This article gives you the 15 best fly fishing flies for trout as you prepare for your fishing experience this March. As spring breaks on us once again, many insects will begin to make the trout menu. Therefore, it is vital to know the top trout flies for this period, as these will be the difference between a consistent catch and going home empty-handed. So, don’t let this spring period end without you making the best fishing experience out of it.
We have put together the best fly fishing flies assortment for you. You can consider this your Fly Fishing Flies 101 For March course. Our top 15 Best Trout Flies for March are:
- Mercury Midge
- Crystal Midge
- Zebra Midge
- Juju Bee Midge
- Lightning Bug Midge
- Hare’s Ear
- Flashback Pheasant Tail-Bead Head
- RS 2 Fly
- Kaufman Stonefly
- Copper John - Beadhead
- Twenty Incher
- Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Orange
- Nuke Egg - Alaskan Rose
- Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Pink
- Copper John Hot Wire - Beadhead
1. Mercury Midge
The Mercury Midge comes with a glass bead head, which offers an extra spark of light to this detailed pattern. This design makes it possible to feed fishbone while it drifts down the water. The Mercury Midge has succeeded in fooling even the most selective and hard-fished trail water trouts for over 20 years. You can attribute a lot of its success to its design.
For example, its clear glass bead has been designed to resemble the appearance and even movements of a gas bubble that gets trapped in an emerging midge’s thorax. The name Mercury Midge is a result of the fly’s head area, which takes the design of a tube filled with mercury. This fly is a great option when considering the best trout flies for March or springtime. It comes in various colors and sizes to choose from, ranging from 16 to 22.
2. Crystal Midge
The Crystal Midge is another excellent sidekick to have in your fly box as you prepare for your fishing expedition in March. This generic midge comes with a flashy bead and wing, with an excellent track record of catching the attention of even the most selective fishes. And this is especially effective when the water is teeming with the emergence of tiny black midges. In other words, there is hardly any chance of freshwater fishes spotting any difference between the Crystal Midge and the emerging black midges springtime.
Many experienced people in the fishing world consider this midge an excellent helping hand in a blanket hatch situation. And if you’re looking for a way to add a little flash to a sleepy trout, then this is the fly to use. Plus, the materials hold up pretty well. The Crystal Midge is available in various sizes and colors. You will find sizes ranging from 16 to 28, with other colors like olive, black, and gray also available.
3. Zebra Midge
If you’re talking about the best trout flies for March, the Zebra Midge hardly needs any introduction. You can easily find this fly in almost any fly shop you walk into. Its immense popularity is a testament to its ability to fool trout, no matter what part of the world you are in. and when it comes to springtime or freshwater fishing, rest assured that you have a formidable partner in your fly box.
Its rather simple-looking design belies how effective it is. However, the same tie simplicity has played a massive role in making this midge pattern stand the test of time and stand above many other flies or midge patterns out there. The Zebra Midge is designed to imitate emerging midges or midge pupae. It is simple to tie and surprisingly very durable. Plus, it is also straightforward to use, even if you’re a rookie in the fishing game. All you need to do is first get the hang of it, and you’re good to go. Zebra Midge sizes range from 16 to 20.
4. Juju Bee Midge
Moving on, we have the Juju Bee Midge. If a fly looks like a candy cane for trout, it would be this one. This fly or midge pattern acts as sweetly and swiftly as it looks and is more than capable of tempting even the most reluctant trout you will find during March. Juju Bee Midge comes in a unique design, including tiny wing buds complemented by contrasting colors that run down to its abdomen. It also comes with a small flash along its back, which plays a massive role in this midge design’s success.
For many experienced anglers, the Juju Bee Midge quickly falls within the top five best trout flies for March, springtime, or freshwaters. It is also available in different colors like black, grey, and olive. Plus, you will find other size options to choose from, ranging from 18 to 22. And even if you want to make one by yourself, you shouldn’t have too much struggle if you have the right materials.
5. Lightning Bug
The Lightning Bug makes it to our list as one of the best trout flies for spring, and we have creator Larry Graham of Kirkland, Washington, to thank for that. This pattern has proven to be one of the most effective when it comes to attractor nymphs since it was first created in 1992. If you’re preparing for your springtime fishing, then the Lightning Bug is just one of those assistants you need to have with you in various colors and sizes.
You can have a combination of red and pear color options in different sizes ranging from 14 to 16, and you’re good to go. The Lightning Bug comes in a pheasant tail and legs, a peacock thorax, and features a holographic flashabou body capable of stirring up life in otherwise dull trouts. Plus, you can use this year round.
6. Hare’s Ear
The Hare’s Ear is another handy item to have in your fly box artillery. Are you having a lousy springtime fishing day? Just reach into your fly box and pull out the Hare’s Ear. This helpful utility emerger pattern is more than capable of transforming a poor day’s fishing woes into an excellent one in a matter of seconds, especially when you can find small but unidentifiable natural elements on the water surface. Plus, its design allows you to fish in all kinds of water bodies in March - from still water to rivers and streams.
The pattern dressing features a hook, ranging from sizes 12 to 18, a thread, and a body dubbed as the natural hare’s ear (where the fly gets its name). It also features a rib usually made of fine pearl tinsel material, white polyester yarn for its wing, and a thorax. The thorax is also often referred to as the natural hare’s ear. And to complete the pattern dressing, there is also a feather - usually, a red game, trimmed at the bottom.
7. Flashback Pheasant Tail
The next entry onto our list of best trout flies for March is the Flashback Pheasant Tail. This fly is one of those you can rely on as a truly tried and tested option that should be in any serious angler's fly box. Along with our previous entry (the Hare's Ear Fly), this is one of the most effective nymph patterns ever created and one of the most imitated designs.
Little wonder it makes it onto our list. Just like its name suggests, this fly features a pheasant body and tail with a bead head. It also comes with a copper rib and a pearl-like flashabou that runs the entire wing's entire length to the body in a single strand. You can use this fly in either sizes 12 and 14 or even 16 if you're experienced enough. But no matter what size you opt for, one fact remains; freshwater fishes will not stop falling for this temptation any time soon.
8. RS 2
The RS 2 Fly is branded as one of the mayfly emergers that have stood the time. The pattern was initially developed by fly master Rim Chung and has become one of the most effective flies for freshwater fishing. The RS 2 Fly, as its name suggests, is a variation of its previous RS 1 version, although many other tiers continue to develop variations to this fly.
RS2 stands for Rim’s Semblance no. 2, after the name of its creator. Its design features a hook, ranging from sizes 18 to 24. It also comes with a tail, an abdomen, a thorax, and a wing. Making the RS 2 Fly on your own is pretty easy if you find the right materials. But one thing that is guaranteed is that if you head over to your favorite fishing location this March, this fly will do the trick when you see the mayflies starting to emerge.
9. Kaufman Stonefly
The Kaufman Stone's fly or midge pattern was developed by and named after the fly-tying author, Rendall Kaufman. This fly has become one of the standard stonefly nymph patterns in the world of fishing. Although you need to learn how to incorporate a few unusual tying techniques, the Kaufman Stonefly is a relatively easy pattern to tie.
This fly comes with a lead underbody system, which allows a larger chassis for the pattern while giving the fly enough weight to get it down the water fast-and-furious style. Ever since this midge pattern was first tied in 1973, different original design variations have emerged.
However, this pattern remains very effective when it comes to imitating the large salmon fly. And the month of March offers any fishing lover the chance to try Kaufman's Stonefly in the freshwaters to experience awe-inspiring results.
10. Copper John - Beadhead
Moving on, we have the Copper John-Beadhead. This pattern represents both a stonefly and a mayfly. It is as effective as it is popular - taking the world of fishing by storm ever since the pattern was created.
The fly can also be used either as a dropper or deep nymph and is designed so that it sinks pretty quickly. It is tried and tested in the spring fishing waters, and fishes cannot seem to be able to resist the temptation it comes with, especially with its perfect combination of flash effect, color, and realistic shape.
If you want to experience the Copper John-Beadhead fly at its best, take advantage of its design. That means it would be best if you try using it for fishing in water bodies where the stoneflies or mayflies are very common. However, it can also be very effective when used in some lake situations.
If you want to be a serious angler, do not even set off to the river without first adding several of these patterns to your fly box. Also, don’t be afraid to include various sizes, colors, and variations.
11. Twenty Incher
The Twenty Incher is easily considered a freestone river champion. And if you’re getting ready for your fishing expedition this March, then you should have it in your fly box.
The Twenty Incher is generally a stonefly nymph that you can use in various sizes to take the form of or imitate almost any kind of water stonefly species in our water bodies.
Its design gives it the perfect weight balance.
And this works pretty well with its contrasting colors feature and realistic proportions - making it ideal for the nymph family it is designed to imitate. And it is little wonder that the Twenty Incher has more than proven its effectiveness time and time again.
So, why is it called the twenty incher? You guessed right. This bad boy will make catching those twenty-inchers as easy as you can imagine - and you may end up attracting several other sizes too as a bonus.
12. Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Orange
Moving on, we have the Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Orange midge pattern. Egg patterns are usually very effective, especially during the spawning season. That is because browns and rainbows gorge themselves on eggs during this period, and that is what makes this pattern very effective during this season.
Just as its name suggests, it is designed to imitate a small egg, with its little red dot feature attracting passing trout. Compared to the other trout flies already mentioned, this fly requires a higher skill level, but nothing a few experiences can’t teach. So, do not hesitate to add some of these egg flies to your fly box if you’re looking for ways to add variations to your fishing approach. Plus, this pattern is sure to send you home with a good catch and a great feeling.
If you have ever wondered how to fish a egg pattern, check out our extensive article here>
13. Nuke Egg - Alaskan Rose
From one egg pattern to another, we have the Nuke Egg - Alaskan Rose. To get the best out of your fishing expeditions during spring, it would help if you use a variety of approaches. And the Nuke Egg - Alaskan Rose offers precisely that - a different approach. You can either use this pattern together with another in a twin approach or use it alone. When used together with another pattern, this gives you the chance to cover a wider water body area of depth, which will logically improve your catch significantly.
However, the Nuke Egg - Alaskan Rose is in its most effective state when fishing in water bodies with lower depths - either with murky waters or low lights. Its design makes it a very eye-catching target even in the dullest trouts. This pattern offers a lot of versatility and can be used in different seasons.
Its design allows you to try out various kinds of egg patterns, whether as an imitator or an attractor. Plus, it features a colorful shroud that gives it a natural pattern and makes it look a little transparent when it comes into contact with water.
14. Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Pink
Our last but not least entry is the Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg) - Pink. You can also opt for this as an alternative to the previous Orange version we mentioned. The design is supposed to help you catch the eye of any lurking trout while taking the form of an egg that just came loose from its nest - the perfect tempting effect for any trout. And this is even more effective when fishing in springtime.
15. Hot Wire Prince
The Hot Wire Prince is just a little different from the earlier mentioned Copper John fly. You can think of this pattern like a cross between that brassie and the pheasant tail. Because of its design, you can trust it to work in any water body at any location as long as there are mayflies or stonefly nymphs. But when it comes to fishing in the month of March, this little guy steps up the game impressively.
This trout fly design also allows it to sink very fast. It is sleek in appearance and reflects light to attract fishes even in very dull trouts and in very murky waters. The design also allows the nymph to swim realistically and attractively, appearing like a tiny bubble that many nymphs rise on. Its twin colors also add a touch of attractability and contrast to its pattern.
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.
