The 129 Essential Trout Flies

#1 · Nymph

Zebra Midge

#18-22 · Year-round (essential in winter)

Midge pupa (Chironomid)

#2 · Nymph

Pheasant Tail

#14-20 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph (BWO, PMD, Callibaetis)

#3 · Nymph

Hare's Ear

#12-18 · Year-round

Caddis pupa, mayfly nymph, generic buggy stuff

#4 · Emerger

RS2

#18-22 · Spring and fall

Mayfly emerger (BWO, PMD, midge)

#5 · Nymph

Copper John

#14-18 · Year-round

Mayfly/stonefly nymph + sinking weight

#6 · Nymph

San Juan Worm

#10-14 · Spring runoff and after rain

Aquatic worm (annelid)

#7 · Emerger

WD-40

#18-22 · Year-round, especially winter

Midge or BWO emerger

#8 · Nymph

Lightning Bug

#14-18 · Year-round

Flashy mayfly/caddis attractor

#9 · Dry

Elk Hair Caddis

#12-18 · Late spring through fall

Adult caddisfly

#10 · Dry

Blue Wing Olive

#18-22 · Spring and fall

Adult Baetis mayfly

#11 · Dry

Adams

#12-20 · Year-round

Generic mayfly adult

#12 · Dry

Royal Wulff

#10-16 · Summer

Attractor — no specific bug

#13 · Dry

Pale Morning Dun

#16-18 · Late spring through midsummer

Ephemerella mayfly adult

#14 · Dry

Green Drake

#10-12 · Late spring (June)

Drunella adult mayfly (one of the largest)

#15 · Dry

Trico

#20-24 · Late summer through early fall

Tricorythodes spinner

#16 · Dry

Griffith's Gnat

#18-22 · Year-round (great in winter)

Cluster of midges mating on the surface

#17 · Terrestrial

Dave's Hopper

#8-12 · July through September

Adult grasshopper

#18 · Terrestrial

Foam Beetle

#12-16 · Summer

Adult beetle

#19 · Wet

Soft Hackle

#12-16 · Summer through fall

Emerging caddis or mayfly

#20 · Streamer

Woolly Bugger

#4-10 · Year-round

Baitfish, leech, crayfish, big nymph — everything

#21 · Nymph

Mercury Midge

#18-22 · Year-round, especially winter tailwaters

Midge pupa with air bubble (Chironomid)

#22 · Emerger

Sparkle Pupa

#14-18 · April through October — peaks during caddis hatches

Emerging caddis pupa rising to the surface

#23 · Dry

Sulphur Dun

#14-18 · Mid-May through July — the East's most beloved hatch

Sulphur mayfly dun (Ephemerella invaria, E. dorothea)

#24 · Dry

March Brown

#10-14 · Late April through early June — first big hatch of spring in the East

March Brown mayfly dun (Maccaffertium vicarium)

#25 · Dry

Stimulator

#8-14 · June through September

Adult stonefly, large caddis, or generic big bug attractor

#26 · Terrestrial

Chubby Chernobyl

#8-12 · July through September (hopper season)

Hopper, large stonefly, or generic foam attractor

#27 · Nymph

Prince Nymph

#12-18 · Year-round

Stonefly nymph, mayfly nymph, generic attractor nymph

#28 · Nymph

Y2K Egg

#12-16 · Fall (brown/brookie spawn) and Spring (rainbow spawn)

Trout or salmon egg drifting in the current

#29 · Streamer

Sculpzilla

#4-8 (articulated) · Year-round, peaks pre-spawn fall (Oct-Nov)

Sculpin (bottom-dwelling baitfish trout eat year-round)

#30 · Nymph

Mop Fly

#10-14 · Year-round, especially after rain or stained water

Crane fly larva, hellgrammite, or unidentified juicy thing

#31 · Nymph

Frenchie

#14-18 · Year-round

Generic mayfly nymph with a hot-spot trigger

#32 · Nymph

Perdigon

#14-20 · Year-round

Generic mayfly nymph — slim, sinks like a stone

#33 · Nymph

Rainbow Warrior

#16-20 · Year-round, peaks on tailwaters in winter and spring

Generic small mayfly nymph (BWO, midge), attractor

#34 · Nymph

Higa's SOS

#14-18 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph or small stonefly with a flashy back

#35 · Emerger

JuJu Baetis

#18-22 · Spring and Fall (BWO season)

BWO (Baetis) nymph or emerger

#36 · Dry

Sparkle Dun

#14-20 · Spring through Fall during mayfly hatches

Emerging mayfly dun (BWO, PMD, Callibaetis, Trico)

#37 · Dry

Comparadun

#12-20 · Spring through Fall

Adult mayfly dun (PMD, BWO, March Brown, Sulphur)

#38 · Dry

Purple Haze

#12-18 · Summer

Generic mayfly attractor (Adams variant)

#39 · Emerger

Tan Caddis Pupa

#14-18 · Late spring through fall (caddis season)

Emerging caddis pupa rising to the surface

#40 · Nymph

Squirmy Worm

#10-14 · Year-round, peaks after rain or during high/dirty water

Aquatic worm or earthworm washed into the river

#41 · Emerger

Klinkhammer

#12-18 · Spring through Fall during emergences

Emerging mayfly or caddis hanging in the surface film

#42 · Terrestrial

Hippie Stomper

#10-14 · Summer (June through September)

Generic foam attractor — beetle, small hopper, stonefly adult

#43 · Terrestrial

Morrish Hopper

#8-12 · Late summer (July through September)

Adult grasshopper

#44 · Nymph

Pat's Rubber Legs

#4-10 · Year-round, peaks during stonefly emergence (Apr-Jul)

Stonefly nymph (Salmonfly, Golden Stone, Skwala)

#45 · Nymph

Walt's Worm

#12-18 · Year-round

Cranefly larva, caddis larva, generic buggy nymph

#46 · Nymph

Two-Bit Hooker

#16-20 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph with extra weight to get deep fast

#47 · Nymph

Iron Sally

#12-16 · Summer (June through August)

Yellow Sally / Little Yellow Stonefly nymph

#48 · Streamer

Sex Dungeon

#2-4 (articulated) · Year-round, peaks pre-spawn fall (Oct-Nov) and high water

Big baitfish, sculpin, juvenile trout

#49 · Streamer

Egg-Sucking Leech

#4-8 · Fall (spawn) and Winter, Alaska season

Leech robbing trout/salmon eggs from a redd

#50 · Nymph

Czech Nymph

#10-14 · Year-round

Caddis pupa or scud — heavily weighted

#51 · Streamer

Crystal Woolly Bugger

#6-10 · Year-round, peaks in stained spring runoff and fall pre-spawn

Wounded baitfish, leech, attractor in stained water

#52 · Streamer

Black Woolly Bugger

#4-10 · Year-round

Leech, sculpin, baitfish, large nymph

#53 · Nymph

Yum Yum

#14-18 · Year-round (peaks on tailwaters in winter and spring)

Scud, sow bug, attractor — rainbow flash trigger

#54 · Nymph

Scud

#14-18 · Year-round

Freshwater scud (Gammarus), sow bug, cress bug

#55 · Streamer

Black Leech

#6-10 · Year-round (peaks spring and fall)

Leech

#56 · Streamer

Conehead Woolly Bugger

#6-10 · Year-round

Sculpin, baitfish, large leech — fast-sinking

#57 · Streamer

Mickey Finn

#4-10 · Spring and fall

Baitfish — attractor pattern

#58 · Streamer

Zonker

#4-8 · Year-round (peaks fall pre-spawn)

Baitfish — minnow, smelt, juvenile trout

#59 · Streamer

Slumpbuster

#4-8 · Year-round (peaks fall and spring)

Sculpin, baitfish

#60 · Streamer

Muddler Minnow

#4-10 · Summer and Fall

Sculpin, grasshopper, minnow

#61 · Dry

Salmonfly

#4-8 · Late May through early July (the Salmonfly Hatch)

Adult Pteronarcys californica (giant Western salmonfly)

#62 · Dry

Yellow Sally

#14-16 · Summer (June-August)

Adult Isoperla / Little Yellow Stonefly

#63 · Nymph

Yellow Sally Nymph

#14-16 · Spring through summer (peaks just before hatch)

Yellow stonefly nymph (Isoperla) before emergence

#64 · Nymph

Kaufmann's Stone

#6-10 · Year-round (peaks pre-hatch in spring)

Black stonefly nymph (Pteronarcys, Acroneuria)

#65 · Nymph

Golden Stone

#6-10 · Spring and Summer (peaks June-August)

Golden stonefly nymph (Acroneuria, Hesperoperla)

#66 · Terrestrial

Chernobyl Ant

#8-12 · Summer (June-September)

Stonefly, hopper, beetle, generic big-bug attractor

#67 · Dry

Black Stonefly Dry

#6-10 · Spring (March-May) and post-salmonfly

Adult black stonefly (Pteronarcys, early-spring stones)

#68 · Dry

Skwala

#8-10 · Late winter to early spring (February-April)

Adult Skwala stonefly (early spring olive-tan stone)

#69 · Nymph

Girdle Bug

#4-8 · Year-round (peaks spring runoff and summer)

Stonefly nymph, big terrestrial nymph, attractor

#70 · Dry

Parachute Adams

#12-22 · Year-round (peaks April-October)

Generic mayfly dun (BWO, PMD, Callibaetis, midge cluster)

#71 · Dry

CDC Caddis

#14-20 · April-October (peaks May-July)

Adult caddis, emerging caddis pupa in film

#72 · Emerger

X-Caddis

#14-18 · May-September (peaks during caddis hatches)

Emerging caddis with trailing pupal shuck

#73 · Dry

Goddard Caddis

#10-16 · June-September (evening caddis flights)

Adult caddis (egg-laying or skittering)

#74 · Dry

Hexagenia

#6-10 (3XL or 4XL hooks) · Late June through July (evening into dark)

Adult Hexagenia limbata mayfly (largest North American mayfly)

#75 · Dry

Isonychia

#10-14 · June through October (two emergences)

Adult Isonychia bicolor mayfly (Slate Drake)

#76 · Dry

Mahogany Dun

#16-18 · September through October (peak fall hatch)

Adult Paraleptophlebia mayfly (Mahogany Dun)

#77 · Dry

Quill Gordon

#12-14 · April (first warm afternoons after snowmelt)

Adult Epeorus pleuralis mayfly — first major Eastern hatch of spring

#78 · Nymph

Tungsten Jig Hare's Ear

#12-18 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph, caddis pupa, generic buggy nymph (Euro nymphing)

#79 · Nymph

Mop Jig

#10-14 · Year-round (peaks in high or stained water)

Crane fly larva, grub, big juicy worm-like food

#80 · Terrestrial

Foam Ant

#12-18 · June-September

Adult ant, flying ant, drowned terrestrial

#81 · Terrestrial

Cricket

#10-14 · July-September

Adult field cricket or house cricket

#82 · Terrestrial

Fat Albert

#6-12 · July-October

Large hopper, stonefly, and attractor terrestrial

#83 · Streamer

Sparkle Minnow

#4-8 · Year-round (best spring, fall, and high water)

Sculpin, dace, juvenile trout, baitfish

#84 · Streamer

Clouser Minnow

#2-8 · Year-round (especially spring and fall)

Baitfish, shiner, dace, smolt, minnow

#85 · Emerger

Barr's BWO Emerger

#18-22 · Spring and fall

Blue-winged olive emerger

#86 · Emerger

Top Secret Midge

#20-26 · Year-round (especially winter)

Emerging midge in the surface film

#87 · Emerger

Callibaetis Cripple

#14-18 · Late spring through early fall

Emerging or crippled Callibaetis mayfly

#88 · Nymph

Damselfly Nymph

#10-14 · May-August

Swimming damselfly nymph

#89 · Streamer

Balanced Leech

#8-12 · Year-round (best spring and fall)

Leech, dragonfly nymph, bloodworm, suspended stillwater forage

#90 · Nymph

Ray Charles Sowbug

#14-18 · Year-round (especially fall and winter)

Aquatic sowbug (Asellus / Cress bug)

#91 · Nymph

UV Pink Scud

#12-16 · Year-round (best in tailwaters and stillwater spring/fall)

Freshwater scud (Gammarus / Hyalella), often when molting or wounded

#92 · Nymph

Rainbow Czech Nymph

#10-14 · Year-round

Caddis pupa, scud, and generic buggy bottom forage

#93 · Streamer

Trombone

#2-4 (articulated, 3.5-5" overall) · Spring and fall (pre-spawn brown trout)

Wounded baitfish, juvenile trout, sculpin

#94 · Streamer

Goldie

#2-4 (articulated, 4-5" overall) · Year-round (best fall pre-spawn)

Juvenile brown trout, golden shiner, large baitfish

#95 · Streamer

Dirty Hippy

#2-6 (articulated, 3.5-4.5" overall) · Year-round (especially fall and spring)

Big leech, large baitfish, generic predator-trigger profile

#96 · Streamer

Butt Monkey

#2-4 (articulated, 4-5" overall) · Year-round (especially pre-spawn fall)

Sculpin, juvenile trout, large baitfish

#97 · Nymph

Wire Worm

#10-14 · Year-round (essential during runoff and high water)

Aquatic worm, midge larva, generic high-water trigger

#98 · Streamer

Mini Leech

#10-14 · Year-round

Small leech, juvenile baitfish, generic dark forage

#99 · Nymph

Otter Egg

#12-16 · Fall and spring (during and after spawn)

Trout, salmon, or steelhead egg

#100 · Nymph

Blowtorch

#14-18 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph, midge larva, and hot-spot Euro attractor

#101 · Nymph

Blowtorch Peacock Variation

#14-18 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph, midge larva, and flashy Euro attractor

#102 · Nymph

Lite Brite Perdigon

#14-20 · Year-round

Tiny mayfly nymph, midge pupa, and generic slim bait

#103 · Nymph

Quilldigon

#14-20 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph and slender emerging nymphs

#104 · Nymph

Surveyor

#12-16 · Year-round

Large mayfly nymph, stonefly nymph, and general searching nymph

#105 · Nymph

Red Dart

#14-18 · Year-round (especially winter and high water)

Midge larva, small worm, and Euro attractor nymph

#106 · Streamer

Tungsten Jig Bugger

#6-10 · Year-round

Leech, baitfish, and large aquatic nymphs

#107 · Streamer

Mayer's Mini Leech Jig

#10-14 · Year-round

Small leech and tiny baitfish

#108 · Streamer

Back Flop Jig

#4-8 (articulated) · Year-round (especially spring and fall)

Sculpin, baitfish, and compact articulated preyfish

#109 · Dry

Corn-Fed Caddis CDC

#14-18 · Spring through fall

Adult caddis

#110 · Nymph

Egan's Rainbow Warrior

#16-20 · Year-round

Generic mayfly nymph and small attractor food forms

#111 · Nymph

Egan's Frenchie

#12-18 · Year-round

Generic mayfly nymph with a hot-spot trigger

#112 · Dry

Bionic Ant

#14-18 · Late spring through early fall

Adult ant and small terrestrial

#113 · Nymph

Egan's Poacher

#14-18 · Spring through fall

Emerging mayfly and soft-hackle nymph

#114 · Nymph

Silver Bullet

#14-18 · Year-round (especially winter and high water)

Tiny baitfish, midge pupa, and Euro attractor nymph

#115 · Nymph

GTI Caddis

#12-16 · Spring through fall

Caddis larva and free-living caseless caddis

#116 · Nymph

Egan's Tailwater Sowbug

#14-18 · Year-round

Aquatic sowbug (Asellus)

#117 · Nymph

Egan's Dart

#14-18 · Year-round

Slim mayfly nymph and Euro attractor

#118 · Nymph

Egan's Warrior Perdigon

#14-18 · Year-round

Mayfly nymph attractor and slim Euro nymph

#119 · Dry

Spruce Moth

#10-14 · Mid-July through August

Adult spruce moth (Choristoneura) and large tan caddis

#120 · Emerger

Mother Shucker

#14-18 · Spring through fall, peak during caddis and PMD hatches

Emerging caddis or mayfly trapped in its pupal/nymphal shuck

#121 · Wet

Royal Coachman

#10-16 · Summer, especially mountain streams and brook trout water

Attractor — no specific natural; a flashy general invitation

#122 · Wet

Hare's Ear Wet Fly

#12-16 · Spring through fall during mayfly and caddis activity

Emerging mayfly, drowned adult, or generic active nymph

#123 · Dry

Light Cahill

#12-16 · Late spring through summer, peak in evening hatches

Pale evening mayfly duns (Stenacron, Stenonema, light sulphurs)

#124 · Wet

Black Gnat

#12-18 · Spring through fall, especially after rain

Small black terrestrials, midges, and dark caddis adults

#125 · Dry

Renegade

#12-18 · Year-round, classic high-country summer fly

Attractor — small dark hatching insects, midge clusters, terrestrials

#126 · Streamer

Galloup's Boogie Man

#2-4 articulated, 4-6 inches total · Pre-spawn spring, fall, high or off-color water

Large baitfish, sculpin, or simply a big intimidating meal

#127 · Streamer

Galloup's Heifer Groomer

#2-4 articulated, 4-5 inches total · Spring and fall, pre-spawn brown trout season

Sculpin and large baitfish

#128 · Streamer

Galloup's Peanut Envy

#4-6 articulated, 3-4 inches total · Year-round streamer fishing, especially fall

Mid-size baitfish and small sculpin

#129 · Streamer

Galloup's Zoo Cougar

#2-4, 3-4 inches · Spring through fall, peak in pre-spawn brown trout season

Sculpin and broad-bodied baitfish