Pheasant Tail Nymphs
![]() 1 dozen Pheasant Tail 12 Nymphs Trout NR US $.01
|
![]() 1 dozen Pheasant Tail 14 Nymphs Trout NR US $.01
|
![]() 1 dozen Pheasant Tail 18 Nymphs Trout NR US $.01
|
![]() 1 dozen Pheasant Tail 20 Nymphs Trout NR US $.01
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |

what flies to use for rainbow trout?
what are some good flies that I can use when fishing for rainbow trout. I know that pheasant tail nymphs and hares ear work pretty good. If you can just give me a whole list that would be great. thanks!
Different flies work best at different times of the day and year. Some flies can be productive all year long at any time of the day -- these are often called go-to flies, or searching patterns (Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear Nymph fall under this category, so it's good you're familiar with those). Other flies are designed for specific conditions, and will work best at those times. Here are some essential go-to dry flies:
Adams: A well-known dry attractor, it looks like nothing in particular but lots of insects in general, from mayflies to grasshoppers. It's also meant to float high in the water, so it's effective on lots of water from calm to rapid. Because it's an attractor pattern, it may work when there is no hatch, but can be used to imitate hatching insects.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/0330NW1.jpg
Also try the parachute variation:
http://urbanflyventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/Orvis-Parachute-Adams.jpg
Elk Hair Caddis: Another well-known dry, designed to look like a caddis fly, which is a common aquatic insect found in waterways throughout the world. Best fished if there is a caddis hatch underway, but may be used as an attractor pattern. Large sizes (12 and up) can imitate big stoneflies.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/0378NW.jpg
Pale Morning Dun (PMD) and Blue Wing Olive (BWO): These are designed to imitate a number of mayfly species on top of the water. They work best during a mayfly hatch, but might bring fish to the top when there's no hatch.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/0367NW.jpg
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/0338NW.jpg
Now here are some go-to nymphs and streamers:
The Hare's Ear Nymph and Pheasant Tail you already know. The Hare's Ear Nymph imitate a number of aquatic insect larva, but I think it works best to imitate caddis larva. The Pheasant Tail imitates mayfly larva, and if its tied to match specific varieties, it can make a VERY close imitation.
Prince Nymph: This fly "goes with" the Hare's Ear Nymph and Pheasant Tail. Again, it imitates many aquatic insect larva, but probably looks most like a stonefly larva, especially when fished in bigger sizes. So, if you have Hare's Ear Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs in sizes 14-18, you can fish passable imitations of the most common aquatic insects.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/0483NW.jpg
Woolly Bugger: This streamer can mimic many forage items, including minnows, sculpin, pollywogs, even damselfly larva, depending on how you fish it. It can be tied in various colors and sizes, and is one of the most common wet flies. Probably responsible for ruining more trout's days than any other wet fly.
http://urbanflyventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/Orvis-Woolly-Bugger.jpg
Muddler Minnow: This fly doesn't really look like a minnow to me, but it works at imitating small fish like minnows, fry, and baitfish. Another very common and well-known pattern.
http://www.orvis.com/orvis_assets/prodimg/084TNW.jpg
So, those are a few patterns that you can use virtually all year long under lots of conditions. There are many other flies that someone else might include in this list, and I would never say that these are the only flies you'll need. But these can get you started, and you can explore and discover other flies along the way. Always be willing to try something new, take a recommendation, etc., and you'll always catch fish.
| Powered by phpBay Pro |




























































