Aquatic Insects (simple guide to get started)
Fish eat aquatic macroinvertebrates (underwater bugs) and also smaller fish/organisms that swim in the water. Especially when targeting trout it's important to attempt "match the hatch" or in other words match what the fish are selectively feeding on at the time on that particular stretch of water. Remember that fish feed quite a bit especially during the warmer months so they see the same specific types of nymphs floating by OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Placing a fly that resembles what they've becomed accustomed to eating is pretty important for most scenarios.
Here's a quick general guide to set you down the path of entomology and fish grabbing photos.
Here's a quick general guide to set you down the path of entomology and fish grabbing photos.
A
Caddis fly nymph |
C
Mayfly Nymph |
B
Caddis Fly (Adult) E
Mayfly Adult |
D
Stonefly Nymph F
Stonefly (Adult) |
Baitfish and larger Prey
A
Crawfish (or crayfish, lots of species) |
C
Scud (Amphipoda) |
B
Various Minnows (or frye) |
D
Sculpin (Cottoidea) |
Terrestrials
This category of flies are denoted as organisms that fall into the water from the bank. They don't formally have a part of their life cycles in the water but some common terrestrial insects are always falling into the stream and if nothing else is hatching at the moment the fish will gorge themselves on whatever they can find. Here's some of the common terrestrials and patterns used to imitate this category.