
Welcome to another edition of our trivia challenge, where we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love. This week, we’ve got ten more new questions on fish foods and the flies that imitate them. Remember: Each question asks for the BEST answer, as you can often make a case for any fly being a pretty good imitation.
Last week, a few folks argued about whether or not the Gurgler is a wounded-baitfish imitation and the Sparkle Dun is an adult pattern. Remember, I asked for “the best” answer, so we can agree to disagree (especially since there’s no money involved).
The scores on the last week’s Trivia Challenge were superb, with 18 100%s and a plethora of 90%s and 80%s. Nice work, all y’all.
The randomly chosen winner of this week’s quiz will receive a copy of Great Fishing Lodges of North America by Paul Fersen, a gorgeous coffee-table book. The winner of our last quiz (as determined by random.org) was Jake Chisholm, who scored a perfect 100%.
So, take this week’s quiz, and no matter how well or poorly you do, post your score in the comments below to be eligible to win a cool Buff.
Good luck!
Take Our Quiz!

What’s this fly supposed to be?
Photo via orvis.com
80%. Didn’t miss any freshwater flies. Guess I’ll have to start fishing and tying some salt patterns!!!
80%
50%…. I suck
90% but only because I accidentally clicked the wrong tab on one question. Next quiz I’ll get 100%.
80% tossed in a few guesses…not a saltwater angler…yet.
80%-some lucky guesses in there!
You scored 80%! Better than usual
90% this week
You scored 80%! Sometimes its good to be lucky.
50% I need to venture out and try some new flies
60%
80%
Holy buckets 100%! Now where did that come from? The funny thing is that I was pretty sure of my answer to each question. Which normally is not the case.
60%. Getting there.
100%.
70% could do better
70%- a lot better!
100%. Based on recent scores, I obviously do more fly tying than traveling.
40
100%…
100% !!!
90%…….
…chose pheasant tail for midge pupa, as I use #20’s.
90% again two weeks in a row , WD 40?
50%
30% Ouch.
60% ! Getting back into my basement territory.
50% Guessed at some of them.
90% never heard of a dels merkin?
Named for its inventor, Del Brown, who landed 513 permit in his lifetime.
100%.
Didn’t even have to hesitate! Just zipped through it.
Of course, I’ve not only used all those flies, but sold them all too and tied most of them.
Dan
Stripers and trout pay off. 100%!
70% should have done better!
30%. Pretty terrible. Can never remember the names if flies.
80% for the second strait week
90%
30%
Don’t worry Dan… I got 20%
60% is one of my best scores!
40
90 – fun one
70%
80%
I have booked a trip to Iceland for this summer and just found out that I need to get my equipment disinfected and am struggling to find a company in NY that does that. do you have any suggestions?
Thank you
Harry Herz
I’d contact the outfitters/guides/fly shops in Iceland and see what they recommend.
50%… never change your first answer! Gotta remember that.
100%
70% and I thought I could do well on this! I better not let my kids read my scores.
30%. Boo.
90%
70%, Same as last week:
70%. Not bad!
60%
You scored 100%! I guess I know what imitates what. The issue is deciding which fly to use……..
90 % have never fished the salt. just going on what ive read
80
60%
You scored 100%!
100% Yahoo! I usually get 20-30% on these quizzes.
Thought I might hit 100% two weeks in a row, but as usual the saltwater question got me. 90%
20%
50% headed the wrong way again
100%. It’s good to ace one your quizzes for a change.
40%
You scored 50%!
80%. better than last time
A consistent 40%
Posted from the Orvis Fly Fishing App
90 henry and trude
80 per cent. Seems like I have a lot of company this week.
90%
I got 90% correct. LIke many others, I have to start fishing a little salt to expand my knowledge base.
90% but I was lucky. I deserved a 70
90% , I’m getting better
70%
60%
40% this time around
80%
70% eh not bad still room for improvement I don’t want to know everything anyways wheres the fun in that..
50% yikes
30%. Guess I better pay more attention to fly- bug imitations.
I scored 100%
8/10. Darn saltwater questions. I live in Idaho for Pete’s sake.
90%
100%. I like this fish foods theme although I was guessing a bit on the saltwater questions.
90%. A miracle.
100% love me my flies!
90% i’ll take it!
Only 40%
Got 100%!!! First time for everything.
100%
Ha, 50%! Nevertheless, Phil, what I love about these quizzes is that, especially when they focus on subjects outside of our comfort zones, they provide a fun learning opportunity!
Thanks!
70%
90%
80% not too shabby
90% Missed the saltwater crab.
70%
70%, not bad. Would disagree on an adult stone imitation be the stimulator. It more of a caddis imitation.
Most folks think of Randall Kaufmann, famed West Coast angler and shop owner, as the inventor of the Stimulator, but the question seems up for debate. The fly’s true originator may be Jim Slattery, who claims that he first tied the stonefly pattern to fish the Musconetcong River in central New Jersey in 1980. Based on the Sofa Pillow, Slattery’s fly was originally called the Fluttering Stonefly, but he renamed it the Stimulator after a New York City punk-rock group.
See more here: https://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/Tying-the-Yellow-Stimulator/
Nice info. I love fly history!
70
80 percent. And happy to get it! Thanks–Fun quiz!
90%
100% too easy but first perfect score for me!
60%
50% good one and I should have done better!
70
60%, good quiz.
80% – those darn saltwater patterns . . .
80 a hoy
100% boom!
80% – three guesses, two of them wrong 🙁
80 again
60% I waffled on three and should’ve gone with my gut.
80%
50%. Freshwater only angler score.
60% getting better
40
40%. Sheesh……
80%
First time 100%.
70…. Yikes!
90%, two weeks in a row. Lots of quiz takers this week.
60%
40% not quite to the point of matching names. More of a visual guy I guess.
70% .. not bad.
Got 100%. I guess all that time studying the Orvis Catalog has paid off.
60 dropped 20 points from last time
80%. Not bad. Need to brush up on the salt water patterns.
80% – good enough (and I won’t argue this time…)
100%! thank you for the quiz!
100%–my first!!
yippee!
20% ouch
40%
80%, best score ever!
You scored 100%! Evidently, I know more about flies and less about locations! Thanks to our wonderful Fly Fishing Club the DVWFFA.. (Delaware Valley Women’s Fly Fishing Association)
70% always fun, thanks Phil!
70%. I’m new to Fly Fishing. Can someone please teach me to tie in those Henryville wings, easily!?
Try this: https://www.orvis.com/news/fly-fishing/video-how-to-tie-the-henryville-special/
20%. Those flies get me every time!
70% thanks
90%
100% two weeks in a row
You scored 60%! Need to expand my repertoire or stick to dries.
90% Ill take it!
70% shudda, wudda, cudda done better
50%
70%
100% Finally!
80% should have read the questions better.
well this week was a good score 9 out of 10!! I kow my flies pretty well, now I just need to get fish to take them!!!
woo hoo !!! first 100%
70% Getting better…………
90%
100%
Time to head to the Bahamas.
80% and I seriously thought I had it!!!
40% Bam!
90%….: )
60%. Good variety, Phil. Thanks!
90%
100% I think that’s my first perfect score! Thanks for the boost!
100%. Redemption from last week
90 for me! Finally out of the doghouse. My best score since before Christmas and second highest ever.
60% Ever thought of posting the topic for next week’s quiz and let people do a little research first, kinda like the Jeopardy final question? Just a thought.
80% Best yet!
80%
Not bad a solid 70%
50%….six of one, half dozen of other
100%
60%
90%…….now that is much better than the last couple weeks!
70% – those saltwater patterns got me.
100%!, Almost missed the caddisfly, but I will never forget dropping the last one out of my fathers box when I was 14… Never happened again though
90%- guess I need to brush up on my crab patterns!
9 out of 10 aint bad!
70%,, you got me on a few,Phil
40%, great quiz!
100% – finally…
100% – Guessed right on the adult caddis fly
90% – dang you saltwater!