When trout get finicky, there are always biological and/or meteorological reasons. Time of day, full bellies, barometric pressure, change in temperature, weather fronts, sun position, clouds, insect hatches, the list wears on as prospective anglers scurry to find what trout want. One way to continue having success on the river, whether in a mid-day slump or an all-out dry spell, is to change to one of the following flies with proven track records. Listed In no particular order, the following dry flies are some of the best of the best.
Stimulator
Many versions of the Stimulator exist, due in large part to the fact that trout seem to be entranced by the shape of it. A variety of colors simulate bugs in various rivers in every region. Some with rubber legs, some without. Some royal, some gold, some orange. Some big, some small. Whatever the variation, the Stimulator is considered an “attractor” fly because it isn’t intended to imitate any particular bug, but instead, it possesses characteristics of many species and strikes at a trout’s curiosity. It floats high and can imitate everything from a moth to a spider. Anglers love this fly during prolific stonefly hatches. Just ask the trout.
Humpy
Humpies come in an array of colors, but the most common and deadly are yellow, red and chartreuse. Humpies, like the Stimulator, are attractor patterns, and are durable enough to fish all day. They float super-tall and get their name from the distinguishing hump of bleached elk hair used for making the body. #14-16 are very common sizes for duping wild trout from the depths, and they’re perfect for fishing for cutthroat since cutts are non-selective surface feeders.
Parachute Adams
Trout adore the Parachute Adams because it mimics an emerging mayfly almost uncannily, plus it can be fished as an attractor pattern as well. The simplicity of this fly adds to its mystique. Quite possibly the most important dry fly in an angler’s box, oftentimes, when all else fails, skittish browns and bows will rise to a well-placed, well-presented Parachute Adams because they appear so life-like. Have multiple sizes of these flies ready at all times on the river. They can turn a blah day of fishing into a fireworks show.
Elk Hair Caddis
Trichoptera, that’s the technical name for a caddisfly. But the dry fly that imitates the caddis is far from technical. So simple-looking it seems it shouldn’t work. But caddis are some of the most recognizable aquatic insects in the water, for humans and trout. They represent a substantial part of a trout’s diet throughout the bug's entire life cycle. The Elk Hair Caddis comes in a variety of hues, from back, to olive to tan. There are tons of variations, all of which have their place. And because caddisflies are so varied in color in nature, this always requires some method of research before fishing a new stream. Have several sizes and shades, but keep tans and olives especially handy.
Royal Wulff
A black and red licorice stick with wings? A cherry Jolly Rancher with a coat on? Trout aren’t sure what they're supposed to imitate either, they just know they want to eat them. When Lee Wulff created this fly, he really hit on something special. The Royal Wulff is a wonderful fly to attract trout, and also to use when fishing a dry-dropper rig. Store some #14-16, plus a couple of big, puffy #12’s too for the dry-dropper days.
There are many flies some might argue are more productive than these. However, if angler needed only five dries in the box, choose these.
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