Freshwater Flies, For Starters

If you're just starting out in fly fishing, the last thing you need is a dissertation on insect entomology!

Why not try these two tried & true flies - learn to fish them, and then later expand your fly universe. The Adams the Wooly Bugger are two of the most versatile flies in any fly fishers vest - but especially for beginners. They both imitate a wide variety of fish food (natural insects, baitfish), and are both designed to catch fish.


1. Adams (Parachute Style, size 14) (above right)

Try a parachute Adams whenever you see fish sipping flies on the water's surface. You'll see rings on the water when fish feed this way. You can confidently cast this fly to trout, bass and panfish. The parachute tie makes this fly easily visible on the surface - even in low light. Keep your eye on the fly, and when you see the rise, gently lift the rod tip to hook up.

2. Wooly Bugger (Olive, size 12) (above left)

The Wooly Bugger is a sub-surface fly or wet fly. Fish it when you don't see fish rising, or when your Adams isn't working. You'll want to get this fly down to the bottom - so cast quartering upstream and let it sink as your line travels downstream - let out some line if you have to, and them let the fly travel downstream - let it swing at the end of its run. Use a strike indicator to determine strikes - and don't be terribly surprised if a fish hits the fly on the swing. If you're fishing a lake or pond, cast your line and fly out, let it sink, then slowly retrieve the line with very small strips to hook up to bass ad panfish.

These two flies can be found in the fly boxes of the world's best fly fishers - why wouldn't you want to start fly fishing with them?

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