The Baitfish is a great pattern to practice building fast, easy, durable heads using Loon Outdoors UV Clear Fly Finish.

At the confluence of effectiveness and simplicity is the mighty Hare's Ear.  Here is a riff on the old standard, which will liven things up at the vise and on the water.

The Chubster is a stripped-down version of the original Chubby Chernobyl. It can be fished as-is or dressed up with different colors, hot-spots, or flash underwings.

This baitfish pattern provides a perfect jumping-off point for tyers wanting to build their arsenal for either warm-water or saltwater, as it uses a few common materials, isn't particular on color, and doesn't require complicated techniques.

A quick-sinking, box-filler, this jig is a versatile little fish-fooler. Whether it is tied with a hot colored head or with muted earth tones, this is an effective addition to a tight-line nymph rig or a dropper under a dry.

The Repeat Offender is an awesome little fall pattern that comes together quickly and can be sized down for trout spey, or sized up for steelhead.

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. 

The Mike Czech is a simple, competition style nymph.

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.