Bugs

As anyone who fishes with flies can tell you, there seems to be an almost infinite selection of flies on the market today, and at times it can border on the overwhelming. Add to this the fact that, if you are a tier, the selection is limited really only by the imagination, there are really endless possibilities of fly patterns at an angler's disposal. These endless selections can generally be separated into two broad categories: Hatch-matching flies and general attractor flies (I realize that is a gross oversimplification). Hatch-matching flies represent decades and decades of careful observation and tying innovation by the most experienced anglers and guides, and provide the best chance to catch selective fish that are keying in on specific insect activity. By contract, general attractor style flies focus more on the overall size and shape of insects, and are not necessarily specific imitations of any one insect, but rather are simply "buggy" enough to attract fish to strike.

The first two fly patterns that I want to share fall into the ladder group described, and are flies that I've found monumental success with in the past few seasons regardless of not being specific imitations.

First, the almighty Royal Trude. If I was forced to select just one fly to fish with on any given day or even season, I would hands-down select this fly. I've caught fish in great numbers during prolific mayfly hatches, on mountain lakes with a wide array of much smaller insect activity, and in about all points in between. This is a "must have" in any fly angler's box, and there are a number of acceptable variations to materials listed. Photo and recipe are here:

CDC Royal Trude:

Thread: Black 8/0 Uni-thread

Hook: TMC 100 Size 12-16 (12 shown)

Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets

Abdomen: Peacock Herl, Red Floss, Peacock Herl (alternated as shown)

Wing: Paired White CDC feathers, tied down-wing style

Thorax: Furnace or Brown Hackle

Next we have the stimulator, or in this case, the "foamulator". This fly is another fantastic tool in my arsenal because it is large and easy to see, works as a credible stonefly and/or hopper imitation, and has enough flotation to easy drop a nymph underneath on a dual setup. This fly is also especially sentimental to me because it is tied using hair from the Deer that I harvested this fall! Photo and recipe are here:

Foamulator:

Hook: Mustad long-curved 8-16 (#10 shown)

Tail: Natural Deer or Elk hair

Abdomen: Yellow closed-cell 2MM foam

Rear Hackle: Grizzly saddle hackle

Wing: Same as tail

Thorax: Peacock herl

Front Hackle: Furnace or Brown hackle

Credit Bridgette with the excellent close-up photography!