Sparkle Dun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis tricaudatus)
- In season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Peak
- May, Sep
Best Trout Flies in New York
The trout flies to carry in New York, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 18Fly patterns
- 19Hatches
- 10Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on New York 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
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- CDC Emerger #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Comparadun #12–14 For Hendrickson
- Parachute Sulphur #16–18 For Sulphur
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–18 For Little Black Stonefly and Grannom Caddis
- Black Elk Hair #16–18 For Early Black Stonefly
- Quill Gordon #12–14 For Quill Gordon
- March Brown #10–12 For March Brown
Summer Jun–Aug
- Parachute Sulphur #16–18 For Sulphur
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- Trico Poly Wing #22–26 For Trico
- Slate Drake #10–12 For Isonychia
- March Brown #10–12 For March Brown
- Brown Drake #10–12 For Brown Drake
- Elk Hair Caddis #14–16 For Grannom
- Green Drake Wulff #8–10 For Green Drake
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- Sparkle Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive and Fall BWO
- CDC Emerger #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- Trico Poly Wing #22–26 For Trico
- Slate Drake #10–12 For Isonychia
- Fur Ant #16–18 For Flying Ant
- October Caddis #14 For Autumn Caddis
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Comparadun #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Hendrickson (Ephemerella subvaria)
- In season
- Apr–May
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
Elk Hair Caddis #18
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Little Black Stonefly (Capnia sp.)
- In season
- Jan–Mar
- Peak
- Feb
Black Elk Hair #16–18
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Early Black Stonefly (Allocapnia sp.)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
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
March Brown #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- March Brown (Stenonema vicarium)
- In season
- Apr–Jun
- Peak
- May
Brown Drake #10–12
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Brown Drake (Ephemera simulans)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- Jun
Elk Hair Caddis #14–16
Caddis
- Imitates
- Grannom (Brachycentrus numerosus)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May
Flies locals reach for
Patterns named in the favorite flies of three or more of New York's top trout rivers.
- Pheasant Tail4 rivers
- Hare’s Ear3 rivers
- Hendricksons3 rivers
- Blue Winged Olives3 rivers
- Elk Hair Caddis3 rivers
New York trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in New York?
Sparkle Dun, CDC Emerger, Comparadun, Parachute Sulphur, and Trico Spinner: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across New York's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #4 (Hex Paradrake, for the Hex / Giant Mayfly) down to #26 (Trico Spinner, for the Trico), by the hatch charts.
Which flies do New York anglers name most?
Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Hendricksons, Blue Winged Olives, and Elk Hair Caddis come up most often in the favorite flies listed for New York's top trout rivers.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 10 watersheds New York's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
