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Fly pattern guide

Know what’s in
your fly box.

Open olive-green fly box with dry flies, nymphs, and streamers beside flowing water
Illustrative field box · use the checked guides below for identification.

See each fly from useful angles, learn its common names, and know when to try it.

145 fly guides457 checked photos
01

Clear names. Similar flies stay clearly labeled.

02

Photos checked. Every guide photo has a source and use record.

03

Honest fishing notes. Seasonal tips are never called a live river report.

Fly collection

Find the fly you mean.

Search by fly name, another common name, or insect type.

145 reviewed patterns

Exact source-identified Zebra Midge resting in an open hand, showing its bead, slim dark ribbed body, and very small scaleVerified photograph

Nymph · #16–22 in the reviewed Orvis recipe, #18–22 is a common practical range; match the local insect

Zebra Midge

A sparse, fast-sinking midge-pupa pattern built from a slim thread body, open wire rib, and small bead.Open field guide
Side profile of an American Pheasant Tail Nymph against a dark blue backgroundVerified photograph

Nymph · #12–20

Pheasant Tail Nymph

A compact mayfly-nymph pattern whose pheasant-tail fibers and copper rib create a slim, segmented profile.Open field guide
Clean side profile of an Elk Hair Caddis dry fly against a blue backgroundVerified photograph

Dry · #10–18

Elk Hair Caddis

A buoyant adult-caddis dry fly with a tented hair wing and palmered hackle that holds up in broken water.Open field guide
Parachute Adams dry fly held in a vise with a white post and horizontal hackleVerified photograph

Dry · #12–22

Parachute Adams

A highly visible mayfly-style dry with an upright post and hackle wrapped horizontally around that post.Open field guide
Traditional black Woolly Bugger streamer shown in side profile against a red backgroundVerified photograph

Streamer · #6–12

Woolly Bugger

A mobile marabou-and-hackle streamer that can suggest several large food forms without being one exact imitation.Open field guide
Finished original-style RS2 emerger in a vise with split tails, slim gray-tan dubbed body, dark thorax, and short clipped wingVerified photograph

Emerger · Match the natural; Orvis demonstrates #20, Originator instructions use 6/0 thread for #14 or larger and 8/0 for smaller hooks

RS2

Rim Chung's sparse beadless emerger or floating nymph, built with two split tails, a tightly dubbed tapered body, a compact thorax, and a clipped saddle-hackle-web wing.Open field guide
Large in-vise side photograph of a natural-tone Hare's Ear nymph with rough tan-brown dubbing, guard-hair tail, dark wing case, and compact beadVerified photograph

Nymph · Orvis: #12–20; FFI unweighted example: #10. Match local insects and water

Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear Nymph

A source-reviewed guide to the Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear: a rough, generalist nymph whose hare dubbing, metallic rib, tail, thorax, and wing case can suggest several immature aquatic insects without copying one species exactly.Open field guide
Large side macro photograph of a Bead Head Prince Nymph with white biot wings and peacock bodyVerified photograph

Nymph · Original Doug Prince recipe: #6–12, Orvis bead-head range: #4–18, FFI proportioned demonstration: #12

Prince Nymph

A high-contrast searching nymph built from a peacock-herl body, gold rib, forked brown biot tail, swept brown hackle, and white biot V-wing; the reviewed bead-head form adds weight and flash.Open field guide
Exact finished green Perdigon nymph variation with a dark metal bead, orange collar, and slim resin body held in a fly vise that obscures the rear hook areaVerified photograph

Nymph · #12–18 are common starting sizes; match the insect, water, hook, and legal weight, The photographed green form's exact hook and bead size are not established by its thumbnail

Perdigon Nymph

A bead-led, resin-coated competition nymph built to reach fast or deep lanes with a small, low-drag profile.Open field guide
Exact Griffith's Gnat dry fly in side profile with a dark peacock-herl body and palmered grizzly hackleVerified photograph

Dry · #14–24 in the reviewed Orvis tying source, #18–22 is a useful winter starting range; match the natural

Griffith's Gnat

A simple peacock-herl and grizzly-hackle midge dry that can suggest one tiny adult, a clustered surface meal, or another very small insect at the film.Open field guide
Exact group of three source-identified X-Caddis flies with brown deer-hair wings, pale bodies, and amber trailing shucksVerified photograph

Emerger · #12–20 in the reviewed Fly Fishers International recipe, Orvis example range: #12–16; match the local caddis

X-Caddis

Craig Mathews's low-riding, hackleless caddis transition pattern, built with a thin trailing shuck, dubbed body, and tented deer- or elk-hair wing.Open field guide
Yellow Stimulator dry fly in side profile against a dark blue backgroundVerified photograph

Dry · #4–16

Stimulator

A buoyant hair-wing attractor and stonefly-style dry built for broken water and dry-dropper use.Open field guide
Large fly-box photograph with several compartments visibly labeled Chubby Chernobyl and multiple foam-fly colorsVerified photograph

Terrestrial · #6–16 in Umpqua's production range, Orvis tying example: #8 on a 3X-long nymph hook

Chubby Chernobyl

A high-floating foam-and-synthetic-yarn attractor with rubber legs, built to remain visible in broken water and suspend a proportionate dropper.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of the PMD Comparadun showing upright fan wing, split tail fibers, slender pale body, no hackleReviewed illustration

Dry · #14–18

PMD Comparadun

A low-riding, hackleless Pale Morning Dun dry with a fan-shaped deer-hair wing.Open field guide
Macro side photograph of a March Brown Parachute dry fly with a copper-brown body and tan upright postVerified photograph

Pattern family · Commonly #10–14; verify locally

March Brown Dry Flies

A family destination for dry flies used around March Brown mayfly adults—not one exact recipe.Open family guide
Side photograph of a BWO Hen-Winged Olive Biot dry fly with an upright gray wing and segmented olive bodyVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #14–24; stage and river vary

Blue-Winged Olive Patterns

A stage-based family for olive-bodied mayfly nymphs, emergers, adults, cripples, and spinners.Open family guide
Close photograph of a brown artificial caddis-pupa imitation held in a fly viseVerified photograph

Pattern family · Varies by species; often #10–18

Caddis Pupa Patterns

A family of subsurface caddis patterns spanning pupa, ascending emerger, and soft-hackle presentations.Open family guide
Side photograph of a black-and-brown Box Canyon Stone nymph patternVerified photograph

Pattern family · #4–18 depending on species

Stonefly Nymph Patterns

A broad family of two-tailed, bottom-oriented stonefly nymph imitations in many sizes and weights.Open family guide
Side photograph of a black foam ant fly with two body lobes and a chartreuse sight spotVerified photograph

Pattern family · #12–20

Ant Patterns

Dry and sunken terrestrial patterns unified by an ant's pinched waist and two-lobed body.Open family guide
Side photograph of a black foam beetle fly with short legs and an orange sight postVerified photograph

Pattern family · #10–18

Beetle Patterns

Low-profile terrestrial patterns built to suggest a rounded beetle shell and short legs.Open family guide
Side photograph of a tan Parachute Hopper fly with a white post and horizontal hackleVerified photograph

Pattern family · #6–14

Grasshopper Patterns

A family of foam, hair, and low-riding dry flies used to imitate grasshoppers and other large terrestrials.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a Black Conehead Egg-Sucking Leech with a long mobile black body and orange-red collarVerified photograph

Pattern family · #4–14

Leech Patterns

A mobile streamer family spanning marabou, rabbit-strip, balanced, and sparse leech profiles.Open family guide
Close video-frame photograph of a completed Green Olive Helmet Sculpin fly with a dark weighted head and bright olive tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · #2–12

Sculpin Patterns

A bottom-oriented streamer family built around a broad head and tapered baitfish body.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a Partridge and Orange soft-hackle wet flyVerified photograph

Pattern family · #10–20

Soft-Hackle Wet Flies

A family of sparse wet flies whose mobile feather collar suggests legs, wings, or an emerging insect.Open family guide
Photograph of a traditional black Woolly Bugger representing a mobile generalist trout streamerVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match the water, quarry, and tackle; generic river wording gives no exact size

Trout Streamer Patterns

A planning family for general trout streamer wording when an exact named pattern or forage shape is not supplied.Open family guide
Standard Adams Dry Fly in close side profile on a dark foam backgroundVerified photograph

Dry · #10–20

Adams Dry Fly

The classic upright-wing Adams: a gray-bodied dry with mixed brown-and-grizzly tail and hackle.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Beauty Midge showing very slim thread body, fine silver rib, compact dark thorax, no glass bead in core formReviewed illustration

Nymph · #18–24

Black Beauty Midge

Pat Dorsey's sparse black midge-larva or pupa imitation with a fine rib and compact thorax.Open field guide
Exact source-identified assortment of small beadless WD-40 nymph and emerger flies with slim thread bodies, sparse tails, dark wing cases, and compact thoraxesVerified photograph

Emerger · #16–24 in the reviewed Orvis standard recipe, Orvis demonstrates #20 as a versatile standard example

WD-40

Mark Engler's sparse beadless emerger: one barred-fiber bunch forms the tail and wing case around a slim thread abdomen and tiny dubbed thorax.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Mercury Midge showing translucent glass bead, slim thread body, fine wire rib, optional compact thoraxReviewed illustration

Nymph · #18–24

Mercury Midge

Pat Dorsey's glass-bead midge pattern with a slim thread body and fine wire rib.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Top Secret Midge showing curved pupa hook, contrasting white thread rib, small sparkle wing, rusty-brown thoraxReviewed illustration

Emerger · #20–26

Top Secret Midge

Pat Dorsey's tiny brown midge emerger with a white thread rib, sparkle-organza wing, and rusty thorax.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Juju Baetis showing slim segmented abdomen, sparse tail, dark wing case, compact thoraxReviewed illustration

Nymph · #16–24

Juju Baetis

Charlie Craven's slim Baetis-style nymph with a segmented synthetic body, wing case, and sparse profile.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Micro May showing compact bead-head profile, segmented abdomen, short wing case, sparse tail and legsReviewed illustration

Nymph · Small tailwater sizes; verify the local form

Micro May

A compact bead-head mayfly nymph used as a small dropper or in a multi-nymph rig.Open field guide
Exact Red Quill and Hendrickson Sparkle Dun flies with upright deer-hair wings and trailing shucksVerified photograph

Emerger · Hendrickson reviewed recipe: #12–16, BWO reviewed recipe: #18, other species may require different sizes; match measured naturals rather than treating #12–22 as interchangeable

Sparkle Dun

Craig Mathews's hackleless, flush-floating mayfly transition dry, distinguished from a Comparadun by its trailing Zelon shuck.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Rusty Spinner showing split tails, slender rusty body, flat outstretched wings, low spent-adult profileReviewed illustration

Dry · #12–18, matched to naturals

Rusty Spinner

A spent-wing mayfly pattern with a rust-brown body, divided tails, and flat outstretched wings.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Trico Spinner showing tiny sparse body, flat pale wing, low dry profile, no weighting in reviewed formReviewed illustration

Dry · #20–24

Trico Spinner

A very small spent-wing pattern for Trico spinner falls, with a sparse low flat profile.Open field guide
Royal Wulff dry fly in side profile against a black background, showing its upright white wing, red body band, peacock herl, and brown hackleVerified photograph

Dry · #10–18

Royal Wulff

A buoyant hair-wing attractor with white upright wings, peacock body sections, and a red center band.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of LaFontaine Sparkle Pupa showing translucent synthetic veil, sparse segmented body, trailing shuck, emergent wing formReviewed illustration

Emerger · #12–18

LaFontaine Sparkle Pupa

Gary LaFontaine's caddis-pupa design using a translucent Antron-style veil to suggest the emergence envelope.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Sulphur Comparadun showing upright fan-shaped hair wing, split tails, low hackleless body, Sulphur-specific body toneReviewed illustration

Dry · Often #14–18; verify locally

Sulphur Comparadun

A pale orange-yellow, hackleless Comparadun tied specifically for Sulphur mayfly duns.Open field guide
Large side photograph of a classic Partridge and Orange soft-hackle wet fly with a slim orange body and sparse mottled collarVerified photograph

Wet Fly · FFI and Orvis references: #12–18; match observed insects and water

Partridge and Orange

A traditional North Country-style soft hackle built from a slim orange body and sparse partridge collar, presented with two named comparison flies so users can identify it by construction instead of by collar feather alone.Open field guide
Exact red Copper John Nymph photographed on a U.S. dime, showing its bead, red wire abdomen, dark thorax, paired tails, and small scaleVerified photograph

Nymph · #10–20 in the reviewed Orvis tying recipe, #12–22 in Umpqua's current John Barr range

Copper John

John Barr's dense attractor nymph, built around a bead, splayed biot tails, wire abdomen, peacock-style thorax, flash-backed dark wing case, and soft legs.Open field guide
Side photograph of an American Pheasant Tail Nymph representing the subsurface mayfly-nymph stageVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match the local insect; the family label gives no exact size

Mayfly Patterns by Stage

A stage-first guide for reports that name a mayfly but do not identify a species or exact fly.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a pale yellow Pale Morning Dun dry fly with upright wings and conventional hackleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #14–20; verify locally

Pale Morning Dun Patterns

A stage-based PMD family spanning nymphs, emergers, duns, cripples, soft hackles, and spinners.Open family guide
Photograph of two pale yellow Parachute Sulphur dry flies in a viseVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #14–18; verify locally

Sulphur Mayfly Patterns

A pale-mayfly stage family for Sulphur nymphs, emergers, duns, cripples, soft hackles, and spinners.Open family guide
Overhead macro photograph of a natural tan-brown Tricorythodes little stout crawler nymph with broad head, dark wing pads, compact legs, and three tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #20–24

Trico Patterns

A tiny-mayfly family covering Trico nymphs, emergers, duns, clusters, and spent spinners.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a Green Drake Dry Fly with an olive body and upright gray wingsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large mayfly sizes; verify local species

Green Drake Patterns

A large-mayfly family for Green Drake nymphs, emergers, cripples, duns, and spinners where the hatch occurs.Open family guide
Large natural Brown Drake Ephemera simulans adult with mottled upright wings and three long tails resting on yellow rabbitbrush flowersVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large mayfly sizes; verify locally

Brown Drake Patterns

A large-mayfly family separating Brown Drake nymphs, emergers, duns, and pale Coffin Fly spinner forms.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a Pink Hendrickson Parachute dry fly with a pale upright postVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #12–16

Hendrickson Patterns

An eastern mayfly family spanning nymphs, emergers, duns, soft hackles, Sparkle Duns, and spinners.Open family guide
Close side photograph of a natural Callibaetis floridanus adult with mottled gray-brown body, upright dark-edged wings, long forelegs, and two tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · The reviewed adult references range by species and generation; the Fly Fishers International Callibaetis Parachute source recommends carrying #10–16 rather than trusting one size

Callibaetis Patterns

A source-bounded stillwater guide showing how real Callibaetis adults vary across three named species, and how to choose stage, size, and presentation without treating one mottled-wing dry as the whole hatch.Open family guide
Close overhead photograph of a dark Blue Quill wet fly with swept slate wings, black hackle, a segmented quill body, and short tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small mayfly sizes; verify locally

Blue Quill Patterns

A small eastern mayfly family for Blue Quill nymphs, emergers, duns, and spinners.Open family guide
Large overhead photograph of a natural dark Epeorus pleuralis aquatic specimen showing a flat head, paired wing pads, pale side gills, mottled legs, and two tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal hook size; measure or use a current local source because the photographs provide no scale and the family label can refer to several stages

Quill Gordon Patterns

An early eastern mayfly guide that uses three exact Epeorus pleuralis natural references to separate aquatic anatomy from wet, emerger, dry, and spinner fly choices.Open family guide
Group photograph of five cream Light Cahill dry flies with upright mottled wings and pale hackleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #12–18

Light Cahill Patterns

A pale eastern mayfly family for Light Cahill nymphs, emergers, traditional or parachute dries, and spinners.Open family guide
Large overhead macro photograph of a natural Isonychia bicolor nymph with dark mahogany body, pale dorsal stripe, three tails, gills, and fringed forelegsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #10–14; verify locally

Isonychia and Mahogany Dun Patterns

A stage-based Isonychia family, including report wording such as Mahogany Dun or Slate Drake.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a bright yellow-green natural Hexagenia limbata giant mayfly adult with upright wings and long tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large mayfly sizes; verify the local water

Hex Mayfly Patterns

A large-mayfly family for Hexagenia nymph, emerger, dun, and spinner imitations.Open family guide
Side-oblique photograph of a natural Maccaffertium vicarium aquatic specimen showing a flat patterned head, red-edged legs, pale side gills, banded abdomen, and three tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal hook size; the photographs contain no scale and common-name usage does not establish the local natural's measured length

Gray Fox Mayfly Patterns

A March Brown and Gray Fox naming guide that uses exact Maccaffertium vicarium natural references while keeping aquatic, emerger, dun, wet, and spinner choices separate.Open family guide
Group photograph of small cream-and-orange Biot Midge pupa patterns with dark thoraxes and varied beadsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #18–26; local insects vary

Midge Patterns by Stage

A stage-first midge family for larva, pupa, emerger, adult, and cluster patterns.Open family guide
Side photograph of an Elk Hair Caddis representing a high-floating adult caddis formVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match local species; the family label gives no exact size

Caddis Patterns by Stage

A lifecycle guide for caddis larva, pupa, emerger, adult, spent, and skated dry patterns.Open family guide
Close field photograph of a natural October Caddis adult resting on a log in YellowstoneVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often large caddis sizes; verify locally

October Caddis Patterns

A large fall-caddis family separating larva, pupa, wet or emerger, and adult dry forms.Open family guide
Large macro photograph of a natural green Cheumatopsyche caddis larva with dark plated thorax, brown head, six legs, and exposed soft abdomenVerified photograph

Pattern family · Species and instar vary; sample or use a trusted local report before choosing hook size

Caddis Larva Patterns

A bottom-stage guide separating exposed net-spinning larvae from portable-case builders without calling every green caddis larva a free-living rockworm.Open family guide
Exact source-identified black-and-white bead-head Pat's Rubber Legs variant with a chenille body and long rubber legs in a viseVerified photograph

Nymph · #6–10 in the reviewed coffee-and-black club guide, #12 in the reviewed compact Orvis guide form, Match the local stoneflies, lane, tackle, and hook rules rather than treating one size as universal

Pat's Rubber Legs

Pat Bennett's heavy chenille-and-rubber stonefly nymph: simple enough for a guide box, mobile enough for rough current, and variable enough that every bead, color, and hook form must be named.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Hippie Stomper showing compact foam back, hair tail, high-visibility synthetic wing, hackle and rubber legsReviewed illustration

Terrestrial · Multiple small-to-medium sizes; match the river report

Hippie Stomper

Andrew Grillos's compact foam attractor with a visible wing, hackle, hair tail, and rubber legs.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of PMX showing parachute post and hackle, hair wing and tail, substantial attractor body, rubber legsReviewed illustration

Terrestrial · #8–14

PMX

A low-riding, highly visible all-purpose attractor with a parachute post, hair, hackle, and rubber legs.Open field guide
Exact red wire-bodied San Juan Worm tied along the curve of a red bent hookVerified photograph

Nymph · #8–12 in the reviewed Pacific Northwest guide, #8 in Bob Krumm's archived Ultra Chenille recipe, Other regional recipes vary; match water, rules, and tackle

San Juan Worm

A deliberately simple subsurface worm pattern whose chenille, yarn, wire, or flexible body is secured along a curved hook, with every material and weighted form kept explicitly labeled.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Green Weenie showing short chartreuse body, small looped tail, unweighted core form, compact simple silhouetteReviewed illustration

Nymph · #10–12

Green Weenie

A bright chartreuse chenille pattern with a short looped tail, associated with Pennsylvania trout fishing.Open field guide
Side photograph of a Kaufmann Black Stone representing a dark bottom-oriented stonefly nymphVerified photograph

Pattern family · Varies widely by species and river

Stonefly Patterns by Stage

A stage-first guide separating bottom-oriented nymphs from emerging and adult stonefly patterns.Open family guide
Close photograph of a Little Yellow Stonefly nymph pattern shown as the subsurface Yellow Sally stageVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often small stonefly sizes; verify locally

Yellow Sally Patterns

A small-stonefly family separating dark or mottled nymphs from yellow-toned adult dry patterns.Open family guide
Detailed field photograph of a natural Skwala americana adult stonefly on a dry leafVerified photograph

Pattern family · Adult patterns often #8–10; verify locally

Skwala Stonefly Patterns

An early-season stonefly family with separate bottom nymph and low-riding olive adult patterns.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a Golden Stonefly Nymph with a broad yellow-brown body and flexible rubber legsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large stonefly sizes; nymph references span roughly #4–12

Golden Stonefly Patterns

A large-stonefly family separating robust golden nymphs from winged adult dry patterns.Open family guide
Detailed field photograph of a natural Giant Salmonfly Pteronarcys californica adult on a green leafVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large stonefly sizes; verify the river

Salmonfly Patterns

A very large stonefly family separating crawling nymphs from substantial adult dry patterns.Open family guide
Side photograph of a Kaufmann Black Stone representing an imitative dark stonefly nymphVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small to medium stonefly sizes; verify locally

Black Stonefly Patterns

A dark-stonefly family separating small black nymphs from winged adult patterns.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of a tied Golden Stonefly Nymph with a broad yellow-brown body, bead, paired tails, and rubber legsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Species and watershed dependent; the family label does not establish a hook size, Claassenia, golden stones, and smaller nocturnal species must not be treated as one scale

Nocturnal Stonefly Patterns

A timing-and-stage guide that separates bottom nymphs, short-winged Claassenia evidence, and long-winged adult dries before a low-light stonefly choice is made.Open family guide
Photograph of a black foam ant representing the small two-lobed terrestrial formVerified photograph

Pattern family · Tiny ants through very large cicadas

Terrestrial Patterns

A field guide separating ant, beetle, hopper, cricket, cicada, and general attractor silhouettes.Open family guide
Close natural photograph of a dog-day cicada on green leaves with olive-brown body, large eyes, stout legs, and clear wingsVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large terrestrials; match the local cicada

Cicada Patterns

Large buoyant terrestrial patterns matched to locally present cicadas rather than one universal recipe.Open family guide
Close field photograph of a natural adult female fall field cricket on pale wood showing a compact black body, long antennae, rounded wings, and large spined hind legsVerified photograph

Pattern family · University of Minnesota Extension gives a 1/2–3/4 inch body range for field crickets; match the local individual rather than adding antennae or legs to the measured body length

Cricket Patterns

A practical terrestrial guide using one North American field-cricket species to separate adult female, adult male, and wingless nymph silhouettes before choosing an honest floating artificial.Open family guide
Natural deer mouse on a tree showing a compact gray-tan body, large ears and eyes, pale underside, small feet, and a long narrow tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large surface flies relative to ordinary trout dries; match the exact pattern, quarry, tackle, and local evidence, Do not infer hook size from the natural photographs

Mouse Patterns

A surface-presentation guide that separates small-mammal body proportion, fly construction, and the wake a mouse pattern must create.Open family guide
Close underwater photograph of a dense group of slender red-brown Tubifex worms extending from aquarium substrateVerified photograph

Pattern family · Varies by pattern and regulation

Worm Patterns

A regulation-aware decision guide separating fine aquatic worms, aquatic blackworms, terrestrial earthworms, and the many artificial patterns that may suggest them.Open family guide
Large macro photograph of an unidentified gray-brown crane fly larva on a dry leaf showing its cylindrical segmented body and lobed rear endVerified photograph

Pattern family · Aquatic Tipulidae larvae in the USU key span roughly 10–100 mm; match the actual local larva or trusted report, Adult size varies by species

Crane Fly Patterns

A stage guide separating elongated legless crane-fly larvae from gangly one-pair-wing adults while requiring local evidence before either becomes a fishing choice.Open family guide
Close dorsal photograph of a natural charcoal-black saltpool mosquito adult with narrow smoky wings and long delicate legs on rockVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small dry-fly sizes; verify locally

Mosquito Patterns

A life-stage guide separating the delicate winged adult from aquatic mosquito larvae and comma-shaped pupae before choosing a fly or waterline.Open family guide
Close photograph of a yellow Foam Hopper representing a large buoyant foam-attractor formVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small to large; match the report and dropper load

Foam Attractor Dry Patterns

A cross-insect family of buoyant foam dries built for visibility, flotation, and a suggestive terrestrial profile.Open family guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Coffey's Sparkle Minnow showing cone head and internal weight, layered marabou tail, copper or root-beer flash, brushed reflective body and pale bellyReviewed illustration

Streamer · Often #4–8; larger regional variations exist

Coffey's Sparkle Minnow

Greg Coffey's cone-head, marabou-and-flash baitfish streamer for swinging, stripping, or controlled dead drifts.Open field guide
Macro side profile of a classic Muddler Minnow with clipped deer-hair head, mottled turkey wing, gold body, and red tailVerified photograph

Streamer · Commonly #6–12; a #10 guide form is documented

Muddler Minnow

Don Gapen's classic sculpin-style streamer with a spun deer-hair head, mottled turkey wing, and metallic body.Open field guide
Exact finished Point Up Zonker Sculpin variation with an orange-and-tan rabbit-strip back, dark cone, visible eye, barred fins, and inverted hook in a fly viseVerified photograph

Streamer · Pearl Zonker source: #2–6 on a 3X-long streamer hook, Point Up Zonker Sculpin source: Gamakatsu SS15 #1/0, Other Zonkers vary; do not transfer the hero's predator scale to every trout water

Zonker Streamer

Dan Byford's rabbit-strip baitfish streamer, reviewed through the traditional reflective Pearl Zonker while an exact weighted Point Up Zonker Sculpin variation makes the family range visible.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Black Ghost Streamer showing white marabou wing, black body with silver rib, yellow tail and throat, peacock lateral line and cheekReviewed illustration

Streamer · #2–10 for the reviewed marabou form

Black Ghost Streamer

Herb Welch's black-bodied Maine streamer, represented here by the common white-marabou-wing form.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Gray Ghost showing four long gray hackle wings, orange body with silver rib, white bucktail and peacock underbelly, silver shoulder and cheekReviewed illustration

Streamer · #2–6 in the FFI guide

Gray Ghost

Carrie Stevens's layered Rangeley-style featherwing streamer with an orange body and long gray wing.Open field guide
Left-side macro photograph of a classic Mickey Finn streamer with a yellow-red-yellow bucktail wingVerified photograph

Streamer · #4–14

Mickey Finn

A classic sparse bucktail streamer with a yellow-red-yellow wing, metallic body, silver rib, and black head.Open field guide
Photograph of a chartreuse-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow representing a weighted inverted baitfish formVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match the local forage and tackle; the family label gives no exact size

Baitfish and Minnow Patterns

A forage-first streamer family separating slim, weighted, reflective, and species-shaped baitfish silhouettes.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of the exact seven-inch three-piece Mr. Nasty articulated streamer showing its connected sections and stinger systemVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; scale the exact pattern to local forage, quarry, tackle, casting space, and regulations, The photographed Mr. Nasty is seven inches and must not be used as a default trout-size reference

Articulated Trout Streamer Patterns

A construction-and-forage guide for choosing joint count, body depth, head shape, hooks, ballast, and retrieve before naming an articulated trout streamer.Open family guide
Traditional chartreuse-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow in side profile against a dark blue backgroundVerified photograph

Streamer · The FFI guide documents a #4 example; regional forms vary

Clouser Deep Minnow

Bob Clouser's sparse dumbbell-eye baitfish pattern, designed for smallmouth bass and now used across fresh and salt water.Open field guide
Exact large chartreuse-and-white Game Changer variation resting across a person's hand with a molded eye, front hook, articulated tapered body sections, and long tailVerified photograph

Streamer · No universal size; micro and finesse freshwater forms through large predator flies differ materially, The hand and reel photographs provide handling context only and are not calibrated rulers

Chocklett's Game Changer

Blane Chocklett's multi-jointed baitfish platform, whose connected sections and front-to-rear taper keep swimming and turning after the strip stops.Open field guide
Exact finished chartreuse Sneaky Pete Slider in a vise with a tapered barred head, dark collar, red-orange tail, and rubber legsVerified photograph

Other · 2XL streamer hooks #4, #6, or #8 in the reviewed BSA tying guide, match head size, hook gap, quarry, cover, and casting tackle

Sneaky Pete Slider

A tapered-head bass slider that glides, wakes, and pulses with less blunt surface noise than a cupped-face popper.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Stealth Bomber showing folded sheet-foam overbody, rear air-trapping foam tab, sparse bucktail-and-flash tail, half-cone diving profileReviewed illustration

Other · FFI documents sizes #10 through #2 depending on target

Stealth Bomber

Kent Edmonds's folded-sheet-foam diver and slider for bass, bream, and other warmwater fish.Open field guide
Macro photograph of a large olive bass popper with a recessed face, long barred rubber legs, dark hackle, and a flashy tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small panfish through large bass sizes

Bass and Panfish Popper Patterns

A surface family defined by a forward face that pushes, spits, or pops water rather than one exact recipe.Open family guide
Night photograph of a natural masked tree frog swimming with a compact tan body, broad head, splayed toes, and long extended hind legs against dark waterVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small panfish bugs through large bass flies; match quarry, tackle, casting safety, cover, and the exact head

Warmwater Slider and Diver Patterns

A practical surface-action guide for choosing a quiet gliding slider or a strip-to-dive bug by prey shape, head action, cover, and fish response—not by color alone.Open family guide
Macro photograph of a large olive bass popper used as the loud shaped-head warmwater surface-bug exampleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Small panfish bugs through large bass flies

Warmwater Surface Bug Patterns

A construction-and-silhouette family for foam, deer-hair, frog, and other warmwater surface bugs without an exact pattern name.Open family guide
Large natural olive-brown crayfish underwater on a sandy river bottom with claws, legs, antennae, and segmented tail clearly visibleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match local crayfish and quarry; the family label is not a size

Crayfish and Crawfish Patterns

A bottom-oriented family separating realistic, buggy, jigged, and molting crayfish silhouettes.Open family guide
Large dark natural dobsonfly larva on rounded stream rocks with segmented body, lateral filaments, legs, and terminal appendages visibleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Large nymph sizes; match local larvae and tackle

Hellgrammite Patterns

A large aquatic-larva family with an elongated segmented body, lateral filaments, six thoracic legs, and paired terminal hooks.Open family guide
High-magnification polarized-light photograph of a translucent damselfly larva against black with six legs and three tail gills visibleVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match local nymphs; a #10 tying example is documented

Damselfly Nymph Patterns

A slender stillwater-and-slow-water nymph family with a narrow body and three leaf-like tail gills.Open family guide
Large isolated side photograph of a translucent olive-green dragonfly nymph showing broad head, eyes, wing pads, six legs, segmented abdomen, and short rear appendagesVerified photograph

Pattern family · Mature size varies widely by family and instar; match a local sample or trusted current report instead of one family-wide hook size

Dragonfly Nymph Patterns

A natural-body-plan guide separating streamlined swimming darners from broader crawling and burrowing dragonfly nymphs without collapsing all Odonata into one weighted olive fly.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of an EP Bluegill Streamer with a deep olive-white synthetic body, barred flank, and large eyeVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match local forage, target species, and tackle

Warmwater Baitfish Patterns

A warmwater forage family separating shad-shaped, articulated, lightly weighted, and general minnow streamers.Open family guide
Natural olive-brown crayfish underwater on sand used to compare a broad clawed bottom-prey profile for carp fly selectionVerified photograph

Pattern family · Common examples span roughly #4–12, but fly mass, prey scale, water depth, leader, and fish behavior matter more than the family label

Carp Fly Patterns

A sight-fishing decision guide for choosing a carp fly by the fish's feeding lane, prey shape, landing softness, sink rate, and hook orientation instead of one universal pattern.Open family guide
Natural dark dobsonfly larva on stream rocks used as a large segmented bottom-prey reference for warmwater bottom bug selectionVerified photograph

Pattern family · Match prey, target fish, and tackle

Warmwater Bottom Bug and Swimming Nymph Patterns

A planning family for jigged, rubber-legged, swimming, and bottom-oriented warmwater nymph wording without an exact recipe.Open family guide
Exact cream-and-orange Scrambled Eggs Sucker Spawn fly with looped yarn egg shapes held in a viseVerified photograph

Egg Flesh · #12–14 in the reviewed Orvis trout recipe, Hook and finished cluster size must fit the target fish, local rules, and observed food

Sucker Spawn

A looped-yarn egg-cluster pattern whose connected bulges create a longer, irregular food profile than a single round egg fly.Open field guide
Macro side photograph of an exact Black Conehead Egg-Sucking Leech with a long mobile body and orange-red collarVerified photograph

Egg Flesh · #6–12 in the reviewed Orvis single-hook bead recipe, Tube and salmon or steelhead forms vary; match tackle and regulations

Egg-Sucking Leech

A mobile leech or streamer body combined with a distinct contrasting egg-like front trigger, with bead, cone, tube, rabbit-strip, articulated, and Woolly-Bugger-based forms kept explicitly labeled.Open field guide
Exact finished pale pink Glo Bug in a vise with a compact red center dot and visible curved hookVerified photograph

Egg Flesh · Mustad C67S #12 in the reviewed Orvis recipe, match hook, yarn quantity, target fish, and current regulations rather than assuming one universal size

Glo Bug

A sparse clipped-yarn egg fly whose round body and optional contrasting center dot create a compact single-egg profile around a visible hook.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Estaz Egg showing dense chenille body, sparkly translucent fibers, single compact egg profile, hook-mounted flyReviewed illustration

Egg Flesh · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Estaz Egg

A bright egg-style fly built from dense sparkly Estaz or similar chenille around the hook.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Hoh Bo Spey showing short shank, separate trailing hook, brushed dubbing station, flowing marabou collarReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · Approximately two inches in the reviewed Orvis recipe; hook and shank vary

Hoh Bo Spey

Charles St. Pierre's sparse Intruder-style steelhead fly with a compact shank, dubbing station, flash, and marabou collar.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Green Butt Skunk showing fluorescent green butt, dark ribbed body, black hackle collar, sparse pale hairwingReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Green Butt Skunk

A classic steelhead hairwing built around a fluorescent-green butt, dark body, silver rib, dark hackle, and pale wing.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Freight Train showing two bright butt sections, dark peacock-toned body, silver rib, short white hairwingReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Freight Train

A classic Pacific Northwest steelhead hairwing with fluorescent butt sections, a dark body, and a sparse pale wing.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Silver Hilton showing bright silver body, dark tail and collar, dark swept wing, compact wet-fly profileReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Silver Hilton

A classic dark steelhead wet fly distinguished by a silver body and dark feather or hair wing.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Brindle Bug showing compact body, mottled brindle colors, swept hackle, low-water wet profileReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Brindle Bug

A compact classic steelhead wet fly with a mottled dark body, contrasting hackle, and simple low-water profile.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Comet showing long flowing tail, bright chenille body, swept hackle, prominent eye headReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Comet

A bright West Coast salmon and shad fly built around a long tail, chenille body, palmered or collared hackle, and prominent eyes.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Polar Shrimp showing bright orange-red body, contrasting collar, pale swept hairwing, classic wet-fly profileReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Polar Shrimp

A classic salmon and steelhead hairwing whose orange-red body and pale wing suggest—but do not literally copy—a shrimp.Open field guide
Chartreuse, white, and red Lefty's Deceiver fly in side profile against a black backgroundVerified photograph

Saltwater · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Lefty's Deceiver

Lefty Kreh's adaptable baitfish style combining a feather tail with a bucktail collar that resists fouling.Open field guide
Exact original white Gartside Gurgler in a vise with a segmented foam shell, forward lip, palmered body, and sparse tailVerified photograph

Saltwater · Original saltwater recipe: #4–2/0, Original freshwater recipes: #6–2 or #2–1/0 on Gartside's listed hooks, Later trout miniatures can be smaller but are not the original saltwater recipe

Gartside Gurgler

Jack Gartside's original one-piece-foam surface commotion fly: sparse tail, five segmented foam sections, palmered hackle, over-shell, and a raised front lip.Open field guide
Exact blue-and-white UV-resin Crease Fly variation with a folded hollow foam baitfish body, red open mouth, large eye, and sparse fiber tailVerified photograph

Saltwater · No universal hook size; the reviewed Fly Fishers International recipe uses a 3XL or 4XL saltwater hook, Match body length, hook strength, tackle, target species, and local forage rather than copying one thumbnail scale

Crease Fly

Joe Blados's folded-foam baitfish fly: a narrow hollow shell that floats, pops, wakes, and pushes water without becoming a cylindrical popper.Open field guide
Exact finished tan Super Fiber Merkin Crab variation in a vise with a broad clipped body, red-and-white barred rubber legs, silver dumbbell eyes, visible hook, and swept hackle clawsVerified photograph

Saltwater · Traditional FFI reference: Tiemco 811S #4 or equivalent, Photographed McFly Super Fiber variation: Mustad 3407 #2, Other permit, bonefish, and redfish forms vary; match prey, depth, target, tackle, and current rules

Merkin Crab

Del Brown's weighted hook-point-up crab fly: splayed hackle claws and flash, a flat trimmed body, mobile rubber legs, and dumbbell ballast arranged to descend at an angle.Open field guide
Exact finished gray-and-orange Double Deceiver variation in a vise with a red eye, layered gray and olive upper wing, orange lower fibers and long tail, and reflective flashVerified photograph

Saltwater · No universal production size; scale the fly, leader, line, and hook system to the target, forage, tackle, and current regulations, Flymen's documented Craft Fur Double Deceiver Mini is under four inches and uses #6 rear and front hooks with a 10 mm articulated spine, The photographed Flywheel form cannot be measured reliably from the video frame

Double Deceiver

A long, articulated baitfish platform that carries Deceiver-style feather, bucktail, flash, or synthetic volume across connected rear and front tying sections.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Half-and-Half showing paired feather tail, sparse bucktail front, dumbbell eyes, hook-point-up orientationReviewed illustration

Saltwater · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Half-and-Half

A Clouser-and-Deceiver hybrid pairing a feather tail with a dumbbell-eye bucktail front section.Open field guide
Source-described Bluegill Minnow EP-style streamer with a dark green-gray synthetic back, pale belly, blue throat, large reflective eye, and visible hookVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal family size; the three photographs do not include a dependable scale reference, Fly Fishers International's documented EP Baitfish evaluation form uses an Ahrex SA 280 Minnow #2 or equivalent and is trimmed to a three-inch total length, Scale hook, total length, bulk, eye size, leader, and line to the actual forage, target, tackle, and regulations

EP Minnow & EP-Style Baitfish

A source-controlled family guide for synthetic-fiber baitfish commonly reported as EP minnows or EP-style baitfish, compared through three distinctly named dressings instead of one invented universal recipe.Open family guide
Close photograph of a pink roe egg fly with a red center spot tied directly to a visible hookVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Egg Fly Patterns

A family separating tied yarn, chenille, veiled, clustered, and other hook-mounted egg imitations from loose beads and bait.Open family guide
Decaying pink salmon carcass lying among wet wood and leaves at the edge of Shorty CreekVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the observed tissue fragments, exact tied form, target fish, hook system, tackle, and regulations

Flesh Fly Patterns

A natural-food family for flies that suggest salmon-flesh fragments carried downstream after spawning, with compact, articulated, washed-out, fresh-color, and egg-and-flesh forms kept distinct.Open family guide
Side photograph of a source-labeled pink and red Intruder fly held against a black backgroundVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the exact form, target, line, casting room, and regulations

Intruder-Style Steelhead Flies

Ed Ward's large-profile, sparsely dressed swing-fly concept for salmon and steelhead, now tied on shanks and tubes in many colors and material systems.Open family guide
Large close photograph of a blue and black tube fly with the round blue tube opening visible at the frontVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the exact pattern, target, tackle, prey, and regulations

Tube Fly Patterns

A construction-first guide to flies tied on a hollow tube rather than directly on a hook shank, with the body, leader path, junction system, replaceable hook, tube material, and exact fly pattern kept as separate decisions.Open family guide
Display board of twenty-five individually labeled salmon flies described by the tyer as traditional Spey and mostly hairwing stylesVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; choose the exact named pattern, water, tackle, target, hook rules, and presentation

Steelhead Wet, Spey, and Hairwing Patterns

An orientation guide to classic swung steelhead flies, keeping compact hairwings, long-hackled Spey styles, sparse low-water wets, and marabou attractors separate from modern Intruder and tube constructions.Open family guide
Technical comparison for Steelhead Skater and Bomber Patterns with three labeled representative formsReviewed illustration

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Steelhead Skater and Bomber Patterns

A surface family separating waking or riffle-hitched skaters from bushy floating Bomber-style dries.Open family guide
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph of many newly hatched translucent salmon alevins with large dark eyes, curved narrow bodies, and attached pale yolk sacsVerified photograph

Pattern family · NOAA's Atlantic salmon presence table gives a 2–3 cm alevin range; other salmon species and development points vary, so verify the local species and never convert a photograph directly into one hook size

Salmon Alevin Patterns

A lifecycle-first alevin guide showing the tiny translucent fish and attached yolk sac clearly enough to separate it from an egg fly, free-feeding fry, parr, smolt, or generic orange-bead streamer.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of an Alaska Mary Ann bucktail streamer with a white wing and body, red tail, and black headVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Anadromous Baitfish and Coho Streamer Patterns

A migratory-fish streamer family for emerald shiners, smelt, sparse flash flies, and bright coho-oriented baitfish forms.Open family guide
Natural Atlantic silverside swimming in water with a slim translucent body, reflective silver side stripe, olive-gray back, clear fins, and forked tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size: the cited Single-Wing example uses a 1/0 hook, but feather length, hook, body depth, and overall fly length must match the target forage and tackle

Flatwing Streamer Patterns

A prey-first flatwing guide using real silverside and sand-lance photography to separate translucency, body depth, side flash, and habitat before the angler chooses feather count, support, line, and retrieve.Open family guide
Full side photograph of a natural Northern sand lance held over wet hands showing a long silver body, pointed head, small fins, olive back, and forked tailVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal fly size: match the locally observed sand lance or sand-eel report by body length and depth; the hand-scale photographs are comparison references, not hook-size conversions

Sand Eel Fly Patterns

A source-bounded coastal guide comparing two named sand-lance forms and one natural school before choosing the length, depth, flexibility, and flash of an honestly labeled sand-eel imitation.Open family guide
Field photograph of natural dark fiddler crabs on wet mud with compact bodies, stalked eyes, walking legs, and large orange-white male clawsVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the local crab, target species, tackle, water depth, and required landing softness

Saltwater Crab Fly Patterns

A saltwater crab selection guide for matching shell width, claw proportion, leg motion, swimming ability, bottom posture, ballast, and hook orientation to the exact coast and target.Open family guide
Group photograph of five pale Chupacamaron bonefish shrimp flies with red eyes, orange accents, long barred legs, and inverted hooksVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Shrimp and Mysis Fly Patterns

A crustacean family separating translucent grass shrimp, compact mysis, spawning shrimp, and larger saltwater shrimp profiles.Open family guide
Technical comparison for Shad Fly and Dart Patterns with three labeled representative formsReviewed illustration

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Shad Fly and Dart Patterns

A small bright migratory-shad family covering weighted darts, compact Comet-style flies, and sparse pink or chartreuse wets.Open family guide
Macro side photograph of the seven-inch three-piece articulated Mr. Nasty predator streamer in a large fly viseVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Pike and Musky Predator Fly Patterns

A large-predator family separating long synthetic baitfish, rabbit-strip streamers, articulated profiles, divers, and surface flies.Open family guide
Overhead photograph of a fly box filled with large saltwater Lefty's Deceivers in natural, blue, chartreuse, and yellow colorwaysVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage

Saltwater Baitfish Fly Patterns

A broad coastal family for bunker, anchovy, silverside, synthetic-minnow, and weedless baitfish forms without a named recipe.Open family guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Pink Squirrel showing curved nymph hook, buggy squirrel-dubbing body, bright pink thorax, gold bead and red ribReviewed illustration

Nymph · #12–18 in the reviewed Orvis variant

Pink Squirrel

John Bethke's Driftless-region attractor nymph with a buggy squirrel-dubbing body and unmistakable fluorescent-pink thorax.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Ray Charles Sowbug showing soft full ostrich-herl body, flat pearl flashback, bright thread head, sparse flattened profileReviewed illustration

Nymph · Often #12–18; Orvis demonstrates #16

Ray Charles Sowbug

A Bighorn-origin sowbug pattern with a soft ostrich-herl body, pearl flashback, and bright thread head.Open field guide
Exact source-named rubber-leg Frenchie variation in a vise with a dark bead and wing case, pink collar, ribbed brown abdomen, pale thorax, black legs, and fiber tailVerified photograph

Nymph · Reviewed Orvis standard: #14 on a standard nymph hook, Other competition and jig forms vary; match the measured natural, water depth, hook rules, and tackle

Frenchie Nymph

A slim competition-style Pheasant Tail derivative that replaces the traditional PT thorax and legs with a bright dubbed thorax or collar, a Coq de Leon tail, durable wire rib, and fast-sinking bead.Open field guide
Exact finished silver-bead Rainbow Warrior in a vise with a short pheasant-tail tail, reflective pearl abdomen and wing case, dubbed thorax, and red collarVerified photograph

Nymph · #12–22 in the reviewed Orvis recipe, Orvis demonstrates #16 and notes #18–20 are common practical sizes

Rainbow Warrior

Lance Egan's compact pearl-and-red attractor nymph, combining a silver bead, pheasant-tail tail, reflective Flashabou abdomen and wing case, rainbow dubbing thorax, and red collar.Open field guide
Exact finished brown-olive Slumpbuster in a vise with a metallic cone, broad pine-squirrel collar, reflective green-blue body, and long hide-backed tailVerified photograph

Streamer · #4–12 on a Tiemco 5263 in the reviewed olive Orvis recipe, Cone and tackle must be matched to hook size, water, target, and current rules

Slumpbuster

John Barr's conehead pine-squirrel streamer, combining a reflective braid body, wire-ribbed hide strip, broad mobile collar, and long tail in a compact single-hook profile.Open field guide
Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Montreal Wet Fly showing red hackle-fiber tail, dark ribbed body, swept throat hackle, paired mottled feather wingReviewed illustration

Wet Fly · Traditional wet-fly sizes vary

Montreal Wet Fly

A historic Canadian winged wet fly with a red tail, dark ribbed body, dark hackle, and mottled light-and-dark wing.Open field guide
Macro photograph of a translucent natural Hyalella azteca freshwater amphipod curled over brown leaf litterVerified photograph

Pattern family · Commonly #12–18 in the reviewed Simple Scud; naturals vary more widely

Scud Fly Patterns

A freshwater amphipod family defined by a curved shellback, segmented body, many short legs, and locally variable size and color.Open family guide
Large macro side photograph of a natural brown Asellus aquaticus freshwater isopod over green aquatic vegetationVerified photograph

Pattern family · Often #12–18 in reviewed tailwater patterns

Sowbug and Cress Bug Patterns

A freshwater isopod family with a flattened oval body and overlapping dorsal segmentation, distinct from the side-curved scud profile.Open family guide
Side photograph of a Pheasant Tail representing a slim general mayfly-nymph formVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the local food form and water

General Nymph Patterns

A deliberately broad family for source rows that identify only a nymph's size, weight, or general profile—not its insect or recipe.Open family guide
Source-named UV Caddis Jig Nymph in a vise with an angled black hook, bright speckled bead, blue-violet segmented body, turquoise thorax, and pale tail fibersVerified photograph

Pattern family · No universal size; match the exact jig hook, compatible bead, body length, target, tackle, and current

Jig Fly Patterns

A hook-and-weighting family in which an angled jig hook—and commonly a compatible slotted bead—supports compact nymphs, bottom bugs, and mobile streamers without turning those different bodies into one pattern.Open family guide
Microscope photograph of a whole translucent amber Simuliidae black-fly larva showing a dark compact head, segmented narrow body, and enlarged rounded rear abdomenVerified photograph

Pattern family · Utah State University Extension gives a natural-larva range of roughly 3–12 mm; match a sample or trusted report before converting millimeters to a hook

Black Fly Larva Patterns

A flowing-water larva guide separating the club-shaped Simuliidae body, attached colony behavior, and compact cocooned pupa so a tiny dark recommendation does not collapse into a midge or generic thread fly.Open family guide
Close photograph of a natural Ephemerella subvaria mayfly nymph showing dark paired wing pads, broad head, legs, lateral gills, segmented abdomen, and three tailsVerified photograph

Pattern family · The reviewed Fly Fish Food Split Case PMD source describes #16–20; BWO and other exact forms require their own measured local size and recipe

Split-Case Nymph Patterns

A construction guide that separates the bright divided wing-case cue from the natural mayfly body, exact PMD or BWO identity, bead, and fishing depth.Open family guide