Types of flies

Fly fishing is all about imitating what fish naturally eat and presenting it to fish in a way that is convincing enough to get a bite.

 

Much of our focus in class is on getting the right presentation depending on a given situation on the river.

Beyond the challenge of casting that perfect drift, different techniques are used depending on the season, time of day, time of year, and types of insects and other fish food that live in a particular stretch of river. 

In the fly fishing 101 classes, we may explore many or all of these different fly types to see if we can get a fish to our nets. The key to being a great angler will be to know when and how to fish with these different types of flies — the more dynamic you are, the more fish you'll catch.

 

Dry Fly Fishing

• What it is: Imitates insects floating on the water’s surface.

• When to use: When fish are feeding at the surface (often during hatches).

• Technique: Cast the fly gently so it lands lightly and drifts naturally.

Nymphing

• What it is: Uses flies that sink, imitating aquatic insects below the surface.

• When to use: When fish are feeding underwater (which is most of the time!).

• Variants:

• Indicator nymphing (uses a bobber-like indicator)

• Euro/Czech nymphing (tight-line method, no indicator)

Streamer Fishing

• What it is: Uses larger flies that mimic baitfish, leeches, or crayfish.

• When to use: To target aggressive or predatory fish.

• Technique: Cast and retrieve the fly with strips, twitches, or swings.

Wet Fly Fishing

• What it is: Uses flies that drift just below the surface.

• When to use: During hatches or when fish are rising but not hitting dries.

• Technique: Swing flies across the current or let them drift.