First Tuesday Tips

Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

(This is Tip 208 in Skip's book 365 Fly-Fishing Tips for Trout, Bass, and Panfish)

This First Tuesday Tip Applies to Trout in Lakes

Author's note: Yes, three of the following nine flies are my own designs (Sparkle Furry Dragon, Morris Boatman, Morris Emerger) which, I get, could seem self serving. But I felt I had no choice—each is exactly the fly I fish when a fly of its type is called for. (And, yes, full disclaimer: I make a small royalty when one of these flies is sold. But my only goal here was to offer you what I felt were the best flies—the ones I trust absolutely—in each category.)


As on trout streams, you can cover most situations on trout lakes with only a small number of fly patterns.

Gathering up a sound group of flies for trout lakes, flies that cover all the important bases and work together as a team, is a daunting task even to the seasoned fly fisher who takes up the lake habit. Overwhelming for the beginning fly fisher. My purpose here is to de-daunt and underwhelm that task.

So here are nine trout-lake flies that will normally cover whatever’s going on. They’re all popular flies you can find online and in fly shops. But if your fly source lacks one or more of them, just ask for a sound substitute. You'll need at least two, preferably three, of each fly in each size. Carrying only one of a fly pattern is to tempt disaster . . .

Again relevant, my rule I so love to state: How you fish a fly is at least as important as which fly you fish. So, fish these nine flies well and they’ll normally produce on trout lakes.




NYMPHS

1. Chan’s Chironomid Pupa

• Sizes 14, 12

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9, Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Chan's Chironomid Pupa
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




2. Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear

• Size 14

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9, Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




3. Damselfly Nymph

(Whatever green or olive damselfly nymph is currently popular. None seem to stick around long)

• Size 10 (If the fly’s abdomen, not its tail, extends off the hook, get size 12)

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Damselfly Nymph
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




4. Sparkle Furry Dragon

• Size 6

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Sparkle Furry Dragon
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




5. Scud, Olive

• Size 12

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Scud, Olive
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




6. Morris Boatman

(also called the Morris Water Boatman)

• Size 14

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Morris Boatman
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)

DRY FLIES

7. Morris Emerger, Callibaetis

• Size 14

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Morris Emerger, Callibaetis
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




8. Elk Hair Caddis

• Size 12

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Elk Hair Caddis
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)




STREAMER

9. Woolly Bugger, Black

• Size 8

First Tuesday Tips: Tip 9: Carry a Foundation Set of Flies to Trout Lakes

Woolly Bugger, Black
(photo ©Carol Ann Morris)



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*Announcements*



Skip has an essay in Big Sky Journal's annual Fly Fishing issue, called "Montana Hoppers: the Princess and the Brute" released February 1, 2023. Skip rewrote it a bit; I painted and illustrated it here, on our website. Here's the link on our web page to check it out:


Click here to read Skip's essay Montana Hoppers: The Princess and the Brute...



Skip's latest books:

Top 12 Dry Flies for Trout Streams: How, When, and Where to Fish Them, is now available on Amazon as an ebook...check it out! Click on the links below to go to the information page on Top 12 Dry Flies (the link to Amazon is at the bottom of the page...)


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Top 12 Dry Flies for Trout Streams: How, When, and Where to Fish Them (the link to Amazon is at the bottom of the page)...

Top 12 Nymphs for Trout Streams: How, When, and Where to Fish Them, 2nd Edition, originally published as an e-book only, is now available on Amazon as a paperback...check it out! Click on the links below to go to the information page on Top 12 Nymphs (the link to Amazon is at the bottom of the page...)

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Top 12 Nymphs for Trout Streams: How, When, and Where to Fish Them (2nd Edition). . .



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500 Trout Streams...

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365 Tips for Trout, Bass, and Panfish...



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Skip Morris's Trout-Fly Proportion Chart

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Skip's Predator is available to buy...

Skip's ultra-popular Predator—a hit fly for bluegills and other panfishes and largemouth bass (also catches smallmouth bass and trout)—is being tied commercially by the Solitude Fly Company.

Skip Morris's Predator

The Predator


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Skip Morris's Predator

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