Only Six Flies for the Spring

Tagged: caddis, midge larva, parachute adams, pheasant tail nymph, soft hackle fly, Spring flies, woolybugger

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- March 2, 2018 at 6:42 pm #4623
  
  Kenny Klimes
  Keymaster
  
  Only Get Six Flies for Spring:
  
  I was asked the other day if I had to pick just six flies to fish with this Spring, which would I choose. Now that is a difficult task. I am not a minimalist when it comes to flies and gear. Anyone that fishes with me knows that I bring enough flies to supply a small fly shop. But since I was asked to pick just six flies I guess I’ll give it a go.
  
  1. Woolybugger – Although I don’t fish with woolybuggers a lot, it is one of the all time greatest flies “invented” for catching trout and even other species. If I only get to pick six I must have some buggers in my fly box. They can be fished by swinging, dead drifting and stripping with each way being very effective. They can imitate a leech, baitfish and even a stonefly nymph. I’d carry some black, olive and even white.
  
  2. Midge larva – I love fishing midge larva like the P&P midge, zebra midge, etc. in all colors. Midges are around all throughout the year and even though tiny, are a major food source for all trout. I normally dead drift them under an indicator.
  
  3. Soft Hackle fly – You did say best flies in the Spring. With many aquatic insects beginning to emerge during this time, the soft hackle can imitate most all the emerging insect species. I love to swing this pattern and when they are hot they are a blast to fish. I’d carry all colors but for sure have light colors and dark colors.
  
  4. Elk Hair caddis – Spring time means caddis, so you must carry this fly. Plus, you need a dry fly on this list. I like to throw anywhere from a size 14-18 with tan being my favorite color. Remember you can change your Elk Hair Caddis into sort of an X-Caddis (minus the shuck) by cutting off the bottom hackle of the fly. Two flies for the price of one!
  
  5. Parachute Adams – Ok, for all you dry fly elitists I’ll throw in one more dry fly for good measure. The Parachute Adams can imitate most mayfly patterns and if I can have them in different sizes and colors that will take care of my dry flies for the Spring.
  
  6. Pheasant Tail Nymph – Last but not least, I guess I would have to pick some PT nymphs to round out my “sub-surface” aquatic insects. I would even use a two-fly rig along with the midge and PT nymph to dead drift past those deep trout.
  
  So, there is my list of six Spring flies to have in your box. Unfortunately, I’ll be carrying way more than this list, but these flies WILL definitely be in my fly boxes too. What six flies would you carry for the Spring?
- March 2, 2018 at 8:02 pm #4625
  
  bkbying89
  Participant
  
  All the flies you listed are good but where is the Mop fly? I am trying to organize my fly boxes so I can carry more productive flies and you list is a great help.
  
  Bill
- March 4, 2018 at 6:52 am #4627
  
  Sid Aslin
  Participant
  
  Bill,great question and the gist of it is something that Ken and I have discussed numerous times so I will hopefully save you a lecture! The problem with mop head is that they really do not imitate anything natural. They only work because the irritate the fish and then the fish will strike at them. The reason that we use a fly rod rather than a spinning rod is so we can make a more natural presentation with it. I hate it when I am fishing at Montauk in the fly area and I see a guy catching fish and I know that they are using an illegal bait. When I will usually make a comment to them on the water to make them stop. Relying on catching fish with mop head flies really is not fly fishing and so I only use them when nothing else works!
- March 4, 2018 at 5:55 pm #4629
  
  Kenny Klimes
  Keymaster
  
  What about the “mop fly”? Would you take out one of the flies in my list and trade it for a mop fly? So which six flies would you guys take with you this spring? Here in Missouri or in Colorado – you only get to pick six.
- March 7, 2018 at 11:44 pm #4732
  
  MOfishMO
  Participant
  
  My preferred 6 flies list for Spring in our beautiful state of Missouri. The list would change in a different state or a different season.
  
  1. Midge
  
  2. Scuds
  
  3. Formerly Known As Prince Nymph
  
  4. Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle
  
  5. Zonker
  
  6. Any foam pattern fly. I prefer a foam Caddis. Gotta have a dry dropper. I prefer something foam for my dry dropper. Can you tell, I’m not a dry fly elitist.?
- March 9, 2018 at 10:15 am #4737
  
  Sid Aslin
  Participant
  
  1 Olive Wooly bugger The first one that I bought before hooking up with FATC was from Darrel Bentley He ran the fly shop for a while at Reed’s Cabins. He told me “toss it out and let it drift and slowly retieve it in. Pay attention as right before you lift it out of the water out of nowhere a trout wil often grab it”. He is right and that has happened so many times where I just take a second or 2 longer before lifting it from the water and will often catch a trout. We owe a lot of the good fishing to Darrel because he was the “game warden” at Montauk before he retired and tried to get a fly shop going at Reeds Cabins. FYI He was a Vietnam Veteran and his body is buried in the Cemetery as you leave the park and his wife Bonnie works at the park and if you ever call down there to make camping reservations you will probably speak to her.
  
  2 Yellow Sally Dry fly fishing is the the best and they can be big so even me with my poor eyesight can see the trout swim up and grab them and when you hear “gulp” set the hook!
  
  3 San Juan worm under a bobber (sory Kenny I know they are called strike indicators!)
  
  4 p&P
  
  5 Red Worm
  
  6 Black Wooly Bugger
  
  My favorite flies were really the ones in my Dad’s fly box, but they were mostly popping bugs that he used on ponds for bluegills! I never got the hang of it so he bought me live crickets and we always caught fish!
- May 20, 2018 at 8:47 am #5526
  
  Mcclurey
  Participant
  
  Definitely a weighted Cherise Worm size 16-18.
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