12 Essential Flies For Lakes And Rivers

[carroll]

Hello everyone,

 

Can you let me know what the 12 best flies would be so I can start shopping. There are so many choices. I want to carry minimal gear so wanted to carry 1-2 dozen of the best for rainbows. Can you let me know the best hook sizes for rivers and lakes.

 

Thanks!

 

Carroll.

[fishinglibin]

Hi Carroll, are you looking for dry or wet flies or both?

[Guest 420FLYFISHIN]

that is a very open question. i would take 2 dozen to the lake and another 2 dozen for the river.

 

Lake:

damsels

dragon fly

scuds

chrominids

leaches

saw bugs

caddis (of a few verieties)

mayflies (same as above)

attractor nympfs

carry specials

half and full backs

 

rivers:

San jean worms

leaches

back swimmers

chrominids

bait fish

big streamers

stone flies

caddis

may flies

 

hope this helps, i would recommend setting $100+ aside for boxes and flies but it will probably be more. It will be a mix of both nymphs and drys and i wold say 3-5/pattern so you have enough for the day.

[Gil]

For the Bow, I'd consider the following:

 

Nymphs:

SJW #10 and #14 for the winter

Prince nymph #14

Copper John #14

Z wing Caddis #14

Stone nymph

 

Dry

Stimulator for stones/hoppers various sizes

Hopper patterns various sizes

Caddis parachutes 18 - 14

BWO 18

PMD 18

 

 

Streamers

Muddler minnow

Bow river Bugger

Leech patterns

[Mitchell0724]

It can be difficult to narrow down flies into such small numbers but if I were to do so these would be my choices...

 

I'm going to go with about 20 flies

 

Dries

-Adams size 14

-Tan Elk Hair Caddis size 14

-Yellow Stimulator size 12-10

-Blue Winged Olive (bwo) size 16

-Pale Morning Dun size 16-18

 

Nymphs

-Hares Ear size 12-14

-Prince Nymph size 12-16

-Pheasant Tail Nymph sizes 12-16

-LaFontaine's Sparkle Pupa size 12-16

-Pats Rubber Leg Stonefly size 8-12

-Any Damsel or Dragonfly nymph can work

 

Streamers

-Wooly Bugger size 8-12

-Clouser Minnow (olive/white)

-Double Bunny size BIG

-MOAL leach size BIG

 

Others

-Red San Juan Worms (I like size 10s)

-Water Boatmen size 12-16

-Hoppers size 10-16

-Foam Wasps work really well size 12

-Dragonflies or Damsel dries

[Mitchell0724]

Aww it's hard to leave out chironomids so throw in these

Zebra midge size 18-14

Brassies size 18-14

[DonAndersen]

Carroll,

 

Here are some ideas from several of the finest anglers in N. America

 

http://flyguys.net/blog/fly-patterns/chironomids/john-kents-top-ten-chironomid-patterns

 

http://forum.nlft.org/index.php?showtopic=4351

 

Plus here is some additions that may might be considered are:

Boatman and swimmer pattern - google - lots out there

Dry golden and salmon fly patterns - stimulator

Catatonic leech

 

Catch ya'

 

 

Don

[ironfly]

420, you really wouldn't include backswimmers for lakes?

[Guest 420FLYFISHIN]

i was thinking about that after i posted it, its not one that produces too many fish for me on the lake but i also dont give it much time on the line to prove me wrong lol

[Hawgstoppah]

If I could only have 12 in my box.

 

#1 ) Clouser Minnow

#2 ) San Juan Worm wire wrap

#3 ) Hare's Ear

#4 ) Prince Nymph

#5 ) Hoppers/Stones (foam)

#6 ) Leeches

#7 ) Traditional Adams

#8 ) Elk Hair Caddis

#9 ) Boatman

#10 ) Pale Morning Dun

#11 ) Chironomids / Midges

#12 ) Stonefly Nymphs

 

Now having said that I'd likely tailor my box to suit the time of year and fishing destination, but those 12 I'd always have in the box, they have proven time and time again over the years.