ELK HAIR CADDIS

If you’re grading on effectiveness, simplicity, and adaptability, the Elk Hair Caddis scores an 11. Tied with just a few materials, it can be dressed up in countless ways to match specific caddis hatches. 

FLOW STONE

Big nymphs have two jobs: entice fish and get the entire rig to the bottom. The Flow Stone does both.

SICKNESS SCUD

Scuds are an important food source for trout.  Whether you want to add a hot spot (as demonstrated here) or try and match what you're finding in your local waters, you'll be able to use this basic pattern as a jumping off point.

PURPLE RAIN

This Pheasant Tail comes together quickly, is super buggy, and can be altered to your color of choice.

COPPER JOHN

The Copper John is the perfect fly in that it doesn't mimic one thing but represents many, and has a little bit of everything: a little flash, a little movement, a little weight.

FURLED CADDIS

This is a cool little caddis nymph that can be swung, dead drifted, or high sticked.  The furled body extends away from the hook, giving it a unique profile and a little extra movement.

REAPER MADNESS

Based on a bass lure called a Reaper, this pattern is intended to be fished in warm water.  It sinks quickly and rides upside-down (as it is tied on a jig hook) so it won't be as likely to get caught in the weeds.  It's most note-worthy quality: movement, and...

MONSTER MIDGE

This isn't your grandparent's midge, nor is it your size-22 eye-bender. This is a big nasty midge for the big fish lurking in depths where no tiny midge would dare to go.

FRENCHIE

The Frenchie is a member of an increasingly popular family of flies: competition nymphs. With a recipe that consists of only a few materials, it is a great way to fill boxes quickly with an effective, quick-sinking little fish catcher.

SOFT HACKLE PHEASANT TAIL

The Pheasant Tail Nymph is as well known as any fly out there, and this is it's collared cousin.  It's a quick way to fill a fly box and catch a lot of fish.

CAREY SPECIAL

A classic wet fly with varying origin stories, this is an anything-that-swims pattern for lakes and rivers.  It uses just a few materials, comes together quickly, and can be modified in a myriad of ways.

FREE BIRD

This is a riff on the infamous Bird's Nest.  A sturdy fly that can be tied in a ton of different colors, this is a great pattern for filling a box quickly.

DOWNTOWN BROWN

The Downtown Brown is a nifty little March Brown nymph, with a tag that serves as a hot spot.

PHEASANT TAIL NYMPH

Simple, time-tested, and effective, the Pheasant Tail Nymph (often abbreviated to 'PT') is on the short list of most anglers.

SO BASIC

The name of this nymph is not misleading: it is a simple one! But it's also an effective one.

SIZZLA

This little nymph fills two things quickly: a fly box, and a trout's mouth.  Tie this baby up in as many colors as possible and get to work.

STREET SWEEPER

It's big, you don't want to get in its' way, and it cleans up.  This intruder is absolutely worth tying in a couple different colors for chasing winter steelhead in coastal rivers.

KING TUBBY STONE

The King Tubby Stone is a great stonefly nymph that will fool fish looking for big bugs!

STEELHEAD THING

This is a very effective nymph pattern utilizing a few materials that make it pop.  Try tying a few of these up in various colors and test on the water to see what works for you.

ANDERSON'S EUPHORIA

This fly is traditional enough to satisfy the classic low-water swing fly crowd, but also adds in a little extra bugginess and flare.

WIGGLE SQUID

Intended to be a coastal steelhead pattern, this is a colorful fly with a ton of action and a pretty big profile, but still moves well through the water.

SPAWNER

This is as good of an imitation as you'll find for a rainbow trout.  It is a pretty simple pattern to tie, and can be easily altered by changing colors to mimic other species of fish for either fresh or saltwater.

OCTOBER CADDIS PUPA

Tied on a jig hook, this October Caddis pattern is perfect for fishing under an indicator or tight-line nymphing.

BROTABULOUS BAITFISH

Whether you are trying to fill a box for saltwater or warm water, this baitfish pattern is a great place to start.

PERDIGONISH

Perdigon flies were made popular by Spanish competition anglers because they sink quickly and catch a lot of fish.  Learn to tie the Perdigonish fly here.

STIMULATOR

Anglers love this Stimulator pattern because of its effectiveness and versatility.  It's a great searching pattern when you're unsure of what trout are targeting, and it floats well enough to hold up a nymph tied on as a dropper rig.

EL VATO NYMPH

Originally tied as a low-riding caddis dry fly, this is the El Vato Nymph: a quick-sinking bug that comes together with a few creatively used materials.

MAY NAGERIE

An attractor pattern that most closely resembles a PMD or other mayfly. 

THE JOCK

Hot-headed attractor pattern.  This is a great little fly that looks something like a Bird's Nest... and nothing really like a Bird's Nest.

RADICAL RYCHO

A simple little Rhyacophila Caddis nymph. This is tied on a competition-style hook and can easily be embellished with a little extra flare.

SYNTHESIZER PRINCE

A Prince patterns that incorporates some new materials and a special dubbing blend that makes it worth checking out. This is a great attractor pattern that gets down quickly.

CROTCHA BONEFISH FLY

Why not take a perfectly good fly pattern, dissect it and add something new to create a new variation?

GOTCHA

A stripped down version of the infamous bonefish fly.

BASIC SHRIMP

A jumping off point for tying bitter-style shrimp for bonefish.

CRUSHA CRAB

 Crab pattern for fishing the flats.

BASIC DECEIVER

 A simple version of the classic baitfish pattern.

TARPON TOAD

 A bunny based tarpon hunter.

SQUIGLY BITTER

 A bonefish fly with a little extra action.

PAT'S RUBBER LEGS

Lance Egan ties one of his favorite stonefly patterns -- a variation of the Pat's Rubber Leg Stone.

BASIC BITTER

  The perfect gateway into tying your own bonefish flies.

BASS BUSTER

 A bluegill imitation that drives warm water species crazy!

STRETCHY MAY

  PMD-style rubber leg / poxy-back; it's not as crazy as it sounds, but it is bullet proof and catches fish like crazy.

PERPETRATOR

 Bead headed steelhead pattern.  A little action, a little buggy, and very versatile.

MURICAN INTRUDER

 The colors have been changed in honor of the 4th, but this steelhead fly is real.

LITTLE BLACK MAY FLY

 One of our favorite mayfly imitations.

JIGAWOCKIE

 A jig hook, a hot spot and the perfect amount of flash make this an excellent trout nymph.

GOLD DIGGER STONE

 A stone that gets down fast.  Way down.  Real fast.

FIRE BIRD

 The bird's nest is a classic, but this version has some new twists and the addition of a hot spot on the wing case.

ALEVIN

This is an awesome imitation for an Alevin -- a trout or salmon fly.

BELLY SCRATCHING GAME CHANGER

This is Fly Fish Food's variation on the popular Game Changer streamer from Blaine Chocklett. A great multi-articulated streamer pattern.