Top 5 Stillwater Flies for Trout Opener
Here is a look at 5 flies that I never get in a boat without. I hope that they give you as much success on the water as they’ve given me over the years!
Halloween Damsel
This fly is best fished on the point amongst a 3 fly team on sinking lines. Tie the tail longer than you’re normally comfortable with to get the best action. Vary the retrieve to find what action entices the most. In my experience, a medium pace rolly polly retrieve with intermittent stops is the most productive. This fly is effective year round and will rarely come off my line if I’m pulling.
Hook: Hanak 450 BL #12
Thread: Uni Thread - Hot Orange 8/0
Bead: 7/64” Brass Bead - Hot Orange
Tail: Olive Marabou with 3 stands of crystal flash on either side.
Body: Olive Ice Dub
2. Vampire Viva
This fly was conceived from fishing the vampire leech very often but sometimes ending up with short takes. So I’ve compacted it into a Viva format with all the same material as the leech. This fly can be fished on all the tags of your cast. However, if you fish it on the top dropper - make sure you’re cast is straightening out before it hits the water to avoid tangles. This fly can also be tied without a brass bead with a chanteuse thread head.
Hook: Hanak 450 BL #14
Thread: Uni Thread - Chartreuse 8/0
Bead: 7/64” Brass Bead - Chartreuse
Tail: Fl. Green Flash
Body: Black UV Straggle Fritz
Wing: Black Marabou
3. Candy Floss Booby
This fly rarely comes off my top dropper. Make sure you give three strong pulls as soon as your cast hits the water. Not only does this straighten out your line, the wake caused by the foam eyes on the surface will typically get the attention of any fish near by. This fly will act as an attractor and a lot of the time the fish will drop back and take the trailing flies. However, if they get their mouths on this, they don’t let go and will try to swallow it so make sure you’re on your game when you’re fishing these flies to avoid any casualties.
Hook: Hanak 500BL #12
Thread: Uni Thread - Hot Orange 8/0
Head: Yellow Foam Booby Eyes
Tail/Wing: Coral Marabou
Body: UTC Mirage Tinsel
4. Purple Egg-Sucking Leech
This is a great early season pattern which is best fished in the middle or on the point. A lot of times I’ll fish this fly in the middle of the cast and fish will pick it out over the other flies. With lakes that have a healthy population of leeches, this fly is first out of the box. This fly works well on both stocked and wild populations of trout. This is also a great searching pattern on lakes that you may not have fished before. After you’re done your retrieve, be sure to hang this fly for 5-10 seconds before you cast again. Lots of fish will take on “the hang”.
Hook: Hanak 450BL #12
Bead: 7/64” Brass Bead Hot Orange
Thread: Uni Thread - Hot Orange 8/0
Tail: Purple Marabou and Chrystal Flash
Body: Purple Straggle Fritz
5. Squirmy Wormy
Set 2 of these at 10’ and 15’ under your bung fly or bobber. Fishing this way will give you a good gauge on what depth the fish are at and can be extremely productive under the right conditions. Adjust your depth if necessary. Once the flies are vertical under the bung, give them some movement every so often to give the fly some life. If nothing has happened after 2 minutes or the boat has drifted too close to your bung, cast again. No need to cast far, closer the better. Don’t fall asleep when fishing the bung and squirmies as they will swallow this fly if your don’t set the hook promptly.
Hook: Hanak 450BL #12
Bead: 3.5mm Light Pink Tungsten Bead
Thread: Glo-Brite Floss #2
Tail/Body: Pink Squirmy Legs
