Catch More Trout With Flies That Match Your Exact Fishing Conditions—16 Time-Proven Patterns In 1 Convenient Pack

Adams Brown

Situations: Dry fly; All seasons; All water systems

Imitates: General mayflies, midges and even caddis

Why you need it in your tackle box: The high floating tail with the lightly dubbed body & the grizzly hackle provide a realistic wing that trout love to strike on. One of the most popular, versatile & effective dry flies since its creation. A true classic attractor that resembles a lot of different food sources so gets a lot of looks.

Stimulator Olive

Situations: Dry fly; Rivers & streams / rough, fast moving water, especially during the summer & fall when grasshoppers & stoneflies are abundant

Imitates: Salmonfly/stonefly as well as adult caddis, grasshoppers & large mayflies

Why you need it in your tackle box: Salmonflies/stoneflies are known for enticing large trout who are reluctant to rise to the surface—use this to catch some big ones! The high wing gives an impression of bulk & movement that’s highly visible even in foamy pocket water & fast moving waters. The short, flared tail keeps the back end riding high making it float like a cork. One of the best attractor patterns for prospecting when there is no hatch.

BWO Comparadun Olive

Situations: Dry fly; Spring creeks & slower moving water; Lakes; Most effective in spring & summer

Imitates: Adult & spinner stages of mayflies

Why you need it in your tackle box: The 180 degree hair wing keeps the fly riding low in the water for picky fish but is easy to see & has a forked tail for a realistic silhouette on the water. Laying low in the water is the key to this fly’s effectiveness, giving it lifelike action. Very useful when the hatches are small, making an easy meal for trout feeding subsurface

Doc Spratley Black

Situations: Lake trolling fly; All seasons (it’ll be one of your best choices during summer when fish aren’t biting as much)

Imitates: Everything. Commonly used to imitate the dragon nymph, damsel nymph and river streamer.

Why you need it in your tackle box: A classic attractor fly, the Doc Spratley outfishes all other flies during slow times (when there isn’t a hatch) thanks to its soft, flowing build that gives this fly life & catches the trout’s attention. Dragonfly nymph are usually still present in the summer, making this imitation one of the few flies that match available food sources in these months.

Woolly Bugger Gold Nugget Black

Situations: Wet Fly; Streamer; Effective in both still & running water on all densities of lines

Imitates: Large nymphs, baitfish, leech, clamworks, crayfish, shrimp, crabs & even salamanders

Why you need it in your tackle box: One of the most diverse flies, the Woolly Bugger is capable of imitating a huge variety of trout food & offers great versatility in how it can be fished—dead drifted, swung or stripped. A lot of its success comes down to this: the more food sources you can imitate at once, the better your odds of a trout biting. This is one of, if not the MOST, fished streamer pattern around the world.

Micro Leech Black

Situations: Wet fly; Popular lake pattern; Works all season long, but will get lots of bites in early spring & late fall

Imitates: juvenile leeches

Why you need it in your tackle box: Leeches are a favorite food source for trout so having this is your tackle box ensures you’re putting something on the menu they know & love. The fine fibers breathe & jiggle under the slightest movement in an appealing manner for trout allowing you to consistently take trout all season long.

Water Boatman

Situations: Wet & dry fly; Best in Early Spring during the Flying boatman’s mating frenzy or during the migratory flights in late fall when the flying boatmen start falling into the water (something Trout pick up on very quickly!)

Imitates: Water boatmen

Why you need it in your tackle box: Troll it, cast it or strip it—this is a very versatile fly for all levels of fishermen as it’s very hard to fish incorrectly. Imitating the water boatmen’s fall into the water activates the opportunistic predatory instinct of trout and will land you more fish on your line.

Edwards Freshwater Shrimp Brown

Situations: Wet fly; Works well with a natural drift with the stream current

Imitates: Scud/freshwater shrimp

Why you need it in your tackle box: In some areas scuds make up over 50% of a trout’s diet—so make sure you have one (or 3!) in your tackle box to tap into this opportunity. Swinging or drifting scuds under an indicator will oftentimes produce a strike even in the slowest of times.

Dragonfly Nymph Brown

Situations: Wet fly; Primarily for stillwater trout; All seasons

Imitates: Dragonfly nymphs

Why you need it in your tackle box: Dragonfly nymphs are one of the most abundant sources of available prey—making it second nature for trout to dine on your fly. Dragonfly nymphs are often found year round so this is an excellent fly to still get bites when there isn’t a hatch. Its sparkle back is the key to tricking trout into thinking the dragonfly nymph is about to emerge.

Sucking Leech Black & Sucking Leech Orange

Situations: Wet fly; Late fall & early spring when there is no hatch or food sources are limited

Imitates: Leech & egg

Why you need it in your tackle box: This is a tantalizing meal for trout—2 dinners in 1! Combining a leech and an egg pattern, this fly is very effective during the spawning season as it resembles a muddler eating an egg. Great for slow seasons as leeches are a food source year round so will keep getting bites even when other flies aren’t.

BH Prince Nymph Hotwire Brown

Situations: Wet fly; Works well in high gradient cold water rivers

Imitates: Stoneflies, Backswimmers; Dark Mayfly Nymph

Why you need it in your tackle box: With its flashy body snagging attention and the tail & wing combination looking just like their typical food, it’s hard for trout not to strike on this fly—it’s especially great at attracting the big fish. With its bead head and body weighing it down, this fly is quite effective at sinking to where the trout are.

Pumpkin Head Leech

Situations: Wet fly; A killer fly for low visibility lakes; When there is no hatch; As a searching pattern on new lakes; Troll, cast or strip

Imitates: Damselfly

Why you need it in your tackle box: With the bead balancing out the fly, the pumpkin head leech creates a realistic swimming action for trout to follow. This is a great attractor pattern for when there is no hatch—you can count on them to work just about anywhere there are trout.

Mad Bomber Chironomid Black

Situations: Wet fly; Still water; Best in early season, during the midge hatch & when trout are feeding at the edges

Imitates: Midges

Why you need it in your tackle box: Chironomids are to trout what chips are to humans—even if they’re not hungry, they’ll snack on a handful. Use this fly to catch those trout cruising through the shallows. This is a very simple fly but will lead to some of your most successful days on the water.

Blue Flash Damsel Yellow

Situations: Wet fly; Very effective in stillwaters, especially around weed beds; Fish slow & deep in early season or when the water is cold

Imitates: Damselfly nymph

Why you need it in your tackle box: This is a world-famous fly that’s super popular on smaller waters thanks to its realistic imitation of the damselfly in all seasons. With lots of movement and flash, the blue & yellow color combination has a dramatic effect on enticing trout. The best part is you can use it for stillwater & river trout.

BH Hotwire Caddis Green

Situations: Wet fly; During the caddis hatch; great choice for in faster water

Imitates: Emerging caddis pupa

Why you need it in your tackle box: This attractor pattern proves to be irresistible to trout with the hackle undulating realistically in the water, an attention-grabbing sheen from the flashy wire-wrapped midsection, & shaggy legs making it hard for trout to ignore. With its bead & wire helping to sink the fly, it’s a great choice for faster water.