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A GUIDE TO FLY FISHING DRY FLIES
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The dry fly is designed to float on the surface of the water. To prevent it sinking, water repellent hackles are wound around the hook to distribute the weight over the surface of the water. The hackles also simulate the legs and splash of an aquatic or terrestrial insect trapped on the water surface. Most Dry flies are deceivers designed to imitate a specific natural fly like the crane fly, ant and hooper series of flies. Other flies like the Adams and Wickham's fancy are more general designs that are just intended to produce an edible looking fly.

Dry fly fishing has always been regarded as the supreme art in fly fishing circles. Accurate presentation of the fly can be essential. Trout will rise to a variety of natural flies but as far as the dry fly fisherman is concerned the mayfly hatch has to be the favored time. In almost all instances where trout feed on drowning land-bourne insects the rule is not to move the fly. An imitation is far more likely to succeed if it is cast out and then left. So long as it is cast in the right spot.

The color of the fly is always important when matching the hatch, then size is the next important decision. The artificial fly does not have to be a precise imitation of the natural insect, but what is important is how and where it is presented in relation to the depth of water. This includes the height at which the fly floats above the surface of the water. Some fish will greedily take flies that are floating in the surface but ignore flies that are floating above it and visa versa depending on the conditions that day. Use your eyes to see which natural insects the fish are taking. A high-floating dry fly will have more chance of being taken on a bright day because of its visibility, but if it does not dent the surface film on a dull day it will be less effective. A fly floating in the surface on a sunless day leaves a much more visible halo of outlining light which surrounds it.

ANT DRY FLIES

A Scientist studied the eating habits of rainbow, brown and Brook trout during the months of July/August and found that no other food dominated their menu so heavily as ants. The proportion in some of the trout was as much as 80%. Flying ants swarm at this time of the year. They 'rain' down on lakes and rivers by their billions and attract fish to the surface. At the beginning of a swarm when the ants fall rather sparsely, the fish are easy to catch. During the peak of the swarm the real ants are too numerous and a fish rarely takes an imitation by mistake, but the situation changes again towards the end of the swarm. For weeks after the fish are obsessed with this source of food and ant flies are remain one of the best flies to use. The English Fly Fishing Shop carries a range of black and red ant flies. Ants may be fished very simply, like freely drifting dry flies. As the fish find them easily enough, no special tricks are required. 

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MAYFLIES

There are hundreds of fly patterns tied to imitate the many different mayflies and stages of their development. The natural insect belongs to the group of insects called Ephemeroptera. Ephemeros means 'lasting a day' and peteron means 'a wing'. Mayflies have cylindrical bodies, slender legs and two pairs of veined wings which are held vertical when at rest. They are found all over the world and are commonly called up-winged flies in some areas. The adults do not feed and live for only a very short time: most less than a day and some only for a few minutes. Some adult mayflies hatch throughout the year but other species hatch only during certain months of the year. The term Mayfly applies to all members of the order of insects not just those that emerge in May.

The aquatic Mayfly nymphs moult anything from 12 to 50 times and take up to two years to reach adulthood. The fully grown nymph swallows air and floats to the surface where it emerges into the subimaginal stage. The mayfly is very vunerable to attack at this time from under the water surface and from dragon flies from above the surface. The dull winged subimaginal winged insect flies to rest on nearby plants if it survives. Mass swarms of emerging mayflies occur at dawn or dusk to reduce the chances of single insects being taken.

The final molt to the hairless adult with shiny wings can take place in anything from a few minutes to a few days depending on the species. Adults are known as 'spinners' and when they die and fall onto the water they are known as 'spent spinners'. The prime motivation for spinners is to mate before they die. After mating female spinners drop their eggs into the water. Some females species swim down to attach their eggs to submerged vegetation or objects. Others just land on the water surface making tempting targets for hungry trout. In any square yard or meter of a stream there may be a few hundred to many thousand mayfly nymphs. They are an important part of any predator fish's diet.

YELLOW SPENT MAYFLY

A lovely pattern for a dead mayfly with its wings flattened in the surface film. Fish this fly stationary, either on the surface or in the surface film. Leave it to drift with the current. 

GREY SPENT MAYFLY

A lovely pattern for a dead mayfly with its wings flattened in the surface film. Fish this fly stationary, either on the surface or in the surface film. Leave it to drift with the current. 

ORANGE SPENT MAYFLY

A lovely pattern for a dead mayfly with its wings flattened in the surface film. Fish this fly stationary, either on the surface or in the surface film. Leave it to drift with the current. 

GREENWELL'S GLORY DRY FLY

The dry fly version of this pattern is an ideal imitation for mayfly duns and spinners, buzzer insects, pond and lake olives. It was devised in 1854 by Canon Greenwell and James Wright to tempt large brown trout on Scotland's River Tweed. Pond & Lake Olive Insects (Cloeon dipterum) live in slow moving rivers, ponds and lakes and this fly is a good representation for them. For the stillwater fly fisher this is an important insect to have artificial imative flies. It emerges during the day throughout the summer. The female hatches the lava within her body and then drops to the water in the evening or during the night. She releases them on to the water, where they then swim to the bottom. It is not unusual to see the water littered with dead or dying Pond and Lake olive spinners in the early morning. Watch the trout rise for them two to three hours after dawn. Treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Occasionally scoot it gently over short distances. 

GREY DUSTER DRY FLY

This bushly little dry fly is a very old and versatile dry fly pattern. It is classed as a 'general representation' of several kinds of insects rather than a close imitation of one particular species. It is offered as an acceptable imitation of various olive duns, mayfly spinners, mosquitoes, midges and most species of stone flies. Indeed when the autumn fall hatches of stoneflies are at their peak it can be the most effective dry fly pattern in your fly box. When imitating stoneflies, a well-oiled fly is essential to copy the habit the female flies have of just touching down on the water to lay their eggs. Drowning mayfly spinners can be imitated by allowing the Grey Duster to sink into the surface film. On turbulent water this is an excellent means of reducing the problem of 'drag', because the partly drowned fly acts as a sea anchor. The Grey Duster is an ideal imitation of the Small Spurwing Dun (Centroptilum Luteolum) that is common on many rivers and lakes. Its size varies considerably. It emerges in open water during the day from early summer to middle autumn/fall. It is often found on weedy and sandy locations as well as exposed lake shores. 

LUNN'S PARTICULAR

Another good dry fly. Designed by William Lunn, Game keeper on the river test at Stockbridge, England. A 1917 Pattern possibly the first to use stripped hackle stalk as a body material. This fly can be used as a good imitation of the Large Dark Olive Spinner (Baetis rhodani). It likes streams and rivers and is one of the earliest Spinners to be seen on the wing in early spring. It is considerably larger than the other species of Olives. Because the species is an early species and the temperature is not normally warm enough it is seldom seen swarming. Mating takes place during the day as and when possible. The female often crawls under water to lay her eggs. This pattern can also be used as a reasonable imitation of the Medium Olive Spinners (Baetis vernus, tenax and buceratus). They also like likes streams and rivers. They are very important to most fly fishers as they normally form the first evening swarm of the season. The female uses posts, reed steams and other protruding articles to crawl under water to lay her eggs. The spinners die and floats to the surface. They drift on the water surface making tempting meals for hunting trout. This pattern could represent a mayfly dun or spinner. Treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Occasionally scoot it gently over short distances. Pond & Lake Olive Insects (Cloeon dipterum) live in slow moving rivers, ponds and lakes and this fly is a good representation for them. For the stillwater fly fisher this is an important insect to have artificial imative flies. It emerges during the day throughout the summer. The female hatches the lava within her body and then drops to the water in the evening or during the night. She releases them on to the water, where they then swim to the bottom. It is not unusual to see the water littered with dead or dying Pond and Lake olive spinners in the early morning. Watch the trout rise for them two to three hours after dawn. 

PALE WATERY DRY FLY

The Pale Watery (Baetis fuscatus) likes streams and rivers. The spinner is seldom seen in large swarms and often falls to the water earlier in the evening than others. But if the trout are being picky about what they take they often prefer a Pale Watery rather than other spinners. This fly can be used to represent mayfly duns and spinners. Treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Every now and then tug it over a short distance to mimic take-off. Look for our Pale Watery Dry Fly 

TUPP'S INDISPENSABLE DRY FLY

A diservedly popular fly designed by the professional tyer Mr R.S.Austin in of Tiverton in Devon, South West England in 1900. This version of the old 'Tup' pattern is popular when pale midge or caenis are on the menu. It can be fished dry but is more often fished wet, high in the water and moved slowly amongst fish that are feeding near the surface. It can be used effectively in these conditions or for high summer when reduced water flow and high temperatures can make the trout very fussy. It is said to have been named by G.E.M. Skues, father of modern nymph fishing. Try the parachute version 

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WULFF DRY FLIES

The Wulff series of fly patterns were developed by Lee Wulff. It presents a bushy, high floating fly, that remains visible into the evening twilight, and rides well in rough water. Practically every modern fly angler uses one or more of Lee Wulff's innovations. He designed and sold the first fly fishing vests, championed reeling with the left hand on fly reels (so the rod was in the stronger right hand), invented the first palming spool fly reels, introduced the fly-O casting practice rigs, popularized the "riffling hitch" for salmon fishing and designed the popular triangle taper lines. However, Lee Wulff's best-known innovations were in his flies.

Wulff patterns were the first flies to use hair for fly wings and tails. Almost all dry flies available in the winter of 1929/30 were, according to Wulff, anemic and too delicate, which he ascribed to their British tradition. The reason for very slim flies was that if a fly was too bulky the feather materials did not have the buoyancy to hold it up. A very popular pattern, for example, was the Fanwing Coachman that not only twisted the leader but also sunk at the tail due to the golden pheasant tail fibers used. Wulff also noted that dry flies with wings and tails of feathers get slimed up and are not very durable. To Wulff, the solution was obvious use bucktail for tails and wings.

The first Wulff flies were tied to imitate the Isonychia (Gray Drake) and Green Drake hatches in the Catskills. Wulff first fished these patterns with his regular fishing companion, Dan Bailey, who was then a science teacher in Brooklyn. In those early trials with these new patterns, Lee's was not disappointed. He found that the fish seemed to prefer the bulkier flies that "looked more" like the naturals than the more anemic patterns then popular. With respect to durability, the hairwing flies also excelled. Wulff reports he caught 51 trout on one Gray Wulff fly in an early outing, needing only to "grease up the fly for every 5-6 fish". The first patterns included the Gray Wulff, White Wulff and Royal Wulff. The Grey Wulff can be used to imitate any dark mayfly the trout are feeding on but when Lee Wulff was reportedly asked what the Royal Wulff was imitating he supposedly said, "Strawberry shortcake, something great big and juicy floating down to a large trout." It is an attractor pattern that is easily seen and high floating. It is a sweet little dessert that predatory fish find irresistible.

Later several other Wulff patterns, including the Grizzly Wulff, Black Wulff, Brown Wulff and Blonde Wulff were developed. Lee Wulff stated that these flies were a general kind of fly, not a particular pattern. When you first use Wulff flies treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Occasionally accelerate it gently over short distances of a yard (meter) or more, or else twitch it to represent a struggling insect trapped in the surface film.

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THE ADAMS DRY FLY

One of the most popular North America original dry flies is the Adams. It can be used in a variety of waters, to imitate food items almost anywhere trout are found. It can be tied in various sizes to represent either mayfly or midge adults.In the early 1920's, fly fishermen on the Boardman River in northern lower Michigan were having problems. The Michigan grayling was gone. Rainbows had been stocked to provide fishing after the demise of the grayling but they were getting scarce and brook trout had been wiped out by over-fishing and habitat destruction. There was a newly stocked European trout that produced some good fishing, but it was creating a few headaches among fly fishermen. They found it so finicky that it was a source of frustration. That new fish was the brown trout. Because anglers and fly tiers were trying to find a fly the brown would take more readily, a new pattern was born. In 1922, Leonard Hallady created the first Adams dry fly near his home on the banks of Mayfield pond. He named it in honor of his good friend, Judge Charles F. Adams, another enthusiastic angler who loved to fish for brook and brown trout in the nearby Boardman River. The Adams combines brown and grizzly hackle; many trout anglers claim it is the best fly ever made. Some, in fact, declare that if they had to use only one fly for all of their trout fishing, it would be the Adams. It not only pleased the browns but shortly found wide acclaim across the country and world-wide.

Because of the Adams' success, there have been many, many variations on the original pattern, including a Adam's Thorax, Adam's Irresistible, Adram's Midge,Golden Adams, Swedish Adams, Down Wing Adams, Poly Adams, Lady Adams, Teal Wing Adams, Blue-wing Adams, Western Adams, and more. The original has also been tied spent-wing style. 

"Adams parachute is a *must* have in the fly box. It imitates a wide range of mayflies and is arguably the most productive fly one can have tethered to one's tippet. If I don't see an obvious hatch, I'll start with a Royal Wulff. Those white wings are easy to see and it's as good an attractor as any, in my experience. After that, it's the parachute Adams. I usually fish the parachute style with a body dubbed a bit rougher than classic - not as much as a Hare's Ear nymph, but toward that direction. Usually I use 16, since smaller than that seems to be less effective in the mostly pocket water, freestone streams I fish. I use a 12 if I'm prospecting in heavier water as it floats better

I use both standard Adams pattern in sizes 14 or16. The standard tie is a good general bug imitation for trout fishing. It can be fished dead drift or moved if needed on the water. The parachute tie has a decent mayfly shape and is a good imitation of darker mayflies on the surface. It seems to bring up even wary native browns as consistently as any pattern I know of."

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CRANE FLY (DADDY LONG LEGS) DRY FLY

Over 250 different species of cranefly populate all kinds of water. They are more commonly known as 'daddy-long-legs'. These are a familiar sight at the water side from June onwards. They are often blown onto the water surface where they struggle in their attempts to become air-borne once more. Such large insects presents a good mouthful to the trout, which respond quickly. These flies are particularly important to the reservoir, lake or loch angler, because a large expanse of water is often too great a distance for these insects to fly across.

Cast the daddy long leg fly to an area where trout activity is obvious on the surface. (They fly will need to be dunked well in floatant), then just wait for a fish to find it. When a take does occur resist the temptation to strike, as the trout will often try to drown the fly first, before taking it in it's mouth. Wait until the line starts to run out, then lift the rod high to set the hook. Drag a daddy long legs through a heavy ripple, or waves and the trout will often respond with a positive take. Daddies fished dry or dapped on the water will take trout, but you can use them for sea trout and salmon. Have a look at our range of 12 Craneflies.

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CADDIS FLIES

Caddis flies are from the insect group called Trichoptera (Greek for 'hairwing'). They can be found anywhere there is fresh water. The drab colored adults are moth like flying insects. Their wings are covered with hair rather than scales. They are mostly nocturnal and hide in vegetation during the daytime. Mating takes place at dusk in swarms or on the vegetation. The eggs are laid, dropped or fall into the water depending on the species of caddis fly. The larvae are caterpillar-like and are famous for the way that some encase themselves for protection. Not all species do this. Those that do use silk secreted from glands in their head. They use a great variety of material to build their protective case such as plans, twigs, stems, leaves, sand grains, small stones and sticks. After five laval stages the adult finally emerges still enveloped in the pupae skin and swims upwards to the surface where it molts the skin and emerges. It has to expand and harden its wings before taking to the air. During all stages of its life cycle it provides food for many freshwater fish.

We stock many flies that imitate different stages of the caddis flies development as well as different species Cassed Caddis Nymph , Caddis Suspender Nymph, Stick fly Nymph, Sedge Pupae Brown Leaded Nymph Long Shank Fly, Sedge Pupae Green Leaded Nymph Long Shank Fly, Sedge Pupae Orange Leaded Nymph Long Shank Fly , Orange Headed Stick Fly Leaded Nymph Long Shank, Stick Fly Fluorescent Green Tail Leaded Nymph Long Shank Stick Fly Red Tail Leaded Nymph Long Shank Fly, Caves Caddis Leaded Nymph Long Shank Fly, Caddis Gold Bead Head Fly, Sedge Pupa Gold Bead Head Fly, Brown Sedge Dry Fly, Black Sedge Dry Fly, Orange Sedge Pupa Fritz Fly, Red and Brown Sedge Fritz Fly, Olive Sedge Pupa Fritz Fly, and Cinnamon Sedge Wet Fly

SEDGE FLIES (ADULT CADDIS FLIES)

Adult caddis flies are agile fliers. After emerging they sit on the water to inflate and dry their wings. They then scurry across the water surface into flight. Mated females of most species deposit their eggs into the water by skimming over the surface. Dry fly sedge patterns should be treated with floatant and cast on to the surface. They should be left to drift for a while as if drying its wings and then pulled across the surface quickly. Let it rest again as if it failed to take off and then repeat the retrieve. Egg laying can be imitated by moving the fly at a constant rate over the surface for several yards/meters then accelerating as if about to take off. Be ready for an explosive take. Try our Brown Sedge Dry Fly or Black Sedge Dry Fly.

CINNAMON SEDGE DRY FLY

If you fish rivers and lakes from early summer onwards you are likely to see a lot of sedge flies fluttering over the water or zigzagging across the surface like miniature speedboats. One of the most common of these species is the cinnamon sedge. The artificial fly can be used successfully in the wet or dry fly pattern. Sedge flies when resting or moving about the surface of the water have their wings closed or folded over their backs. When fishing the Cinnamon Sedge dry fly bring it skimming across the surface in an erratic fashion to indicate the insect accelerating before take-off. Alter its course by twitching the line or moving the point of your rod. As a wet fly try to imitate the hatching insect coming to the surface or just about to make its first landward journey. To do this make a dropper or bob fly action. Look for our Cinnamon sedge Wet fly and dry fly.

KITE'S IMPERIAL DRY FLY #124

This fly can be used as a good imitation of the Claret Dun (Leptophiebia Vespertina). They emerge late spring and prefer stillwater or slow flowing streams. The female and male are similar. It looks a lot like the Iron Blue Dun Insects (Baetis niger, Baetis muticus or Baetis pumilus). Trout have a great liking for this little fly. It is commonly believed that it hatches only on wet, windy days. This is not true as I have seen numerous hatches in calm warm conditions. It is easy to spot as it is the only upwinged fly that has such an overall dark body color. It hatches during the summer with peaks at the beginning and end of summer. It emergers at the surface in open water during the day in irregular, sometimes prolific, hatches. The Iron Blue is not an evening fly. They tend to swarm during the day. Mating and egg laying also often takes place during the day. The Olive Upright Dun (Rhithrogena semicolorata) can be imitated with kite's Imperial. It likes stony streams and rivers. They emerge in the summer with peaks at early summer. This fly can also be used as a good imitation of the Large Dark Olive Dun (Baetis rhodani). It likes streams and rivers and is one of the earliest flies to emerge. They can be seen on the wing in from Autumn/fall to early spring. It is considerably larger than the other species of Olives. Try our Kite's Imperial Dry Fly or Iron Blue Dun Dry fly , Iron Blue Dun Wet Fly and Iron Blue Dun Parachute Dry Fly . Also try our Mallard and Claret Wet fly .

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ROYAL COACHMAN DRY FLY

This is an American pattern that is the gaudy cousin of the Coachman. John Haily's 1878 dry fly has spawned a whole range of variants including streamers and hairwings. Although the wings may vary, all have the same red central body section, butted either end with peacock herl. It often works when nothing else will. Look for the dry fly version and Royal Coachman Parachute Dry Fly.

BLACK GNAT DRY FLY

Anglers use the term Black Gnat to describe a number of flat winged flies, but the Common Gnat belongs to the Culcidae insect group. These flies fall or get blown on to the water and trout are very partial to them. The Black Gnat is a pattern worth trying near the reedy margins of lakes. Gnats are prolific from late Spring till the end of the trout fishing season. They are bred on the land but spend the best part of their lives in the vicinity of ponds, streams and lakes. They may be seen in dense clouds over the water and fish will be rising madly to take their fill. At times like this a gnat pattern fished dry or wet will bring results. There are numerous dressings of the original black gnat pattern. Look for our black gnat dry fly, black gnat wet fly, black gnat yellow body wet fly  and black gnat parachute fly .

KNOTTED MIDGE DRY FLY

This is one of the deadliest floating patterns that can be put over a trout. It is supposed to represent the black midge in the process of mating. The flat-winged insects of the family Chironomidae are often called "chironomids", "midges." or "buzzers". There are over 430 different species in this large insect group. On some slower running rivers and on lakes they can out number mayflies four to one. When they are hovering over the water and falling on to it in the height of passion the trout have know sense of fair play and eat them. Two flies in one bite is good value to the mind of a trout. With this fly you can get your own back on these un-sporting fish. There are river-dwelling and lake-dwelling species, but their emergence is similar: the larva ,which is worm-like, changes into a pupa, and the mature pupa rises to the water's surface. Midges are usually very small, the surface tension is a barrier to the pupae, and they hang suspended right at the surface. That is where trout most often take them: as a pupa just below the surface. If not eaten by a trout, the back of the pupa eventually pushes through the surface, and the adult emerges and quickly flies off.. Adults midges form mating swarms. Some, locked in amorous embrace, often fall back to the water. Trout are not romantics .so this fly will often take trout. As the hatching of black midges is by no means confined to rivers these flies can be used on reservoirs and lakes with just as much success. On small dams where the black midges hatch very plentifully it is a particularly good pattern to put over rising fish. Look for fly. If the water in your area has large quantity of midges you will also need Suspender Buzzer flies and Bloodworm Nymphs in your flybox. They are all represent earlier stages in the development of some species of midges (Chironomidae).

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HAWTHORN AND MARCH BROWN DRY FLIES

March flies of the Bibionidae family group of insects, of which the Hawthorn fly belongs, are stour bodied, black or dark brown insects often with hairy bodies. They are commonly found near flowers in pastures, gardens or similar habitats during spring and early summer. They are taken avidly by trout when they accidentally end up on the water surface after taking part in the large mating swarms that can be seen in spring. During a strong wind the flies can also be blown on the water where the trout suck them up. The March Brown (Rhithrogena germanica) likes large stony rivers. Hatches are often on a grand scale in the middle of a spring day. The March Brown pattern is one of the oldest angling flies around. The Autumn Dun (Ecdyonurus dispar) is often confused for the March brown insect as the two are of similar size and appearance. It favors stony or boulder-strewn rivers as well as the shores of stony lakes. The duns emerge during the day from mid to late summer. The March Brown and Hawthorn patterns are effective imitations of the Autumn Dun. Treat your fly with floatant and let it drift on the water surface with the current or use small jerks to impart the appropriate movement of a struggling drowning fly. You can also let it sink slowly moving only slightly to indicate the insects dying twitches. When these floating fly patterns come on the water they evoke considerable interest from the fish. These big flies do their best work where rivers and lakes are bordered by heather or trees. Remember you are trying to imitate a drowning land based insect. There are a number of variations on the standard pattern. We find the Hawthorn with legs fly , works the best. The March Brown Dry Fly is an imitation of another member of this group of flies. Also try the March Brown Wet Fly or the Silver March Brown Double Hook Wet Fly 

ALDER WET FLIES

Alder flies are dull, dark colored insects found resting on waterside vegetation. The adults are day flying insects but spend most of their time resting. Leave it to float with the current or use small jerks to impart the appropriate movement of a struggling or nearly drowned adult Alderfly. Look for Alder wet fly  and our Alder Dry fly.

COCH-Y-BONDDU DRY FLY

This famous Welsh pattern is the emblem of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association. The name means 'red and black trunk'. It is sometimes called Cochy Bondhu. It fits the description of several species of beetles. It is a very effective semi-imative pattern for mid-season use on any water. On a strange river wet or dry it is a good fly to start with. It is an ancient fly and mentioned in books in the eighteenth century. It is designed to represent a beetle with the long name of Phyllopertha Horticola. It is known as the Coch y Bonddu beetle in Wales but is sometimes called the June beetle by English speaking anglers. (New Zealand anglers will have to call it the December Beetle<grin> It is used in New Zealand to imitate the green and brown local beetles) This fly is a good beetle imitation for a whole range of beetles in many parts of the world. This is a fly you must keep in your flybox for those infrequent occasions when your local waters become thickly carpeted with beetles. These insects do not constitute a major part of a trout's diet but if they are there in plenty they will take them with gusto. It is a great fly for fly-fishing on mountain streams, where it is readily accepted by trout feeding on terrestrial creatures blown in on the wind. As a lake fly it is particularly well worth trying as evening approaches. Look for our dry fly and wet fly version

PARACHUTE DRY FLIES

William Bush, an American fly fisherman, devised the parachute method of fly tying in 1933 The traditional way of dressing dry flies with upright wings and hackles that make the fly stand high on the water's surface may be very pleasing but it is not necessarily the best design for catching fish in some anglers opinions. The parachute dry fly style of dressing allows the fly to sit well down in the surface film, mimicking either an emerging fly filling its wings or a crippled drowning fly trapped in the surface film. They can be dramatically more effective at getting takes. Some traditionalist will not use them but I find them very effective and easy to cast correctly. The softer landing does not spook the fish as much. Parachute flies sit in, rather than on the surface, and so they are often used as imitations of emerging mayfly duns or spent spinners.

HOPPER DRY FLIES (GRASSHOPPERS)

Trout do not care if their food rises up from the stream bottom to hatch, or if it falls in from above. Trout pay close attention to the surface and this makes terrestrials an important food source. Anglers should not neglect flies that imitate terrestrial insects. Terrestrials can make up more than 80% of a fish's diet at certain times of the year--especially in late summer and early fall. Terrestrial insects are any fish food that has no aquatic stage like grasshoppers, ants, crickets, beetles, leafhoppers, caterpillars, inch worms, spiders, snails

At certain time of year grasshoppers become abundant. If you are in luck, a wind will blow these wonderful fish snacks into your favorite waters. It is then a great time to be a fly fisherman. A delicate presentation is not critical then because even big selective trout (largemouth or smallmouth bass, bluegill, etc.) are looking for the tell-tale splat of this helpless terrestrial as it flops into their eating zone. Second, these are big flies and you can use short leaders that are easy to cast. Moreover, even if a hopper has been chewed on a few times, the fish don't seem to mind. Grasshoppers can swim by kicking their hind legs in unison, using the same method as they employ when jumping. This is simply mimicked by fishing the fly on the surface and retrieving it with short sharp pulls. Continue for about three feet and then let your fly drift for 20 seconds before recommencing the retrieve. This imitates the grasshopper having a rest. Hoppers generally hatch from eggs in June and July and are full grown by mid-August. The adults continue to feed until the first frost. The eggs are laid under ground in late September and October. The best hopper fishing occurs in August and early September. They like hot weather, and you will find your best hopper fishing on hot windy afternoons. The only downside with hopper patterns is that they don't work all year round but keep some in your fly box just in case. 

Banks are the key to successfully fishing Hoppers. Most grasshoppers that find their way into the water's surface are concentrated in the foliage along the banks. Banks also provide cover and shade for fish during hot summer afternoons. Thus fish, which move to the banks for cover and shade, are putting themselves in the exact place where grasshoppers are most available. On large rivers, grasshoppers should be cast as close to the banks as possible. This is more important in streams where banks are slightly undercut and where vegetation hangs out over the water. On small streams, trout often see grasshoppers all across the water and will be willing to take an imitation in the middle of the stream. Investigate or range of hoppers.

WICKHAM'S FANCY DRY FLY

This traditional old pattern still works today. It was originally a dry fly designed for the chalk streams of England, but it brought such good results that the color scheme has been used for single and double hooked wet flies as well as Sea trout flies. Order a Wickham's Fancy Dry Fly, Wickham's Fancy Wet Fly, Wickham's Fancy Double Hook Wet Fly and Wickham's Fancy Sea Trout Fly 

LAKE OLIVE DRY FLY

Pond & Lake Olive Insects (Cloeon dipterum) live in slow moving rivers, ponds and lakes and this fly is a good representation for them. For the stillwater fly fisher this is an important insect to have artificial imative flies. It emerges during the day throughout the summer. The female hatches the lava within her body and then drops to the water in the evening or during the night. She releases them on to the water, where they then swim to the bottom. It is not unusual to see the water littered with dead or dying Pond and Lake olive spinners in the early morning. Watch the trout rise for them two to three hours after dawn. See our Lake Olive Dry Fly

OLIVE DUN DRY FLY

An essential trout fly for imitating the early and late olives found on all types of rivers. The Olive Upright Dun (Rhithrogena semicolorata) can be imitated using this pattern. It likes stony streams and rivers. They emerge in the summer with peaks at early summer. Pond & Lake Olive Insects (Cloeon dipterum) live in slow moving rivers, ponds and lakes and this fly is a good representation for them. For the stillwater fly fisher this is an important insect to have artificial imative flies. It emerges during the day throughout the summer. The female hatches the lava within her body and then drops to the water in the evening or during the night. She releases them on to the water, where they then swim to the bottom. It is not unusual to see the water littered with dead or dying Pond and Lake olive spinners in the early morning. Watch the trout rise for them two to three hours after dawn. Try our Olive Dun Dry Fly  or the wet fly version 

BLUE QUILL DRY FLY

This fly is tied to represent the American blue Quill insect (Epeorus pluralis). In Europe it is tied to represent the Pale Wateries (Centroptilum). Pond & Lake Olive Insects (Cloeon dipterum) live in slow moving rivers, ponds and lakes and this fly is a good representation for them. For the stillwater fly fisher this is an important insect to have artificial imative flies. It emerges during the day throughout the summer. The female hatches the lava within her body and then drops to the water in the evening or during the night. She releases them on to the water, where they then swim to the bottom. It is not unusual to see the water littered with dead or dying Pond and Lake olive spinners in the early morning. Watch the trout rise for them two to three hours after dawn. Treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Occasionally scoot it gently over short distances. Order our Blue Quill Dry fly. Try our Greenwell's Glory Dry fly  in hook size 16, 14 or 12. We also stock the double hook wet fly version of this Greenwell's Glory , Greenwell's Yellow Tail single hook wet fly  and Greenwell's Parachute Dry Fly .

HENDRICKSON DRY FLY

The Hendrickson series of dries.  They are slender bodied high floating dries, tied to represent mayflies, specifically the Ephermerella Subvaria and subsequent versions to include the E. Invaria and E. Rotunda. They are used largely in the North Eastern United States, dressed and fished high and dry. There is a dispute over who originally tied them, some say Roy Steenrod in 1916 along the Beaver Kill river, NY and others Art Flick. It is said that the fly was named after Roy's friend Al Hendrickson.

Let me mention that the Hendrickson is a great attracter pattern and for some reason it is about as deadly as the all year around Adams..  So don't be bashful to try a Hendrickson when all logic says it shouldn't work, because usually it is the fly that has saved many a day for me. Make sure you have the duns with the dun wings and tails and spent wing Hendrickson in your fly box.  This is a species and pattern every fly box should not be without.

IRON BLUE DRY FLY

This pattern has taken many trout for me, particularly early in the season. Iron Blue Insects (Baetis niger, Baetis muticus or Baetis pumilus). Trout have a great liking for this little fly. It is commonly believed that it hatches only on wet, windy days. This is not true as I have seen numerous hatches in calm warm conditions. It is easy to spot as it is the only upwinged fly that has such an overall dark body color. It hatches during the summer with peaks at the beginning and end of summer. It emergers at the surface in open water during the day in irregular, sometimes prolific, hatches. The Iron Blue is not an evening fly. They tend to swarm during the day. Mating and egg laying also often takes place during the day. This fly can be used as a good imitation of the Claret Dun (Leptophlebia Vespertina). They emerge late spring and prefer stillwater or slow flowing streams. The female and male are similar. The Claret Dun looks a lot like the Iron Blue Dun. Look for our Iron Blue Dun Dry fly,  Iron Blue Dun Wet Fly and Iron Blue Dun Parachute Dry Fly. Also try our Mallard and Claret Wet fly  or Kite's Imperial Dry Fly .