FLIES AND FLY TYING SUPPLIES
Fly Fishing
Fly Fishing is a specialized technique for catching fish where the bait, which
typically looks like a fly, is presented to the fish. The idea behind fly fishing
is designed to appear to the fish as if a bug has landed on the top of the
water or slightly below the waters surface to entice a strike. The goal is to
try to find a fly that matches the hatch or bait fish in the area.
Fly Fishing - Types of Flies
In fly fishing, the fly is the bait that you use to entice the fish to strike. There really are thousands of
different flies on the market, though they usually fall into three different types of flies.
The Most Common Types of Flies
•
Dry Flies
•
Nymphs
•
Streamers
•
Wet Flies
•
Salmon Flies
•
Saltwater Flies
•
Warm Water Flies
•
Synthetic and Terrestrial Flies
Dry Flies
Dry Flies are the most widely
used. They are designed to
present on top the water and
mimic a fly or bug landing on
the surface of the water to
entice a fish to strike. They
mimic adult aquatic insects as they emerge from the water. They also represent other bugs like
grasshoppers, crickets, ants, and other bugs to entice trout, panfish, and bass to strike. Some dry flies
mimic small mice to entice a big largemouth bass to bite. Our favorite dry flies are the Mosquito Fly, Blue
Winged Olive Flies, Elk Hair Caddis Flies, and the Rainy’s X-Fly Parachute Fly.
Nymph Flies
Nymphs are designed to float just below
the surface of the water to mimic a
water invertebrate, or young insects in
their larval form that live in the waters
that the resident fish are used to eating
in the wild. They are meant to be fished along, or near the bottom of lakes, and rivers. Nymph flies are
highly effective for trout, panfish, steelhead, and salmon. Some of our top Nymph Flies are the Bead
Head Pheasant Tail Nymph Flies, Montana Fly Company’s Hare’s Ear Flies, the Bead Head Prince Nymph
Flies, and the Tungsten Zebra Midge Flies.
Streamer Flies
Streamer Flies are designed to mimic a
small fish or other aquatic life, like
baitfish, crayfish, leeches, and large
aquatic insects like hellgrammites.
Streamers are fished throughout the
water column in lakes, rivers, and creeks. It is important to match the type of fly you use to the water
conditions, location and type of fish that you are trying to catch. You can usually get good information
on what types of flies to use at local bait stores in the area you are going to fish, or a little online research
in a fishing forum, or other online research. Our favorite Streamer Fliles are the Pine Squirrel Leech Flies,
Bead Head Autumn Wooly Bugger Flies, Rainy’s Empie’s Deadly Shinder Fly Assortment, and the Bead
Head Crystal Wooly Bugger.
Wet Flies
Wet flies imitate aquatic insects as they swim up to the surface. They are
some of the most effective when fishing for trout, panfish, bass, salmon
and steelhead.
Salmon Flies
Salmon flies are made for both the Pacific and Atlantic salmon, and also work
very well for steelhead. Salmon flies aren’t really made to mimic any specific
insects or baitfish, they are really made to trigger an agressive response from
these agressive fish.
Saltwater Flies
Saltwater flies represent the many food sources
found in the ocean. From baitfish to crab and
even shrimp, these patterns can catch
everything from bonefish to tarpon. Our
favorites include the Umpqua Saltwater Popper, Rainy’s Merkin Crab Fly, Rainy’s Gotcha Bonefish Fly, and
Rainy’s Avalon Fly.
Synthetic and Terrestrial Flies
Cabela’s Grand Hopper Fly Cabela’s Cricket Fly
Betts Bass Bug Popper Flies Betts Black Ant
Flies
Warm Water Flies
Warm water flies are designed specifically for fly
fishing in warmer lakes, rivers, and creeks.
These flies target largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, bluegill, perch, crappie, carp, stripers, and
other warm water fish species. Our favorite warm water flies are the CB Bass Pop Fly Assortment,
Edmond’s Stealth Bomber Fly Assortment, Rainy’s Carp Tease Fly Assortment, and Rainy’s J’s Frogman
Warm Water Fly Assortment multi pack.
Fly Assortment
If you are looking to save some money, or are just
starting to buy your first flies, buying a multi pack
fly assortment set is the best way to go. This way
you will get lots of different flies, in a lot of different
colors, to try them all and see which ones work the
best for your, and the location where you are
fishing. Our favorite Fly Assortment Kits are the Wooly Bugger Fly Assortment, the ten piece CF Baitfish
Fly Assortment, and the fourteen piece Alaska King Salmon Fly Assortment.
Fly Tying Tools and Supplies
•
Fly Tying Tools Pliers & Gaffs
•
Standard Fly Tying Tool Kit
•
Peak Rotary Vise with Pedestal Base
•
Deluxe Trout Fly Tying Kit
•
Dr. Slick Arrow Scissors
Fly Tying Hooks
•
Tiemco 600 SP Saltwater Hooks
•
Tiemco TMC 600SP Fly Hooks
•
Tiemco 7999 Fly Hooks
•
Tiemco TMC 8115 Hooks
Fly Tying Material
•
Fly Tying Material Kit
•
Bucktail Fly Tying Material
•
Saddle Skins for Tying Flies
•
UTC Ultra Thread for Fly Tying
Fly Tying Kits
When you first start out tying
your own flies it can be rather
costly to get the different
components you need to tie
many different flies to fill up
your fly box. It is a good idea to
buy yourself a fly tying kit that has all the materieals you need to get started. We recommend the White
River Fly Shop Masters Zebra Midge Fly Tying Kit, the White River Fly Shop Masters Foam Spider Fly Tying
Kit, the White River Fly Shop Masters San Juan Worm Fly Tying Kit, and the White River Fly Shop Masters
Woolly Bugger Fly Tying Kit. These kits will get you started in tying some of the best widely used fly
fishing flies.
About The Author
Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website
is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the
great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way
that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you
to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find
interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to
test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is
featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to
make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the
purchase price of any products that you may purchase.
The Best Fly Tying Experience Awaits!