What's in the (fly) name

Dry, Wet, Nymph or Streamer?

There are numerous fly patterns commonly used in fly fishing. Some popular types include:

Dry Flies:

These imitate adult insects that float on the water's surface. Examples include the Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, and Royal Wulff.

Nymphs:

These imitate the immature form of aquatic insects found underwater. Examples include the Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare's Ear Nymph, and Prince Nymph.

Streamers:

These imitate baitfish or other small prey and are typically used to attract larger fish. Examples include the Woolly Bugger, Clouser Minnow, and Zonker.

Wet Flies:

These imitate emerging insects or small fish below the surface. Examples include soft hackles and wet fly patterns like the March Brown Wet.

Terrestrials:

These imitate land-dwelling insects like ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. Examples include the Parachute Ant, Foam Beetle, and Dave's Hopper.

Saltwater Flies:

These are designed for saltwater species like bonefish, tarpon, and permit. Examples include the Crazy Charlie, Lefty's Deceiver, and Crab patterns.

Steelhead and Salmon Flies:

These are designed for anadromous fish and include patterns like the Egg Sucking Leech, Green Butt Skunk, and Spey flies.

Emergers:

These imitate insects in the process of hatching and transitioning from nymph to adult. Examples include the Sparkle Dun, RS2 Emerger, and CDC Emerger.

Midges:

These imitate tiny aquatic insects found in many freshwater environments. Examples include the Griffith's Gnat, Zebra Midge, and Brassie.

Mouse and Rat Flies:

These imitate small mammals and are used for targeting large predatory fish like pike, bass, and certain species of trout.

These are just some examples, and there are countless variations and patterns within each category. Depending on the specific type of fishing and the species you're targeting, different flies may be more effective.


When you have started to select some different fly patterns, you will have mot probably come against some abbreviations or repeated keywords as well. Here's a few that are often used.

CDC Flies

The term "CDC" stands for Cul de Canard, which is French for "duck's bottom." CDC feathers come from a specific region on ducks near the preen gland. These feathers have natural oils that make them exceptionally buoyant.
CDC feathers are used to create flies that float well on the water's surface. This makes them particularly effective for imitating insects like mayflies and midges that spend a significant portion of their life cycle on or near the water's surface.

Emerger Flies

An emerger fly is designed to imitate the transitional stage of aquatic insects as they emerge from their nymph or larval form to become adult insects on the water's surface. This stage is known as the "emerger" stage.

During the emerger stage, insects are particularly vulnerable to feeding fish because they are struggling to break through the surface tension of the water. Emerger flies are crafted to mimic this vulnerable phase, making them highly effective for enticing fish to strike.

Key characteristics of an emerger fly include:

1. Subsurface Presentation: Unlike dry flies that float on the surface, emerger flies are designed to ride partially submerged in the water, imitating the natural position of emerging insects.
2. Trailing Shuck: Many emerger patterns include a trailing shuck, which replicates the remnants of the nymph's exoskeleton that is shed during the emergence process.
3. Sparse Hackle or Wing: Emerger flies usually have sparser hackle or wings compared to adult dry flies, reflecting the more delicate and partially submerged appearance of emerging insects.
4. Slim Profile: They typically have a slimmer profile than fully mature adult imitations to accurately represent the transitional stage.
Emerger flies are particularly effective
in situations where fish are actively feeding near the surface, but are selectively targeting insects in the process of emerging. This can happen during hatches, or when there's a consistent presence of emerging insects in the water.

Examples of emerger fly patterns include the Blue Winged Olive Emerger, Elk Hair Caddis Emerger, and RS2 Emerger, among many others.


GRHE nymph

The "GRHE" nymph stands for "Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear" nymph, which is a highly effective and versatile fly pattern. It is a popular fly due to its ability to imitate a variety of aquatic insects and its consistent success in catching fish.

Key characteristics of the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear nymph include:

1. Body Material: The body of the GRHE nymph is typically made from the fur of a hare's mask, which provides a natural, buggy appearance. This material is often mixed with other materials like dubbing or synthetic fibers for added texture and durability.
2. Gold Ribbing: As the name suggests, this nymph features a gold wire or tinsel rib that is wound around the body. This not only adds an attractive flash to the fly but also reinforces the body, making it more durable.
3. Tail and Wingcase: The tail is usually made from fibers of a hare's mask or similar material. The thorax and wingcase are often created using the same fur and materials as the body.
4. Color Variations: The GRHE nymph can be tied in various color variations to imitate different aquatic insects. Common variations include natural shades like brown, olive, and gray.

Uses and Effectiveness:

The Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear nymph is highly versatile and can imitate a wide range of aquatic insects, including mayfly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, and even small stonefly nymphs. Its general buggy appearance and subtle flash from the gold ribbing make it an excellent attractor pattern when fish are actively feeding on sub-surface insects.

This nymph is particularly effective in both still and moving waters, making it a favorite among fly fishermen worldwide. It's often fished using techniques like nymphing, where the fly is presented below the surface, either with a strike indicator or by tight line nymphing techniques.

Overall, the GRHE nymph is considered a classic and reliable pattern that consistently produces results, making it a must-have in many fly anglers' collections.


PTN Fly

A "PTN fish fly" refers to a specific type of fly used in fly fishing, known as the "Pheasant Tail Nymph" (PTN). The PTN is a highly popular and effective pattern that imitates the aquatic nymph stage of various mayflies and other insect species.

Key characteristics of the Pheasant Tail Nymph (PTN) include:

1. Body Material: The body of the PTN is typically constructed using the fibers from the tail feathers of a male pheasant, which are long, slender, and have a natural mottled appearance. This material gives the fly a lifelike and buggy appearance.
2. Ribbing: A fine wire or tinsel rib is wound around the body of the fly, providing both reinforcement and a touch of flash.
3. Tail: The PTN features a tail made from pheasant tail fibers, which mimic the tails of mayfly nymphs. The tail is usually slightly longer than the body.
4. Thorax: The thorax is often created using a mixture of dubbing materials, which can vary in color to imitate different nymph species.
5. Bead Head or Weighted: Some versions of the PTN feature a bead head or added weight to help the fly sink quickly in the water column, making it effective in deeper or faster-moving waters.

The PTN is particularly effective in rivers and streams, where mayfly nymphs are a staple food source for many fish species. It's a versatile pattern that can be fished in various sizes and colors to imitate different nymph species at different stages of their development.

The Pheasant Tail Nymph is considered a classic and reliable pattern that has stood the test of time in the world of fly fishing.