By Joe Solmo

              There are some flies, that seemingly no matter where you are fishing, are almost guaranteed to catch fish. Some of most successful patterns are ones that are versatile to use, whether you are fishing in Maine, or Colorado. Here is a short list of the essential flies you need to always keep in your flybox.

                First, lets talk about the Adams dry fly. The Adams has been a staple since it’s creation in 1922 by Leonard Halladay for his friend Charles Adams. It was created to mimic a mayfly, and is such a successful pattern it is considered “the dry fly” for most fly fisherman. There have been several variations of the pattern since Halladay’s time, including a very popular parachute version. Having a dozen or so of these in your box can help on the river.

                Second, we are going to mention the Woolly Bugger. The Woolly Bugger is a streamer meant to imitate a various amount of bait, including small minnows, crayfish, and large nymphs like the hellgrammite. It can be used in freshwater or in saltwater tidal flats as a shrimp pattern. There are so many varieties of the Woolly Bugger today you can find one in any color and size, some have bead or cone heads, some are without the weight. Many believe the origin of the fly dates back to 1967, but others see it as a variation of the Woolly Worm which dates back much further.

                Next, lets take a look at the Bead Head Hare’s Ear. The Bead Head Hare’s Ear is a must have nymph. It imitates a variety of aquatic insect larvae with gold wire wrapped around to give the illusion of ribs. This pattern is successful anywhere mayflies, caddis flies, or scuds are found.

The fourth must-have fly on our list is the Pheasant Tail Nymph pattern. This was created to replicate the insects of the baetis family in England by famous fly tier Frank Sawyer. This pattern is world famous for its ability to pull those hungry trout in with its appetizing looks. The most effective way to fish this is near the river bed drifting with the current, but has been used in other ways over the years, like as a dropper for instance.

The final fly we will talk about today is the Elk Hair Caddis. This fly comes in numerous colors, from black to tan and everything in between. It is a simple pattern meant to imitate caddis flies and stoneflies. This pattern dates back to 1957 in Pennsylvania. Created by Al Troth, this fly is a must have for any fly box.

And there you have it, the five most essential flies to have in your fly box! Don’t just take my word for it, give them a try!

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