Are you wondering what the best trout flies are for the month of April? We have found that there are certain flies in various categories that have proven time and time again to be winners.
Some of the top names are the Bow River Bugger, Muddy Buddy, Sparkle Worm, Flashback Pheasant Tail, RS2, and Brassy just to name a few. In the month of April, things are starting to get warmer and that means more activity is starting on the water. To be prepared you should have a good assortment of nymphs, streamers and emergers when going out on the water
Below is a breakdown of our Top 15 Fly Fishing Flies for the Month of April
Midge Fly Patterns for April Trout
Zebra Midge Red
Those who seek to better their nymph fishing have been using the zebra midge red fly. Due to its color, it is very noticeable. However, it's also somewhat confusing. Due to its deep red hue, it can sometimes ward off trout as a warning. However, the zebra midge is a nymph that will copy emerging midges, and due to its skinny shape and striped body, it's both streamlined and catches the water. As you might expect, it behaves a little erratic, just like a young aerial water insect might.
It imitates a larva or a pupa with its red body, silver ribs, and golden head. As you can tell, the bright colors catch the sunlight, too, making it very visible to the trout below the surface. The hook is nice and long, bending to about halfway up the bodyline. Some have had great success with it, and others have not. It's a bit hit and miss but well worth trying out.
Brassy
The first thing you notice about the brassy midge is the coils of the brass metal wrapping around the hook. This does two things. It makes it look like a pupa, which is usually fluorescent and very brightly shimmering. And it also gives the fly strength. The head is relatively small but also very metallic and glimmers in the sun. The bright shimmer of the fly makes it dance with the light, and therefore, it looks almost translucent from some angles, just what you want if you're angling in mind to use pupa as bait.
It was invented in the 1960s in Colorado, USA. As the majority of it is brass/metal, it sinks right to the bottom, allowing for deep trout angling. This behaves like a classic nymph, without too much movement but plenty of color to be noticed even at the bottom of a stream.
juju Bee Midge
This is a classic midge, with its sweet candy appearance, it can be almost any color you want. The water will stream around it, and due to the material used, it will look juicy and fat for any trout. The colors' contrast as the body is bright, but the head is slightly dull, will tempt even the shyest trout. The flashy wings and the bulbous body at the attachments give it a classic dragonfly appearance.
You can have pretty much any color you want, such as green, violet, red, blue, yellow, or white. The pattern is very tight, and the body is slender. This is an excellent midge for slow-moving rivers and streams, and it's not too heavy that it automatically sinks to the bottom. Due to this midge's youthly design, it looks like a midge, pupa, and emerger all in one.
Mayfly Fly Patterns for April Trout
RS2
It's been around for over 40 years and was designed by the professional angler Rim Chung. He used to fish in the South Platte River, in Colorado and he found that the olive color was the best of both worlds. The RS2 looks like a mayfly that is about to emerge. The body is a little bulbous, and it's short overall. The sharp tail that is yet to fan out and the short blue-purple wings look like they are about to spread any second.
This will give the trout all the signals it needs to reach up and grab your fly. The colorful contrast of the Olive, black, blue wings, and the blackhead has been successful for over 30 years. It's loved by those that fish in lakes and shallow streams as the smaller fly is usually going to be attractive to junior trout.
Lighting Bug Pearl
One of the most evocative flies in all of trout angling. Take one look at it, as you'll see why. The incredibly sharp and somewhat psychedelic colors are too irresistible for any trout. It looks just like a young dragonfly or a mayfly that has just about hatched and spread its wings. The short body flared wings and tail give it the appearance of a young and juicy insect.
The bulbous head shows that the mayfly has been developed and would be a lovely meal for any trout. It was created in 1992 and comes in several different colors, patterns, and sizes. The creator is Larry Graham from Kirkland in Washington. We have found that there is such variety in these flies that you can experiment until the cows come home.
Flashback Pheasant Tail
Much like the lightning bug pearl, this fly also has a fantastic array of colors. Its bulbous head marks that of an adolescent mayfly. It will sink to the bottom slowly, give enough time for the young trouts to nip at it as well. The features are much like the previous fly. With its splayed out wings and tail, it looks like it's recently emerged. This is one of the most tested patterns also, as anglers have used it for many years.
It was developed to be an effective pattern, namely for the size 12, 14, or 16 nymphs. The rib is an orange color due to its copper metal. The single strand of metal that wraps around the body is made out of a polished pearl that has been given a unique sunlight shade. The blue and olive wings attract trouts that mainly arrive in a river or stream during the summer.
Worm Patterns for April Trout
Sparkle Worm Red
It's one of the best worm flies in the business because it sparkles in the sunlight. This allows the sunlight to rattle around the worm, give it that unique twinkle that makes it so prominent in the water. This is an excellent pattern as a dropper with a streamer as your point fly.
It also imitates early stages of a mayfly nymph as well as smaller aquatic worms.
San Juan Worm
One of the most successful worm fly patterns of all time.
When you are fishing for trout in April, it's best to concentrate on the morning and afternoon peak times, and the San Juan Worm is a great fly. It's not dissimilar to the Sparkle Worm, but it is better suited to beginners.
It rests in the water for hours at a time, and the blood-red color catches the attention of passing trout without being too aggressive. You'll have a lot of success if you sit your San Juan Worm fly in the water in the early afternoon as the temperature increases and the trout emerge to find food.
Egg Fly Patterns for April
Glo Bug Red Dot Orange
The glo bug fly is usually unweighted. So it's going to be very lightweight and typically float at the top of the stream or river. It's going only to be dragged under the surface due to the weight of the hook itself. The bright orange shade, along with the red spot on the 'egg,' will make it a tasty-looking treat for any trout. The glo bug is a very tender egg filled with protein, so young trout love to consume it.
It should be set on a small hook, which allows the egg to perch closer to the sharp end. This will prevent any mishaps and will enable the egg to sit with minimal protrusion of the hook.
Nuke Egg
The nuke egg is made out of yarn. Although it may look very frail and hollow, it takes on its shape once it has been submerged in the water. You can see this when you try it out, as the bushy and somewhat erratic-looking egg turns out to be a succulent sphere that trouts will race toward. It's been one of the favorite flies for many anglers because it's so simple. You can make this in a matter of seconds, and it will attract some huge and small fish.
As you have probably guessed, trouts tend to notice bright colors like red and orange are more notable for trout. But this is due to the translucent nature of the flies that use these colors. This egg is thin and see-through when it's not submerged and when it's absorbed water, it still plays with the sunlight to give it a juicy appearance.
Streamer Fly Patterns for April
Slump Buster
This bushy fly is excellent for searching for trout in high water. This is for the streamer, who loves to have a little bit of flash thrown into the fly, but the colors remain subtle. This fly is weighted just enough to sink deep into the stream but remains playful with the water's current. This is for the aggressive and quite large trout.
The bushy yet tapered design allows the fly to rip through the current, which then plays to the more aggressive fish's nature. If you want to catch the larger and more meaty trouts, this is one for you.
Double Bunny Black and Olive
Much like the previous fly, this is also made in the same fashion. However, it's going to be two-tone as it is able to give both a lighter and darker touch. The bright wire prongs that erect out from the head give it a slight insect nature. It could be a form of Beatle that has fallen into the stream, struggling to get to the banks. It might also be a young cockroach or some kind of exoskeleton bug fallen from the leaves.
The black and olive colors give this fly a brilliantly balanced look. It will also fight the current and allow it to stay where you want it during a strong current. This is for the larger fish that have the power to swim against the current and catch their prey.
Muddy Buddy Black
This is a great fly to fish for rainbow trout. It has a theme of a larger fish coming over to eat a tiny fish. The fly can be made using yarn or synthetic fibers, which allows it to balloon up in size. The fly is also going to include a slight blue tinge at the bottom. Therefore, the underside of the fly will attract the eyes of a larger fish, i.e., a trout. This can be red or blue, as well as other colors like green.
It's suitable for streams that have a decent current, but because it's also relatively lightweight, it will be ideal for still water as well, such as lakes. The head can be left as is, or it can have tiny white fibers protruding out to imitate whiskers.
Bow River Bugger
This has been used to catch trout across the USA. Its bulky nature is great for attracting the largest trout, and it can put up with the battering of a fast river. The head is in the shape of a cone, which will look like a fish's bulbous head. The beige, brown and blue body is excellent when you want to fish for big trout because it often symbolizes larger small fishes that often, ospreys will swoop down to catch.
The blue and black striped sticks or wires that flow down the body, starting at the head, will grab the trout's attention. They flail around in the water to give the impression that the fish is struggling to fight the current.
Muddler Minnow
The Muddler Minnow is used to catch large brown trout, but other types will also bite. Although it's meant to look like an adult fly, it seems almost like a moth. This big fat juicy streamer is going to fight the current very well. It will sink to the bottom to offer itself up to only the largest and fattest trout.
The fly also imitates grasshoppers and even mice! The feathered and furry material is a mixture of squirrel fur, tinsel, and turkey quill. It's a very decorative fly, but it absorbs water very well. This will give it the extra mass needed to provide it with that more comprehensive look that the giant trouts will fight each other to have a chance at.
If you have any further questions about the best type of fly to catch the best trout in your area, please don't hesitate to contact us. Whether they are beginners, advanced, or expert fishermen, we have helped many anglers achieve their dreams of catching the biggest trout possible.
We sell individual flies, as well as kits, so you have a whole array of different flies to try out. From nymphs, emergers to streamers, we have lots of different styles to choose from. If you would like to know how to use these files, we also provide lessons.
Contact us today via our website message feature, or call us on 1-773-FLY-FISH. Alternatively, you can email us at info@drifthook.com
About the Author
Matthew Bernhardt, a third-generation Coloradan, grew up at the forefront of the state’s fly-fishing revolution, enjoying time on the water, side by side with experienced guides and lifelong anglers.
By combining his passion for fly-fishing with input from other experienced fly-fishers and guides and his fine arts degree from Colorado State University, Matthew spent five years carefully developing the Drifthook Fly Fishing System, built to help every angler catch more trout.
When he’s not spending time with his wonderful family, you’ll find him out on the water catching MONSTER trout, and he anxiously looks forward to the day when his kids are old enough to join him there.
