Dry · #15 of 129
Trico
Imitates: Tricorythodes spinner
Quick Reference
- Best Sizes
- #20-24
- Best Season
- Late summer through early fall
- Best Conditions
- Calm flat water, morning spinner falls
- Water Temp
- 55-68°F
- Recommended Tippet
- 6X-7X
How to Rig It
Single dry on a long, fine leader.
How to Present It
Drag-free drift over pods of sipping fish. Cast slightly upstream and across.
Why It Works
Trico spinner falls carpet the water with thousands of dead mayflies. Trout line up in feeding lanes and gulp them down.
History
Trico mania is a rite of passage on rivers like the Bighorn, Missouri, and Henry's Fork — early-morning, technical, and addictive.
Pro Tip
Tie a #22 Trico spinner with a #24 trailing 4" behind — fish often refuse the lead and grab the trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Tricos so hard to fish?+
Tiny size (#22-24), fine tippet (6X-7X), and selective trout in glass-flat water make Trico fishing one of fly fishing's purest tests.
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