Table of Contents
- Best Dry Flies for Trout Fishing
- Best Bead Head Nymphs for Trout
- Best Perdigon Nymphs for Trout
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 17, 2026
Best Dry Flies for Trout Fishing
The best flies for trout fishing match what's actually hatching, and at Baxter House River Outfitters we've spent nearly three decades watching which patterns earn a trout's attention on pressured water. Dry flies float, imitate adult insects, and trigger the most visible take in the sport.
Two patterns cover most situations. The Blue Wing Olive CDC Knock Down Dun mimics mayflies during prolonged hatches, its CDC feathers sitting low in the surface film where trout expect cripples. The X-Caddis does the same for caddis, with a white Antron wing you can track in broken light.
Sizes matter more than color. Run #14 to #18 for the BWO, #14 for the X-Caddis, and drop a size whenever fish refuse the first offering.
Best Bead Head Nymphs for Trout
Bead head nymphs are the workhorses of trout fishing, and the weight is the whole point. Tungsten and brass beads drop the fly into the strike zone fast when fish hold deep and won't rise.
Our Bead Head Pheasant Tail dozen runs #12 through #18, three of each size, so you can match whatever nymphs are active. The Tungsten Bead Head Rubber Legs covers the big end: stonefly imitations in #6 and #10 that big trout eat without hesitation.
Fish them under an indicator or tight-line them. The Rubber Legs gets down quick in heavy water; the Pheasant Tail handles the small stuff.
12 Bead Head Pheasant Tail Selection, Bead Head Pheasant Tail- MIXED DOZEN →
Best Perdigon Nymphs for Trout
Perdigon nymphs are slim, dense, and built to sink, making them the best flies for trout fishing in fast tailwater runs where fish hold tight to the bottom. The Tungsten Bead Pheasant Tail, or our Hot Spot Quill are our starting picks: both are small mayfly imitation that look similar to every insect Trout see. Offered in #16 to #20
It excels where small insects dominate the diet, and guides fish it on tight-line rigs and under indicators both.
Pattern Type |
Best Sizes |
When to Fish It |
Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
Dry flies |
#14-#18 |
Active hatches, rising fish |
BWO CDC Knock Down Dun |
Bead head nymphs |
#6-#18 |
Non Hatch Periods, all water types |
BH Pheasant Tail dozen, Pat’s Rubber Legs, BH Prince Nymphs |
Perdigon nymphs |
#16-#20 |
Fast tailwaters, pressured trout |
Tungsten Bead S.O.S. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best flies for trout fishing?
The best trout fishing flies cover three jobs: dry flies for surface feeding, bead head nymphs for subsurface work, and Perdigon nymphs for fast, deep water. A practical box pairs an X-Caddis and a March Brown for hatches with a Bead Head Pheasant Tail and a Tungsten Bead S.O.S. Nymph for the drift. That mix handles most streams and stillwaters without carrying dozens of patterns you will never tie on.
Which dry flies are best for trout?
Caddis and mayfly imitations do most of the work. The X-Caddis sits low in the surface film and triggers takes on pressured fish, while a Catskill-style March Brown matches one of the first big mayfly hatches of the season. Carry them in sizes #10 to #18 so you can match what is actually on the water. Watch the rise form: splashy takes usually mean caddis, gentle dimples mean mayflies.
How do I know whether to fish a dry fly or a nymph?
Watch the water before you tie on. Rising trout and insects on the surface mean a dry fly. A quiet surface with fish holding deep, or cold, high water, means nymphs. On most days, start with a bead head nymph under an indicator and switch to a dry when you see a hatch. Carrying both in one box keeps you ready for either.
Picking flies gets easier once you stop guessing and start matching size and depth to what the water is doing. Baxter House River Outfitters ties every pattern in these three categories with guide-tested materials and backs them with a no-questions money-back guarantee. Browse our custom flies and fill your box with patterns our guides actually fish.