Elk Hair Caddis #18
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Little Black Stonefly (Capnia sp.)
- In season
- Jan–Mar
- Peak
- Feb
Best Trout Flies in Massachusetts
The trout flies to carry in Massachusetts, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 11Fly patterns
- 12Hatches
- 3Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Massachusetts trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- Elk Hair Caddis #18 For Little Black Stonefly
Spring Mar–May
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–18 For Little Black Stonefly and Grannom Caddis
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Quill Gordon #12–14 For Quill Gordon
- Comparadun #12–14 For Hendrickson
- March Brown #10–12 For March Brown
- Green Drake Wulff #8–10 For Green Drake
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
- Parachute Sulphur #16–18 For Sulphur
Summer Jun–Aug
- March Brown #10–12 For March Brown
- Green Drake Wulff #8–10 For Green Drake
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
- Parachute Sulphur #16–18 For Sulphur
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- Slate Drake #10–12 For Isonychia
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- Slate Drake #10–12 For Isonychia
- October Caddis #14 For Autumn Caddis
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Sparkle Dun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus)
- In season
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
Quill Gordon #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Quill Gordon (Epeorus pleuralis)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
- 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
Green Drake Wulff #8–10
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Green Drake (Ephemera guttulata)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May–Jun
Light Cahill #14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Parachute Sulphur #16–18
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Sulphur (Ephemerella dorothea)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Trico Spinner #22–26
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Trico (Tricorythodes sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
Slate Drake #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Isonychia (Isonychia bicolor)
- In season
- Aug–Oct
- Peak
- Sep
October Caddis #14
Caddis
- Imitates
- Autumn Caddis (Neophylax sp.)
- In season
- Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Oct
Massachusetts trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Massachusetts?
Elk Hair Caddis, Sparkle Dun, Quill Gordon, Comparadun, and March Brown: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Massachusetts'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 3 watersheds Massachusetts's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
