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As spring arrives, more and more insects become available for trout to feed on. Knowing the top flies for spring and how to use them is essential for catching more fish consistently when fishing in a lake or river.
Spring is the season that is most dependent on fly selection for fishing. To catch the most fish possible, consider using the top patterns in four major categories: Midges, Caddis, Mayflies, and Stoneflies. These four categories cover nearly three-quarters of the bug life in the spring. However, everyone has different tastes in flies, so these recommendations may or may not be your preferred choice.
<aside> <img src="/icons/daisy_green.svg" alt="/icons/daisy_green.svg" width="40px" /> Caddis | Caddis is my favorite bug because it is a sure sign that winter has passed and warm weather is here to stay. Caddis quickly become an obsession of spring trout, who gorge themselves on every stage of caddis during the spring months. You won't need these flies for March very often, but you'll regret it if you don't have a good assortment come mid-April and May. For best success, fish a dry/adult caddis as the lead fly and drift a nymph or emerger behind it.
Some of the biggest hatches are springtime caddis. Fish go wild during these times, so it's important to fish a variety of caddis stages to find what works. I've had caddis swarming my face and the fish just eating the nymphs, and other times, nothing on the water and they are coming up to slurp the dries.
It's best to fish a dry and emerger. If that doesn't work, switch the emerger out for a nymph and fish it as a dry/dropper set up.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/downward_red.svg" alt="/icons/downward_red.svg" width="40px" /> Check out my Top-5 patterns or Use the Tabs / Tab dropdown ▾ below to toggle between types of flies
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<aside> <img src="/icons/daisy_green.svg" alt="/icons/daisy_green.svg" width="40px" /> Eggs | Fishing eggs can be different from conventional nymph rigs. In some cases, trout can be seen feeding on eggs, just like they do on mayflies.
When the egg bite is on, a standard nymph rig might include two or three eggs with weight above them. The larger, brighter egg is usually tied first, with a smaller fly trailing behind. One of the best trailing flies is a single egg in orange, pink, or cream color. It is so light that it moves in the current almost weightlessly, despite its high protein density.
Look for trout below spawning fish. If they are moving left or right aggressively, it is a sign that they are feeding on eggs. Note that it is best to fish for the trout downstream, rather than over the spawning fish.
To target a fish, use short drifts with a lot of weight, landing the flies right below the spawning fish. If done correctly, the offerings should sink fast and go right past the trout feeding below!
Some of the best trophy trout anglers will tell you that it isn't sculpins or mice that catch the biggest fish, but eggs. Eggs can be found in waterways consistently and provide a steady stream of calories that make it worthwhile for fish of all sizes to feed. ⻥
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<aside> <img src="/icons/daisy_green.svg" alt="/icons/daisy_green.svg" width="40px" /> General Attractors | All forms including nymphs, pupa, emerger, and dries are a major staple in the first month or two of spring until the caddis begin to show up and the trout feed on larger flies that are now moving in numbers that warrant their attention. Hatches start mid morning and can last the entire day if the weather is right. Nymphing during a hatch can be more productive than dry fly fishing and it’s always good to try both during a hatch if one or the other isn’t working.
There are a variety of hatches so it’s best to have a bug seine to collect the insects both above and under the water and match the color and size to what’s in the river. As the water warms up you’ll see what we call a midge-zilla hatch where the midges get downright ginormous and you can throw size #14-16 flies with success. This will be a welcome change to all who are used to fishing size #20 and #22 all winter long.
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