Photo courtesy Blackfoot River Outfitters
We’re re-introducing a new feature on the Fly Fishing blog, in which we ask well-known anglers and guides to give us their Top 10 patterns. Sometimes the list will be species- or water-specific, but we’ll also feature collections of flies you should never be without, no matter where or when you are fishing.
Obviously, these are subjective lists—based on personal experience and angling prejudices—so your own list may be quite different. But it’s always interesting to get a peak into another fly fisherman’s fly box.
We kick things off with our own Tom Rosenbauer—host of the Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide Podcast, author of the Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide (among many other books), and all-around great guy. In his 35 years with Orvis, Tom has fished for trout in more waters, in more situations, and under more conditions than almost anyone on the planet, and these are the flies he always carries:
Pattern Style Sizes
1. Pheasant Tail Nymph nymph 16-20
2. Hare’s Ear Nymph nymph 8-18
3. Copper John nymph 10-16
4. Parachute Adams dry 12-22
5. Eck Caddis dry 14-20
6. Orange Stimulator dry 8-16
7. Baetis Comparadun dry 16-24
8. Griffith’s Gnat emerger 16-24
9. Rabbit’s Foot Emerger emerger 14-18
10. Black Tunghead Woolly Bugger streamer 4-10
Yes sir! Those oughta do it! Thanks, Tom!
I’d add in bead head Prince Nymph and Clouser Minnow.
The Eck caddis looks interesting. What’s the material list (couldn’t find it online)? Is the wing tied with rabbit’s foot and CDC?
Hey, Ben, the body is underfur from a rabbit’s foot, wing is toe hair from a rabbit’s foot overlayed with a couple of CDC feathers. That’s it.
Thanks!
Great list! A good percentage of the fish I have caught have been on one of these flies or a variation thereof.
Also, I had no idea a Griffith’s Gnat was an emerger pattern. I always thought it imitated a cluster of mating midges.
It does but I don’t think there’s a category for that
Great flies, but I was wonder about eggs? and maybe Royal cochman
All very good….would also include squirmy wormies and ane egg pattern (Y2K).
I would add a zebra midge in multiple colors. Even pink!
I’d feel confident with that list in my box any day. Thanks for sharing Tom.
…I would add the brown Klinkhammer size 14. IMO the best dry fly ever tied. I love the comparadun as well. The combo of the Klinkhammer trailed by a comparadun is a great combo.