How It’s Tied
The Daddy Long Legs Fly is tied in sizes 8 to 14, depending on the target species and crane fly variation. The body is crafted from dubbing, synthetic fibers, or natural materials like deer hair or chenille. Its signature long legs are made of rubber, silicone, or monofilament, while wings are constructed from hackle feathers, synthetic fibers, or thin foam.
What It Mimics
This fly imitates adult crane flies—commonly called "daddy long legs"—a key food source for freshwater fish, especially in late summer and fall. Its lifelike profile and movement make it highly effective. Available in various sizes and colors, it can match regional crane fly species, appealing to a wide range of fish.
Where It’s Used
Primarily effective in freshwater streams and smaller rivers, the Daddy Long Legs Fly excels when fish are surface-feeding during crane fly season. Since its success depends on matching the hatch, it’s less productive when crane flies aren’t active. Target species include trout and other surface-feeding fish.
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Adams
A versatile dry fly, perfect for trout fishing in diverse water conditions. It effectively mimics a wide range of aquatic insects, making it a reliable choice for anglers.
How It’s Tied
The Adams fly is hand-tied using grizzly and brown hackle, gray dubbing, and moose hair fibers for the tail. The hackle wraps around the hook to create the illusion of legs, while the dubbing forms the body, and the moose hair adds a realistic tail. This combination produces a lifelike and highly effective fly.
What It Mimics
The Adams fly excels at imitating various aquatic insects, including mayflies, caddisflies, and midges. Its generic yet detailed design ensures versatility, making it indispensable for trout anglers across different seasons and conditions.
Fly Tying Video for the Adams
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The Blue Winged Olive is a highly effective dry and wet fly pattern renowned for its natural mayfly appearance, making it irresistible to trout.
How to Tie the Blue Winged Olive
- Hook: Use a short or medium shank hook.
- Body: Wrap olive dubbing or thread around the shank to create a slender, tapered shape.
- Tail: Attach a few strands of hackle fibers or microfibbets.
- Wing: Use upright, divided materials like synthetic fibers, mallard flank feathers, or CDC feathers for a realistic look.
- Hackle: Wrap a grizzly or dun-colored hackle around the thorax to form a bushy collar, aiding buoyancy and mimicking mayfly legs.
What It Mimics
This fly replicates the adult Baetis mayfly—a vital trout food source year-round. Its lifelike profile, wings, and hackle make it especially effective during hatches.
Where to Use It
- Water Types: Rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.
- Best Conditions: Ideal during Baetis hatches when trout target adult mayflies.
- Fishing Technique: Dead drift the fly to match the hatch for optimal results.
Watch the Blue Winged Olive fly-tying video to perfect your technique!
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What It Is
The Grannom Emerger is a specialized fly pattern designed to mimic the emerging stage of the grannom caddisfly, a critical food source for trout.
How It’s Tied
This fly is tied on a curved or straight nymph hook. The body, typically made from olive or green dubbing, replicates the natural insect’s coloration. Dark, fine fibers form the tail and optional legs, enhancing the lifelike silhouette.
The head is built with tying thread and secured with a whip finish and head cement for durability. To mimic segmentation, the abdomen is often ribbed with contrasting thread or wire.
What It Mimics
The Grannom Emerger imitates the caddisfly’s transition from pupa to adult—a vulnerable stage when trout actively feed.
Where to Use It
This fly excels during spring grannom hatches in rivers and streams. Fish it just below the surface to imitate rising emergers or deeper to target trout feeding on ascending pupae. While primarily effective for trout, it also works for other caddisfly-eating species like grayling.
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