WHAT FLIES DO YOU USE FOR FLY FISHING?

Emergers represent the late stage of the nymph's metamorphoses. This is the stage when the insect is making its way to the water surface to change into an adult. Many emerger patterns have similar characteristics to a nymph.

The difference is that emergers are tied to be fished in the middle of the feeding column or just below the water surface. These patterns can be used the same as a nymphing technique but also as a trailer for a dry fly fishing presentation.

You will typically find emerger patterns in Mayflies, Caddis, and Midges. Emergers are a significant portion of a trout's diet and are a very successful fly pattern when fly fishing.

Dry flies are designed to mimic the adult stage of an insect. Dry Flies get their name because they are designed to sit on the surface of the water and "stay dry." The oldest recorded date of dry flys first used can be found in the December 17th issue in The Field back in 1853. The material and designs of these flies help the fly sit on top of the water's surface.

Dry flies are typically used when fish are rising or coming to the surface to eat. Dry fly patterns mimic Mayflies, Caddis, Stoneflies, Terrestrials, Damsel Flies, and Midges. Newer designs even represent mouse patterns for targeting larger species.

Dry fly fishing is considered one of the purest forms of fly fishing and is practiced worldwide.

The traditional wet fly was developed in the British Isles for streams and lakes, and they were also pioneered in the Americas in the 1800s. Anglers from New York to Montana used these designs chasing trout, steelhead, grayling, and sea trout.

Wet Flies were traditionally tied on larger hooks and most wet fly patterns use soft hackles with slender bodies and neatly tied paired wings.

The traditional wet fly was designed to replicate aquatic insects and terrestrials as well as small baitfish. Today when someone refers to a wet fly, they are most likely talking about nymphs.

To fly fish a traditional wet fly you swing your line across a feeding zone. This technique is called a "Wet Fly Swing."

Streamers are a fly fishing pattern representing baitfish, leeches, large aquatic insects, and small fish. Typically, they are bigger than traditional fly patterns such as nymphs and dry flies.

Streamers are fished using a tight line retrieve as well as dead drifting. Streamers are used in all forms of water, such as rivers, lakes, and saltwater locations.

Because they mimic larger prey, streamers are great for fishing for larger aggressive species such as trout, bass, and predatory saltwater fish.

Bass react to fly patterns with aggression. And there is nothing more fun the stripping poppers to entice these predatory fish. Bass Fly Fishing patterns represent frogs, mice, baitfish, and terrestrials.

Fly fishing for bass can be done on the surface and below and is typically fished with a tight line retrieve like a streamer.

Patterns that were once developed for trout are now being used in bass competitions. Flies like the Mini Drunk & Disorderly and the classic Clouser Minnow originally tied for trout are great options for bass fly fishing.

Saltwater fly fishing is done around the globe. Species such as Sea Trout, Bonefish, Albie, Permit, and Tarpon, to name a few. Salt Water fly fishing flies are typically large, so a heavier weight fly rod is needed to cast these flies.

Most Salt Water Fly Fishing Flies represent baitfish. But some patterns represent crab, crayfish, and shrimp as well. Typically brighter in color, these patterns are tied to entice predatory fish.