Fly Fishing Flies - Dry, Nymphs, Streamers & More

Each type fishes at a different depth and triggers a different feeding response. Dry flies float on the surface and work best when you can see trout actively rising to a hatch of caddis, mayflies, or midges. Nymphs go subsurface to imitate immature insects in the drift, which is where fishes like trout feed the vast majority of the time, and streamers are retrieved through the water column to imitate baitfish or leeches, often drawing aggressive, predatory strikes from larger fish.

The honest answer is that conditions should dictate the choice. If you see fish rising and insects on the water, a dry fly like the Elk Hair Caddis or Parachute Adams is the right call. When the surface is quiet, switching to a bead head nymph fished subsurface is almost always more productive for the type of fishes feeding below the surface far more often than they are on top.

A handful of well-chosen patterns covers most fishing situations without overwhelming you. For dries, the Parachute Adams in sizes 16–20 and the Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 14–18 imitate the most common hatches on most rivers. Add a few bead head nymphs like a Pheasant Tail or Hare's Ear, and a Woolly Bugger in olive or black for streamer coverage, and you have a functional box for a wide range of conditions.

Assortments take the guesswork out of stocking a fly box by bundling proven patterns in useful sizes and colors around a specific technique or species. They are a smart starting point for newer anglers who haven't yet dialed in which patterns work on their home water, and they also come in handy for destination trips where you may not know the local hatch calendar.

Warmwater species like bass and pike respond well to poppers on the surface, Woolly Buggers and articulated streamers subsurface, and larger foam attractor patterns. Saltwater flies are built around the forage those fish key on — shrimp imitations for bonefish and redfish, crab patterns for permit, and large baitfish profiles for tarpon and stripers. Saltwater patterns use heavier, corrosion-resistant hooks and tougher synthetic materials that hold up in salt and sun better than natural materials used in freshwater flies.