Six Small Stream Flies by Gary Borger
These flies were selected as imitations that can be used both for selectively feeding fish and opportunistically feeding ones. If I could only have them in the colors shown, I would happy. I would be happier if I could vary the colors and sizes of the imitations.
1. Foam Beetle.
Beetles occur in grasslands and in woodlands around the world, and are always finding their way onto the waters of trout streams. As a consequence, trout readily accept beetle imitations. In the meadow streams of the western U.S. as much as 50 % of the trout’s food is terrestrials, and a beetle can work wonders on such waters.
2. Griffith’s Gnat, Gray Hackle.
The Griffith’s Gnat is the single best adult midge imitation, worldwide. In bright sunlight, the Gray Hackle version is even more effective than the original, which calls for a grizzly hackle. And, it performs just as well on overcast days.
3. Micro Collared Leech.
Trout everywhere will gobble any leech they find. The smaller sizes can be used to suggest not only a leech but a dragonfly nymph, a small sculpin, a Hellgrammite larva, and just something that looks good to eat.
4. Poly Caddis.
Caddises are on the wing all season long, and trout are used to seeing them as part of their daily fare. In addition, female caddises dive underwater to lay eggs, and the Poly Caddis makes a great diving caddis, too. I often fish it downstream dead-drift and then pull it under and fish it back up wet. Tied in larger sizes, it makes a good adult stonefly imitation, too.
5. Hair Leg Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear (GRHE).
This imitation is a wonderful representation of the nymphs of many mayflies and stoneflies, It even makes a passable imitation of a caddis pupa, when fished with action. It’s a great searching fly.
6. Gray Hackle Parachute Adams.
I like the gray hackle version better than the original, which is tied with grizzly and brown hackle, mixed. The gray hackle detracts less from the posted wing. I tie a whole Parachute Adams Family with bodies of black dark rusty brown, dark olive green, yellow, and hare’s mask in a host of sizes. They work impressively well.
