Attractor Patterns that Work!

When buying flies, be sure to buy at least three of each size and pattern. That give us one to lose, one to fish, and one to remember what we were using so we can get more! These are suggestions. Be creative in the colors you buy or tie, and use them with confidence.

Dry Flies

Wulff series: Royal, Gray, White, Grizzly, Ausable and so on.

Trudes: Royal Coachman - red or chartreuse, Lime, Adams, Pink. Be creative!

Parachutes: Adams, Royal, and Hare's Ear.

Stimulators in various colors work great! Be sure they have orange in them.

Humpies: Royal, Yellow, Orange, Red, Black.

Renegade, Orange Asher, Bivisible.

Nymphs & Wets

Copper John: Copper, red, chartreuse, black.

BH Prince nymph, Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail.

Coachman, Royal Coachman Wet fly.

Streamers

Zonker: White, black, olive.

Autumn Splendor.

Spruce Fly - light or dark.

There are many other Attractor fly patterns available, including local specialty flies that your local or destination fly shop ties and enjoys. Buy a few at each destination you visit and find the flies that work for your fishing style. Keep trying patterns. If you tie your own, make adjustments.

We all develop our own sense of confidence in fly patterns based on how they work, and once that confidence is set we continue to fish those particular patterns more thoroughly than we do others because we believe in them.

Here's a thought: once a fly pattern is proven, fish it until you fool one or two fish, then try a new pattern, fishing it in a similar manner. Hook one or two fish per pattern type, size and color. See how many times you can change flies during a day. I'm fascinated to find how many different patterns fish will eat during the course of a fishing day. It is fun to put the fly in the right spot and know that they'll take it if they're hungry.

After all, that's what fishing Attractor patterns is about: fooling fish with flies they should not be eating.