If you’re like me, you probably carry way more flies in your trout vest than you’ll ever use on any given trip to the river. Truth is, there are about a dozen go-to patterns that I end up tying on when there isn’t an active hatch happening. When you’re forced to downsize you fly-box selection, like with a pack-in trip or a quick evening session, and space is limited, there are some tried-and-true favorites you shouldn’t be without. Many don’t imitate anything in particular, but simulate a variety of insects and other creatures trout eat. Most can be fished in a variety of ways, making them both productive and versatile. Some are favorites because they are easy to tie with inexpensive materials, and they flat-out catch trout.
WET FLIES
It’s commonly believed that about 90 percent of what a trout eats is taken under the surface of the water. It’s logical then that a good portion of our Dependable Dozen consists of wet flies, nymphs and streamers. You generally can’t go wrong if you have a fly that sinks
