Trout Flies

When chasing Trout, the term you usually hear is “match the hatch.” In other words,what the fly fisherman is trying to do is present the fish with a reasonable imitation of the insect it is keying in on as it is feeding. Sounds simple enough, but it can be challenging.

If you can see the bug on the surface of the water or in the air, that can make it a little easier. If not, you can use a simple dip net (think aquarium net) to catch a few samples from under the surface. If you can identify the bug, you have a better chance of choosing a fly from your box that will do the trick. If you know your bugs, you can determine if it’s a mayfly, caddis, stonefly, midge, etc. Depending on life cycle of the bug, you may need to use a larva, a pupa, a dry fly or a spinner. Look at the body shape, the size and the color. Try to match it as closely as possible.

Depending on the regulations on the water that your are fishing, don’t be afraid to use a two- or three-fly rig. Use different colors or sizes of the same fly pattern, or fish a combination of different patterns. This will increase your chances of hooking up with one of those Trout that you are stalking.

Below are some of my favorite Trout fly patterns. If you would like to order any of them, just click here.

The Purple Parachute