Sparkle Dun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus)
- In season
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
Best Trout Flies in Maryland
The trout flies to carry in Maryland, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 17Fly patterns
- 19Hatches
- 4Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Maryland trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- Elk Hair Caddis #18 For Little Black Stonefly
- Zebra Midge #20–26 For Winter Midge
- Soft Hackle #18 For Little Black Caddis
Spring Mar–May
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Parachute Adams #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Quill Gordon #12–14 For Quill Gordon
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–18 For Little Black Stonefly and Grannom Caddis
- Zebra Midge #20–26 For Winter Midge
- Soft Hackle #18 For Little Black Caddis
- March Brown #10–12 For American March Brown and March Brown
Summer Jun–Aug
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- March Brown #10–12 For March Brown
- Yellow Sally #14–16 For Yellow Sally
- Green Drake Wulff #8–10 For Green Drake
- Green Caddis #12–14 For Green Sedge
- Parachute Sulphur #16–18 For Sulphur
- Fur Ant #14–18 For Terrestrials
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Parachute Adams #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- Fur Ant #14–18 For Terrestrials
- Slate Drake #10–12 For Isonychia
- October Caddis #14 For Autumn Caddis and Autumn Sedge
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Quill Gordon #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Quill Gordon (Epeorus pleuralis)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
Light Cahill #14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum)
- In season
- May–Jul
Trico Spinner #22–26
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Trico (Tricorythodes sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
Elk Hair Caddis #18
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Little Black Stonefly (Capnia sp.)
- In season
- Jan–Mar
- Peak
- Feb
Zebra Midge #20–26
Midge
- Imitates
- Winter Midge (Chironomidae)
- In season
- Dec–Mar
- Peak
- Jan–Feb
Soft Hackle #18
Caddis
- Imitates
- Little Black Caddis (Chimarra sp.)
- In season
- Feb–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
March Brown #10–12
Other
- Imitates
- American March Brown (Maccaffertium vicarium)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- Apr
Elk Hair Caddis #14–16
Caddis
- Imitates
- Grannom Caddis (Brachycentrus numerosus)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- May
Comparadun #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- Apr
March Brown #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- March Brown (Stenonema vicarium)
- In season
- Apr–Jun
- Peak
- May
Yellow Sally #14–16
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Yellow Sally (Isoperla sp.)
- In season
- Apr–Jun
- Peak
- May
Maryland trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Maryland?
Sparkle Dun, Parachute Adams, Quill Gordon, Light Cahill, and Trico Spinner: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Maryland's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #8 (Green Drake Wulff, for the Green Drake) down to #26 (Trico Spinner, for the Trico), by the hatch charts.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 4 watersheds Maryland's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
