Fly Fishing

hughzar

Hello everyone! I stumble across this site a few days ago and decided to join in the lurking and reading of other fly fisherman's misadventures! I think I'll begin my stay here by asking for a bit of help...

I'm pretty new to fly fishing. Right now I take my fly rod with me on every fishing trip, just so I can practice my cast in practical, real life situations. Having gotten much better at my cast, I'm looking to fill my fly box up. I currently have a few dry flies and nymphs, but they are a bit beat up from all the practice and sunfish snacking on them. Can anyone suggest a few of the essential flies that I must have for fishing in western PA? I appreciate the help!

--Ryan

fliesandfins · Location: Internet

Thanks for choosing fliesandfins.com! I can't speak specifically to your region and the exact fly patterns that the locals use etc.. - but I can offer some of my thoughts on the essential fly box for trout and other fish that you may encounter. This is whats in my fly box now. I happen to like simplicity and just the essentials .... so, consider some of these versatile and fun patterns to fish ..

1. olive wooly bugger
2. black wooly bugger
3. grass hopper (yellow body)
4. purple wooly bugger
5. gurglers (for small mouth and largemouth bass on surface)
6. flashback pheasentail nymphs
7. copper john
8. hotwire prince
9. elk hair caddis
10. stimulator
11. black ghost streamer
12. soft hackle streamers
13. march brown wet flies
14. adams dry flies
15. platte river spider
16. madam x (i think thats what this is called - its a dry fly)
17. foam body yellow stonefly
18. zebra midges (red, black, copper, silver)
19. bluewindged olive dry flies

Hope this gives you some good ideas! Perhaps others will have some suggestions for you too. Good luck!

rustayy · Location: Islamorada,FL

Welcome to the world of fly fishing! Glad to hear you are enjoying the sport and that your cast is coming along. I can add a few more flies I always like to carry with me.....

1. Hare's ears
2. San Juan Worms
3. Various Caddis nymphs (z- wing caddis, fox's pupah,)
4. Black AP's
5. Assorted Ant dries ( Cutter's Ant, Green River foam Ants)
6. A few Poppers in frog colors ( fun as hell to get bass on the surface)

As you will soon find out.....adding to your fly box will never end! You will keep buying flies for all types of fish, and all different situations. Good luck with your casting, and tight lines to you

EvGrin · Location: New York

You should really just pick up a cheap vice and some materials. Nothing more satisfying then catching a fish on something you tied.

But as for everything stated above.. All great flies.
I've personally been binging on poppers lately. Topwater explosions are so badass!

TOMWIGS · Location: Shawnee Mission, Ks USA

Definitely agree with the above post with a few additions. First, Save up a little money and buy a rotary vice, you'll end up there anyway. Second, understand that tieing flies is a different hobby than fishing flies. I enjoy it immensely. I'm not saying I'm great at it, and you don't need to be, but if you only tie what you need to fish, you'll miss out on some of the fun. It will allow you to be prepared in most situations and your friends and family will love the flies you give them. Third, and you probably won't listen to this, because I didn't, just tie nymphs and streamers. Dries are more difficult, usually much smaller, and most of all they require many many more materials making your investment much greater. After a few years you'll look back at your collection of dryfly materials and see a ton of stuff you bought one piece at a time to tie one specific dry fly and won't believe it! The exception to this may be the foam flies. Most are relatively easy and you can have a lot of fun letting your imagination run wild on designs and colors. Ants, beetles, spiders, and hoppers, in foam are fun and relatively easy! Lately, I've bought several dries off of E-bay. I watch for steals and have never been dissapointed in the quality. (Only buy flies shipped domestically). Most of these, I can't tie for what I've paid for them, and the size 20-24 Adams and BWO are better than what my fat fingers can put out!

I've been flyfishing for about 25 years and tieing for about 20. I seem to tie in spurts, and at times seemed dissapointed that I really don't need to tie anything. About five years ago I came to the realization that it was a totally separate hobby and who cares if I don't need any more flies, I enjoy tieing! Of course it doesn't hurt that my son is a guide in Montana and always needs flies!