i am new to fly fishing i love it but i do not what flys do i need to use? is it the time and day or what? thanks

I guess it all depends what you are fishing for. If you are fishing for striped bass, a good fly to start with is a Clouser Deep Minnow. For black bass go with Clousers and deer hair poppers and finally for bream any small fly will do. The ones that look like ants work very well.

for like rainbow and brook and brown trout

There is probably a library full of books written about what fly to use and when. Sometimes you need a graduate degree in entomology just to know what they are talking about.

I keep it real simple. Several sizes of Parachute Adams or Elk Hair Caddis and just match the size of whatever is hatching. If nothing is hatching, an ant pattern on top and a copper john or prince nymph below. If none of that works, crack open a beer and enjoy the view.

Logan,
Prepare to learn for your entire life.
Watch the fish and let them tell the story.
If they're hunkered down fish a weighted nymph slightly higher then they are.
If they're lying 12-18 inches under the surface swing a wet fly in front of them.
If they're dimpling the surface go with a dry.
Trout generally feed up-stream and higher in the water than they are.
Most will not pick-up on items lower in the water column then they are.
The surface light acts to backlight your offering and don't underestimate their vision in clear water.
If they approach your fly then refuse drop a tippett size. Leader shy
Been doing this for 30+ years and still learn more with every passing season.

For flys
Gold ribbed hares ear with brass bead head
Peacock herl wooly worm with brown hackle weighted and non-weighted
Brown wooly worm weighted
Prince nymph weighted
Crackle back
Griffith's gnat
Adams
Elk hair caddis
Ant
Dave's hopper
Cricket

Practice catch and release often. Let the trout educate you and you in turn can put some back having learned from thier mistakes.

Eugene Moore



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2011 07:53PM by Eugene Moore.

Every water is different, and every season is different. But around here once it warms a bit and the insects start hatching, almost anything will do. For the trout in the Sierras, it is hard to beat an Elk Hair Caddis pattern, or an Elk Hair Caddis with a dropper nymph of some type tied below it.

Just me, but I like an Elk hair caddis with a small tuft of white on top so I can see it. Parachute Adams produces for me too-probably for the same reason.

I like woolly buggers (brown and dark green) for deeper holes when the fish are not taking insects off the surface.

Some days you just need a whole fly box full of stuff to try when they are being picky.

Drew

thanks guys for all the info. i will go to sportsman wearhouse and get what ya'll said thanks so much.

Logan-Go to a local Fly shop. They will know the local waters and be full of decent advice. Get a small selection of the top 5 flies they recommend and go fishing. Sportsman's Warehouse doesn't seem like the optimal place to start your fly fishing career. That really isn't their market, and they are not that interested in it.

Drew

logan, if you unhide your email address, i can send you some tips.

eric
fresno, ca.

unfortunately, drew may be speaking truth.

eric
fresno, ca.

Drew is right.

If you get into it, you may want to ty your own Even more fun

Bill - willierods.com