Zebra Midge #22–26
Midge
- Imitates
- Midge (Chironomidae)
- In season
- Dec–Mar
- Peak
- Feb
Best Trout Flies in Washington
The trout flies to carry in Washington, season by season, matched to the hatches on its rivers.
- 10Fly patterns
- 10Hatches
- 6Watersheds
Fly box by season
The patterns for the hatches on Washington trout water each season, the hatches on the most watershed charts first.
Winter Dec–Feb
- Zebra Midge #22–26 For Midge
Spring Mar–May
- Zebra Midge #22–26 For Midge
- CDC Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- March Brown #12–14 For March Brown
- Skwala Adult #8 For Skwala Stonefly
- PED Comparadun #14–16 For Pale Evening Dun
- Stimulator #4–6 For Salmonfly
Summer Jun–Aug
- PED Comparadun #14–16 For Pale Evening Dun
- Stimulator #4–6 For Salmonfly
- Elk Hair Stone #6–8 For Golden Stonefly
- Sparkle Dun #16–18 For Pale Morning Dun
- Parachute Hopper #10 For Hopper Season
Fall Sep–Nov This season
- CDC Dun #18–22 For Blue-Winged Olive
- Parachute Hopper #10 For Hopper Season
- Orange Stimulator #8 For October Caddis
The hatch behind each fly
What each pattern imitates, and when that hatch is on the water.
CDC Dun #18–22
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis sp.)
- In season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Peak
- Apr, Oct
March Brown #12–14
Mayfly
- Imitates
- March Brown (Rhithrogena morrisoni)
- In season
- Mar–May
- Peak
- Apr
Skwala Adult #8
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Skwala Stonefly (Skwala americana)
- In season
- Mar–Apr
- Peak
- Mar
PED Comparadun #14–16
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Pale Evening Dun (Heptagenia sp.)
- In season
- May–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Stimulator #4–6
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica)
- In season
- May–Jun
- Peak
- May
Elk Hair Stone #6–8
Stonefly
- Imitates
- Golden Stonefly (Hesperoperla pacifica)
- In season
- Jun–Jul
- Peak
- Jun
Sparkle Dun #16–18
Mayfly
- Imitates
- Pale Morning Dun (Ephemerella inermis)
- In season
- Jun–Aug
- Peak
- Jul
Parachute Hopper #10
Terrestrial
- Imitates
- Hopper Season (Melanoplus sp.)
- In season
- Jul–Sep
- Peak
- Aug
Orange Stimulator #8
Caddis
- Imitates
- October Caddis (Dicosmoecus sp.)
- In season
- Sep–Oct
- Peak
- Sep–Oct
Flies locals reach for
Patterns named in the favorite flies of three or more of Washington's top trout rivers.
- Parachute Adams3 rivers
Washington trout fly FAQ
What are the best trout flies in Washington?
Zebra Midge, CDC Dun, March Brown, Skwala Adult, and PED Comparadun: they match the hatches on the most watershed hatch charts across Washington's trout rivers.
What hook sizes should I carry?
From #4 (Stimulator, for the Salmonfly) down to #26 (Zebra Midge, for the Midge), by the hatch charts.
Which flies do Washington anglers name most?
Parachute Adams come up most often in the favorite flies listed for Washington's top trout rivers.
Where does this list come from?
From the hatch charts of the 6 watersheds Washington's trout rivers run through, and the favorite flies listed for its top rivers. Check with a local fly shop before you go.
