WD-40 #22–28
Midge
- Imitates
- Midge (Chironomidae)
- In season
- Nov–Mar
- Peak
- Feb
Best Trout Flies in Idaho
The trout flies to carry in Idaho, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 18Fly patterns
- 14Hatches
- 9Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Idaho trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- WD-40 #22–28 For Midge
- Zebra Midge #22–26 For Midge
Spring Mar–May
- WD-40 #22–28 For Midge
- Zebra Midge #22–26 For Midge
- Comparadun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- CDC Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Chubby Chernobyl #8–10 For Skwala Stonefly
- Skwala Adult #8 For Skwala Stonefly
- Sparkle Dun #16–18 For Pale Morning Dun
- Chernobyl Salmonfly #4–6 For Salmonfly
Summer Jun–Aug
- Sparkle Dun #16–18 For Pale Morning Dun
- Chernobyl Salmonfly #4–6 For Salmonfly
- Stimulator #4–8 For Salmonfly and Golden Stonefly
- Elk Hair Stone #6–8 For Golden Stonefly
- Dave's Hopper #8–12 For Hopper Season
- Parachute Hopper #10 For Hopper Season
- PED Comparadun #14–16 For Pale Evening Dun
- Paradrake #10–12 For Green Drake
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- WD-40 #22–28 For Midge
- Zebra Midge #22–26 For Midge
- Comparadun #16–22 For Blue-Winged Olive and Mahogany Dun
- CDC Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Dave's Hopper #8–12 For Hopper Season
- Parachute Hopper #10 For Hopper Season
- Orange Stimulator #8 For October Caddis
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Comparadun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis sp.)
- In season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
Chubby Chernobyl #8–10
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Skwala Stonefly (Skwala americana)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
Sparkle Dun #16–18
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis)
- In season
- May–Aug
- Peak
- Jul
Chernobyl Salmonfly #4–6
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May
Stimulator #6–8
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Golden Stonefly (Hesperoperla pacifica)
- In season
- Jun–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Dave's Hopper #8–12
Terrestrial
- Imitates
- Hopper Season (Melanoplus sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
March Brown #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- March Brown (Rhithrogena morrisoni)
- In season
- Mar–May
- Peak
- Apr
PED Comparadun #14–16
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Pale Evening Dun (Heptagenia sp.)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Orange Stimulator #8
Caddis
- Imitates
- October Caddis (Dicosmoecus sp.)
- In season
- Sep–Oct
- Peak
- Sep–Oct
Elk Hair Caddis #14–16
Caddis
- Imitates
- Mother's Day Caddis (Brachycentrus sp.)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- May
Paradrake #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Green Drake (Drunella grandis)
- In season
- Jun–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Flies locals reach for
Patterns named in the favorite flies of three or more of Idaho's top trout rivers.
- Elk Hair Caddis4 rivers
- PMDs4 rivers
- BWO3 rivers
Idaho trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Idaho?
WD-40, Zebra Midge, Comparadun, CDC Dun, and Chubby Chernobyl: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Idaho's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #4 (Chernobyl Salmonfly, for the Salmonfly) down to #28 (WD-40, for the Midge), by the hatch charts.
Which flies do Idaho anglers name most?
Elk Hair Caddis, PMDs, and BWO come up most often in the favorite flies listed for Idaho's top trout rivers.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 9 watersheds Idaho's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
