Flies We Fish
Mayflies
In fly fishing, the mayfly is an iconic figure and probably the image most people with conjure when envisioning of the "fly" in the sport's name. These slender aquatic insects are easily recognizable in their adult or dun form by their highly visible upright wings and long, tailed abdomens. Biologically, all mayflies undergo incomplete metamorphosis, experiencing only three major stages within their typical life cycle.
See all Mayflies >>Midges
Even though a relatively simplistic midge may not seem as sexy or
interesting to a fly fisher as a giant hexagenia mayfly nymph or the
epic activity of thousands of electric green emerging caddis, trout
think midges are just fine! Midges are relatively small aquatic insects
that can be found in just about any freshwater environment on the
planet, and despite their diminutive size, the hundreds of species of
these mosquito-like bugs compose a quite significant portion of a
healthy trout's diet. Midges, like caddis, undergo a complete
metamorphosis, and experience a larva, pupa, and adult stage within a
typical life cycle.
See all Midges >>
The stonefly is a relatively large aquatic insect commonly found in
cool, clean trout water throughout North America. Even though these
bugs are less common than mayflies and caddis because of environmental
factors, stoneflies can be quite important to trout and steelhead
anglers in the western United States (especially in the Pacific
Northwest) and they can make a well-prepared mid-western or eastern
trout fly fisher's day during a prolific spring, summer, or fall hatch
in ultra-clean and higher elevation lakes, rivers, and creeks.
See all Stoneflies >>
To freshwater fly anglers, especially those who frequently ply the
trout and steelhead water of the western portion of North America, the
caddis or "sedge" is a fish catching machine. Western fly anglers
aren't the only ones benefiting from the fish-catching power of caddis;
they are available to trout in good numbers across the globe.