Top 20 Flies of 2013: Part 1 of 4

I wanted to start the year off with a review of the fly patterns that worked best for me in 2013. The list is in no particular order. Like any other pattern list, these flies are specific to the waters I typically fish. Thus, they are mainly flies for freestone rivers and streams in northwest Montana as well as the Missouri River tailwater fishery below Holter Dam. Some of the flies were productive for only a short period of time, however, if they were incredibly productive within that time window, they have earned a spot on the list. For each pattern, I will include a link to a tying video or an image.

1. American Pheasant Tail Nymph

A Quasimodo pheasant tail nymph.

Mostly fished in size 16 or smaller and usually with a brass or glass bead or hotspot, this is often my go-to nymph on the Missouri River for most of the warmer months of the year. The version tied on a scud hook (Quasimodo) has also worked great for me on local freestone streams. A great tying video put together by Tightline Productions can be found at: http://vimeo.com/62622400

2. Rusty Spinner

A quill bodied rusty spinner dry fly.

For the first few weeks of small stream season this past year, this fly took fish with amazing consistency. Almost every afternoon, size 14 spinners would start to fall on the water and the fish took them readily.  I like a quill bodied version like those tied by A.K. Best with either hackle tip wings or hackle wings tied down in figure-eights. Another great video by Tightline Productions of a similar version can be found at: http://vimeo.com/65651614

3. Hare's Ear Parachute

Hare's ear parachute dry fly.

Everyone has his/her favorite general attractor pattern. For many, it is the Parachute Adams. I prefer the shaggier appearance of the Hare’s Ear Parachute. I'm not sure what the fish take it for, but they usually will. I got turned onto this pattern after reading a John Gierach book and since then it has become my go-to small stream searching pattern. I had a few 50+ fish days this past season on the Thompson River fishing this pattern. 

4. Royal Trude

A royal trude dry fly.

This is my go-to rough water fly. I am a big fan of Royal Wulffs, but the downwing on the trude version is easier/faster to tie and seems to work just as well. If I'm going to fish the Middle Fork of the Flathead, this is probably the first fly that I will try. I prefer a version with a moose hair tail. On a lot of small streams, I will switch back and forth between a hare's ear parachute and a royal trude if fish reject the first pattern. Or, if I've missed a fish on one, the other will typically get it. 

5. Polar Chenille Leech

A polar chenille leech streamer pattern.

The fellas at Lakestream Outfitters in Whitefish, MT first showed me this pattern. It is a really simple tie, but it works great. My friend Jayden Duckworth really hammered them on this pattern this past year. The fly has a good baitfish silhouette, but I think that the rusty copper colored ones are often taken as crayfish as well. Rob Weiker from Lakestream has done a great blog post and tying video of the pattern.


Photo Credits: 
Pheasant tail nymph, hare's ear parachute, and royal trude taken from www.Orvis.com
Rusty spinner taken from www.flytyingworld.com
Polar chenille leech taken from www.lakestream.com