Zebra Midge #20–26
Midge
- Imitates
- Winter Midge (Chironomidae)
- In season
- Dec–Mar
- Peak
- Jan–Feb
Best Trout Flies in Tennessee
The trout flies to carry in Tennessee, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 11Fly patterns
- 11Hatches
- 6Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Tennessee trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- Zebra Midge #20–26 For Winter Midge
- Soft Hackle #18 For Little Black Caddis
Spring Mar–May
- Zebra Midge #20–26 For Winter Midge
- Soft Hackle #18 For Little Black Caddis
- Parachute Adams #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Quill Gordon #12–14 For Quill Gordon
- March Brown #10–12 For American March Brown
- Yellow Sally #14–16 For Yellow Sally
- Green Caddis #12–14 For Green Sedge
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
Summer Jun–Aug
- Yellow Sally #14–16 For Yellow Sally
- Green Caddis #12–14 For Green Sedge
- Light Cahill #14 For Light Cahill
- Fur Ant #14–18 For Terrestrials
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- Parachute Adams #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Fur Ant #14–18 For Terrestrials
- Trico Spinner #22–26 For Trico
- October Caddis #14 For Autumn Sedge
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
Soft Hackle #18
Caddis
- Imitates
- Little Black Caddis (Chimarra sp.)
- In season
- Feb–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
Parachute Adams #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis sp.)
- In season
- Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
Quill Gordon #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Quill Gordon (Epeorus pleuralis)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
March Brown #10–12
Other
- Imitates
- American March Brown (Maccaffertium vicarium)
- In season
- Apr–May
- Peak
- Apr
Yellow Sally #14–16
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Yellow Sally (Isoperla sp.)
- In season
- Apr–Jun
- Peak
- May
Green Caddis #12–14
Caddis
- Imitates
- Green Sedge (Rhyacophila sp.)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Light Cahill #14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Light Cahill (Stenacron interpunctatum)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May
Fur Ant #14–18
Other
- Imitates
- Terrestrials (Ants · Beetles)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
Trico Spinner #22–26
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Trico (Tricorythodes sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
October Caddis #14
Caddis
- Imitates
- Autumn Sedge (Neophylax sp.)
- In season
- Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Oct
Flies locals reach for
Patterns named in the favorite flies of three or more of Tennessee's top trout rivers.
- Pheasant Tail3 rivers
- Pats Rubber Legs3 rivers
Tennessee trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Tennessee?
Zebra Midge, Soft Hackle, Parachute Adams, Quill Gordon, and March Brown: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Tennessee's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #10 (March Brown, for the American March Brown) down to #26 (Zebra Midge, for the Winter Midge), by the hatch charts.
Which flies do Tennessee anglers name most?
Pheasant Tail and Pats Rubber Legs come up most often in the favorite flies listed for Tennessee's top trout rivers.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 6 watersheds Tennessee's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
