What's in the Box

In the session we will go over every box and give a quick explanation about the patterns provided—the names and what they represent. As your boxes and your abilities progress, you will see that they start to vary more in size and quantity. But here at Drifthook, we wanted to start with the most successful patterns and sizes and then give you the opportunity to build your collection for extended fun on the water.  

With the initial Drifthook Fly Fishing System, you will receive our introductory set. This set focuses on Nymph fly fishing because that will provide the greatest success for MONSTER Trout. On side A, Row 1 and Row 2, marked MIDGE of your Nymph Emergers set, you will receive:

ROW 1
(1) Mercury Midge, Black – Size #18
(1) Mercury Midge, Black – Size #20
(1) Tungsten Bead-head Zebra Midge Curved, Black – Size #20
(1) Tungsten Bead-head Zebra Midge Curved, Red – Size #20
(1) Juju Bee Midge – Size #22
(1) Juju Bee Midge – Size #24

ROW 2
(1) Rainbow Warrior – Size #20
(1) Disco Midge, Pearl – Size #20
(1) Rojo Midge – Size #20
(1) Pure Midge Larva, Fluorescent Red – Size #20
(1) Pure Midge Larva, Fluorescent Red – Size #22
(1) Pure Midge Larva, Fluorescent Brown – Size #20

These represent your midge patterns, which are most abundant year–round. Rows 3 and 4 are designated for your Mayfly selection. These are the second-most-abundant food source for MONSTER Trout.

ROW 3 holds:
(1) RS2, Gray – Size #20
(1) RS2, Olive – Size #20
(1) Lightning Bug, Red – Size #18
(1) Lightning Bug, Pearl – Size #18
(1) Flashback Pheasant Tail Bead-head, Gold – Size #22
(1) Flashback Pheasant Tail Bead-head, Green – Size #22

And ROW 4 holds:
(1) Hare's Ear, Black – Size #20
(1) Hare's Ear, Natural – Size #20
(1) Hare's Ear, Olive – Size #20
(1) Barbless Flashback Hare's Ear – Size #16
(1) Flashback Hare's Ear Bead-head, Natural – Size #20
(1) Flashback Hare's Ear Bead-head, Olive – Size #20

This last row, even though it does not completely fall into the abundance of food source, is where you will be introduced to terrestrials. These can be used year-round but are most successful during the spring through fall months:

(1) Sparkle Worm, Red – Size #12
(1) San Juan Worm – Size #12
(1) San Juan Worm – Size #14
(1) Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg), Orange – Size #10
(1) Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg), Peach – Size #10
(1) Glo Bug Red Dot (Egg), Pink – Size #10

Moving on to side B of the Nymph Frenzy Fly box we have our Caddis, Mayfly and Stonefly patterns. As we get into Nymphing Rigs in later sessions, you will be using these as your top fly because they are significantly heavier than the other side and will bring your rig into the feeding zone.

ROW 1
(1) Caddis Larva Bead-head, Green – Size #16
(1) Caddis Larva Bead-head, Tan – Size #16
(1) Holy Grail-Tungsten , Hare's Ear - Size #16
(1) Holy Grail-Tungsten , Hare's Ear - Size #18
(1) Hot Wire Caddis Bead-head, Olive – Size #14
(1) Hot Wire Caddis Bead-head, Olive – Size #16

ROW 2
(1) Prince Nymph Bead-head – Size #14
(1) Prince Nymph Bead-head – Size #16
(1) Hot Wire Prince Bead-head, Green/Yellow – Size #14
(1) Hot Wire Prince Bead-head, Green/Yellow – Size #16
(1) Hot Wire Prince Bead-head, Red/Copper – Size #14
(1) Hot Wire Prince Bead-head, Red/Copper – Size #16

ROW 3
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Copper – Size #18
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Copper – Size #22
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Red – Size #18
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Red – Size #22
(1) Copper John, Green – Size #18
(1) Copper John, Green – Size #22

ROW 4
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Black – Size #18
(1) Copper John Bead-head, Black – Size #22
(1) Copper John Hot Wire Bead-head, Red Gold – Size #14
(1) Copper John Hot Wire Bead-head, Red Gold – Size #16
(1) Copper John Hot Wire Bead-head, Zebra – Size #14
(1) Copper John Hot Wire Bead-head, Zebra – Size #16

ROW 5
(1) Kaufman Stone, Golden – Size #6
(1) Kaufman Stone, Golden – Size #6
(1) Kaufman Stone, Golden – Size #6
(1) Kaufman Stone, Black – Size #6
(1) Kaufman Stone, Black – Size #6
(1) Kaufman Stone, Black – Size #6

The next box in the Drifthook Fly Fishing System is the Emerger Swing Fly Box Set. This set represents the Emerger and Dry stages of a fly’s life cycle. Trout look for movement, and what better meal than a fly that is surfacing to dry out its wings and fly? And as it is drying out on the surface ready to take flight, it is also an easy target for MONSTER Trout. Side A of your Emerger Swing Fly Box Set is set up similar to your Nymph Frenzy set. Midge Mayfly Caddis. On Row 1 you have Midge patterns that represent the merger stages of a Midge Fly.

ROW 1
(1) CDC Midge Pupa, Olive – Size #18
(1) CDC Midge Pupa, Red – Size #18
(1) CDC Midge Pupa, Red – Size #20
(1) Crystal Midge, Black – Size #18
(1) Crystal Midge, Black – Size #20
(1) Crystal Midge, Olive – Size #18
(1) Crystal Midge, Olive – Size #20

On Row 2 you have Mayfly Emergers:
(1) Baetis Barr Emerger, Plain – Size #20
(1) Baetis Barr Emerger, Plain – Size #22
(1) Barr Emerger BWO Bead-head – Size #20
(1) Barr Emerger BWO Bead-head – Size #22
(1) Barr Emerger PMD – Size #20
(1) Barr Emerger PMD – Size #22

On Row 3 you also have Mayfly Emergers. This row is dedicated to the RS2—this fly is deadly on tail waters and freestones.
(1) RS2 Emerger, Olive – Size #16
(1) RS2 Emerger, Olive – Size #20
(1) RS2 Emerger, Olive – Size #22
(1) RS2 Emerger, Gray – Size #20
(1) RS2 Emerger, Gray – Size #20
(1) RS2 Emerger, Gray – Size #22

On Row 4, we start our Caddis Emergers. Remember caddis are one of the easiest flies to recognize on the water. If the river is clean, turn over a rock and you should find thousands of casings of their existence. This row includes:
(1) Graphic Caddis Pupa, Green – Size #16
(1) Graphic Caddis Pupa, Green – Size #18
(1) Graphic Caddis Pupa, Tan – Size #16
(1) Graphic Caddis Pupa, Tan – Size #18
(1) CDC Caddis Emerger – Size #14
(1) CDC Caddis Emerger – Size #16

Row 5 finishes our Caddis Emerger set in the Emerger Swing Fly Box:
(1) Spotlight Caddis Emerger, Olive – Size #14
(1) Spotlight Caddis Emerger, Olive – Size #16
(1) Spotlight Caddis Emerger, Tan – Size #14
(1) Spotlight Caddis Emerger, Tan – Size #16

On side B of the Emerger Swing Fly set is where we introduce you to the Adult, and for a lack of a better term, the death of a fly. On this side we chose to focus on this portion of the life cycle of the Mayfly and Caddis. The flies on this side are typically designed to be floated on top. A Midge’s life cycle is less than 24 hours, so if they make to the air before being devoured, they will typically mate and die before they even have a chance to land back on the water. In the next lesson, we will show how you can combine these flies with other flies in your arsenal to double and triple your chances of landing MONSTER Trout.

Row 1 on side B starts with Adult or “Dry Fly” patterns of the Mayfly. It includes:
(1) Baetis Dun – Size #22
(1) Baetis Dun – Size #24
(1) Trico Dun – Size #18
(1) Trico Dun – Size #20
(1) PMD, Pale Yellow – Size #20
(1) PMD, Pale Yellow – Size #22

Row 2 continues the Mayfly collection. It includes:
(1) Parachute Adams – Size #14
(1) Parachute Adams – Size #18
(1) Parachute Adams – Size #22
(1) Comparadun PMD – Size #16
(1) Comparadun PMD – Size #18
(1) Comparadun PMD – Size #20

Row 3 finishes off this box’s collection of Mayfly patterns. A cripple pattern is a fly that represents an unsuccessful attempt by the insect to emerge from its nymphal stage. Some of the emergers get injured, some get trapped by the casing, and the wind collapses a good amount of others that try and attempt the surface.

Why are cripples important to our system? Trout are opportunistic predators. A crippled insect is an easy meal, trapped and unable to fly away. Fishing a fly that looks like easy prey can be amazing results when fishing for MONSTER Trout.
(1) Last Chance Cripple Callibaetis, Brown – Size #20
(1) Last Chance Cripple BWO – Size #20
(1) PMD Spinner, Olive – Size #16
(1) PMD Spinner, Olive – Size #18
(1) Trico Spinner – Size #20
(1) Trico Spinner – Size #22

We finish this box off with two rows of Caddis Dry Flies. The first row includes:
(1) E-Z Caddis, Olive – Size #16
(1) E-Z Caddis, Olive – Size #16
(1) E-Z Caddis, Tan – Size #16
(1) E-Z Caddis, Tan – Size #16
(1) Hot Wing Caddis, Olive – Size #16
(1) Hot Wing Caddis, Tan – Size #16

What I love about these flies is that they can be easily noticed from a good distance when fishing. In future lessons, you will learn to utilize this set with our Nymph Frenzy box set to land MONSTER Trout.The last row in this set is also Caddis patterns:
(1) Elk Hair Caddis CDC, Olive – Size #16
(1) Elk Hair Caddis CDC, Olive – Size #18
(1) Elk Hair Caddis CDC, Tan – Size #16
(1) Elk Hair Caddis CDC, Tan – Size #18
(1) Goddard Caddis, Natural – Size #16
(1) Goddard Caddis, Natural – Size #18

A lot of people ask me, what does CDC stand for? It means “Cul de Canard,” a French term for “duck’s butt” or “duck’s arse” feathers. But these feathers come from a bird’s back, close to its tail feathers. They have a natural bounce due to the bird’s re-creation of natural oils, which helps keep the fly buoyant on the water.

The next box set in the Drifthook Fly Fishing System is the Dropper Rigs Box Set. This set of flies represents the Terrestrial Patterns and mature stimulator patterns. Because Terrestrials typically are born on land or live there the majority of the time, we separate out these fly patterns. They are most successful during the summer months. On the second side of the box are patterns know as stimulators.

On Side A, Row 1, you have Ant and Beetle patterns:
(1) CDC Biot Black Ant – Size #14
(1) CDC Biot Black Ant – Size#16
(1) CDC Biot Black Ant – Size #18
(1) Parachute Humpy Ant – Size #14
(1) Parachute Humpy Ant – Size #16
(1) Parachute Humpy Ant – Size #18
(1) Beetle, Black – Size #14
(1) Beetle, Black – Size #16
(1) Beetle, Black – Size #18
 
Row 2 has Hopper patterns, commonly known as “Grass Hoppers”:
(1) Half Chernobyl, Brown/Orange – Size #10
(1) Half Chernobyl, Brown/Orange – Size #14
(1) Half Chernobyl, Tan/Yellow – Size #10
(1) Half Chernobyl, Tan/Yellow – Size #14
(1) Fat Albert, Purple – Size #6
(1) Fat Albert, Purple – Size #8

Row 3 has additional Hopper patterns and colors. When fishing Hopper patterns, look for your local species and try to match size and color.
(1) Chubby Chernobyl – Size #8
(1) Chubby Chernobyl – Size #10
(1) Dave's Hopper, Green – Size #6
(1) Dave's Hopper, Green – Size #8
(1) Dave's Hopper, Yellow – Size #6
(1) Dave's Hopper, Yellow – Size #8

The second side of the box has patterns know as Stimulators. These patterns have been developed over the years to represent numerous species and are extremely successful when dry fly fishing. The great thing about these patterns is they can be used in a 2 and 3 fly set up and act as a visual indicator because of their easily recognizable size and color combos on the water.

On Row 1 you have Mayfly Stimulators. Mayflys are typically great March through November, but I have found these patterns to be most successful during the summer months when fish are actively feeding the surface.
This row includes:
(1) Parachute Mahogany Dun – Size #12
(1) Parachute Mahogany Dun – Size #14
(1) Parachute Mahogany Dun – Size #16
(1) Parachute Mahogany Dun – Size #18
(1) Green Drake – Size #12
(1) Green Drake – Size #14
(1) Green Drake – Size #16
(1) Green Drake – Size #18

The next row continues the Mayfly Stimulators. It includes:
(1) Parachute Adams Indicator – Size #12
(1) Parachute Adams Indicator – Size #14
(1) Parachute Adams Indicator – Size #16
(1) Adams – Size #12
(1) Adams – Size #14
(1) Adams – Size #18

We continue our Stimulators with my favorite row. The Royal Wolf is hands-down my favorite dry fly ever made. I have caught more fish on this fly than all the others combined. It is great to see in low light and will help you land that MONSTER Trout.
(1) Royal Wolf – Size #12
(1) Royal Wolf – Size #14
(1) Royal Wolf – Size #16
(1) Royal Wolf – Size #18
(1) Humpy Royal – Size #12
(1) Humpy Royal – Size #14

Row 4 has patterns similar to the Royal Wolf and these are also great for visibility. These also closely represent the Caddis pattern.
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Orange – Size #12
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Orange – Size #16
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Yellow – Size #12
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Yellow – Size #16

Row 5 finishes the box off with additional colors of Kaufmann’s Stimulator:
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Olive – Size #12
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Olive – Size #16
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Red – Size #12
(1) Kaufmann’s Stimulator, Red – Size #16

The set in our series is our exclusive Guide Series Set. Because this is a two-box set, I will go over the details in the next lesson. The last box in our collection is the Streamer Surger Fly Set. This set represents leaches, sculpin, and baitfish. Streamer fishing is a fast-action form of fishing that can done on any stretch of water. The neatest thing about streamer fishing is you know when you have a hit, because it hits your line like freight train.

On Side A, Row 1 of our Streamer Surge Fly Box, you have patterns that represent leeches:
(1) Slump Buster with Cone, Olive – Size #6
(1) Slump Buster with Cone, Olive – Size #8
(1) Slump Buster with Cone, Black – Size #6
(1) Slump Buster with Cone, Black – Size #8

The next row represents small baitfish and sculpin. Brown trout are predatorial fish by nature, so baitfish are a great meal for a large fish looking to store energy for spawning.  
(1) Meat Whistle – Size #2
(1) Meat Whistle – Size #2
(1) Meat Whistle – Size #2

The last row on this side includes other variations of Streamers that are widely successful:
(1) Bunny Leech, Black – Size #6
(1) Bunny Leach, Black – Size #6
(1) Bunny Leach, Brown – Size #6
(1) Bunny Leach, Brown – Size #6
(1) Grizzly Zonker – Size #6
(1) Grizzly Zonker – Size #8
(1) Grizzly Zonker – Size #10

On Side B of the Streamer Surge Fly Box, you have patterns that represent sculpins and baitfish. A lot of people ask me what a sculpin is? Well a sculpin is a small fish of the family Cottidae, found in both saltwater and freshwater in northern regions of the world. Sculpins are elongated, tapered fish, usually with wide, heavy heads. They are bottom dwellers and are a form of neutron for predatorial fish.

Row 1 of Side B consists of:
(1) Muddler Minnow – Size #2
(1) Muddler Minnow – Size #4
(1) Muddler Minnow – Size #6

Row 2 contains:
(1) Sculpzilla – Size #4
(1) Muddy Buddy, Olive – Size #2
(1) Muddy Buddy, Olive – Size #4
(1) Muddy Buddy, Olive – Size #6

Row 3 contains:
(1) Muddy Buddy, Black – Size #2
(1) Muddy Buddy, Black – Size #4
(1) Muddy Buddy, Black – Size #6

And the last row in this set contains:
(1) Sex Dungeon, Natural – Size #4
(1) Sex Dungeon, Olive – Size #4
(1) Butt Monkey – Size #4

In our next lesson, if you purchased the Drifthook Pro Set, I will break down the boxes included in that assortment and explain the opportunity that you can be a part of by becoming a Drifthook Pro Member.