Griffith's Gnat #22–26
Midge Peak now
- Imitates
- Midge (Chironomidae)
- In season
- Nov–Mar
- Peak
- Feb, Nov
Best Trout Flies in Iowa
The trout flies to carry in Iowa, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 11Fly patterns
- 11Hatches
- 3Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Iowa trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- Griffith's Gnat #22–26 For Midge
- Black Elk Hair #18 For Little Black Stonefly
Spring Mar–May
- Griffith's Gnat #22–26 For Midge
- Black Elk Hair #18 For Little Black Stonefly
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Comparadun #12–14 For Hendrickson
- X-Caddis #18 For Little Black Caddis
- Brown Drake #10–12 For Brown Drake
- Parachute Adams #16–18 For Sulphur / PMD
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–16 For Tan Caddis
Summer Jun–Aug
- Brown Drake #10–12 For Brown Drake
- Parachute Adams #16–18 For Sulphur / PMD
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–16 For Tan Caddis
- Chernobyl Ant #10–18 For Terrestrials
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- Griffith's Gnat #22–26 For Midge
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Chernobyl Ant #10–18 For Terrestrials
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- CDC Emerger #18–22 For Fall BWO
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Black Elk Hair #18
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Little Black Stonefly (Capnia sp.)
- In season
- Feb–Mar
- Peak
- Mar
Sparkle Dun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus)
- In season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
Comparadun #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- Apr
X-Caddis #18
Caddis
- Imitates
- Little Black Caddis (Chimarra sp.)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- Apr
Brown Drake #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Brown Drake (Ephemera simulans)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May
Parachute Adams #16–18
Other
- Imitates
- Sulphur / PMD (Ephemerella dorothea)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Elk Hair Caddis #14–16
Caddis
- Imitates
- Tan Caddis (Hydropsyche sp.)
- In season
- May–Aug
- Peak
- Jun
Chernobyl Ant #10–18
Other
- Imitates
- Terrestrials (Ants · Beetles · Hoppers)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
Trico Spinner #22–26
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Trico (Tricorythodes sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
CDC Emerger #18–22
Other
- Imitates
- Fall BWO (Baetis sp.)
- In season
- Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Oct
Flies locals reach for
Patterns named in the favorite flies of three or more of Iowa's top trout rivers.
- BWO's4 rivers
- Pink Squirrels3 rivers
Iowa trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Iowa?
Griffith's Gnat, Black Elk Hair, Sparkle Dun, Comparadun, and X-Caddis: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Iowa's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #10 (Brown Drake, for the Brown Drake) down to #26 (Griffith's Gnat, for the Midge), by the hatch charts.
Which flies do Iowa anglers name most?
BWO's and Pink Squirrels come up most often in the favorite flies listed for Iowa's top trout rivers.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 3 watersheds Iowa's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
