tend to hatch in large numbers.It’s simple to tie, and it can be made from different materials using light-colored materials that imitate a natural mayfly. It can be tied in many different sizes, but most commonly a size 14 or 16 hook is a good choice.

Hook: #10 - 14 Dry Fly Hook

Thread: White Thread

Tail: Brown Cock Hackle

Wing: Mallard Flank Feather

Body: Light Tan Dubbing

Hackle: Brown Cock Hackle

Hackle: Grizzly Cock Hackle

 

Hackle: Ginger, Palmered https://ebay.us/ojpnkw

Elk Hair Caddis Fly

Name:

Thread:

Tag:

Tail:

Rib:

Hackle:

Body:

Wings:

A

       

Abbey 

Black

 

Orange&black

Gold

Brown

Red Floss

Grey Mottled (mallard)

Adams

Grey

Gold

Golden Tippet

 

Brown and Grizzly

Grey Wool

Grey Mottled (mallard

Alexandra

Black

 

Red Goose WIng Feathers

Silver

Black

Silver Tinsel 

Peacock Sword and Jungle Cock

Alder

Black

Gold

  

Black

Peacock Herl

Dark speckled Turkey or Grouse

Apple Green

Black

 

Brown

 

Brown

Green Silk

Dark Grey

Ash Dun

       

August Dun

       

Autumn Dun

       

B

Thread

Tag

Tail

Rib

Hackle

Body

Wings

Babcock

Black

Gold

Black and Yellow

Gold

Black

Cardinal Red

Black and Yellow

Barrington

Black

Silver

 

Silver

Brown

Peacock Herl

Grey Speckled

Beauty

       

Beaverkill

       

Bee

       

Belgrade

       

Blue Rooster

       

Blue Bi-visible

       

Black Bi-visible

       

Blue Winged Olive

       

Blue Professor

       

Black Nymph

       

Brown Nymph

       

Brown Bi-Visible

       

Brown Spider

       

Black Spider

       

Brown Dun

       

Black Midge

       

Black Prince

       

Blue Dun

       

Blue Bottle

       

Black Knat

       

Black Hackle/Palmer

       

Blue Upright

       

Brown Hackle

       

Brown Palmer

       

Brown Hen

       

Blue Quill

       

Black and Silver

       

C

       

Caddis

       

Relax

“Fly-fishing is the simplest, purest, most skillful and pleasurable way to catch a fish.”
Fennel Hudson