what are the best trout flies?

Question

for nymphing,

Answer 1

I would say it depends on where you live and the abundance of insect life in your local stream. Some streams produce
amazing stone fly nymphs (think West Branch of Au Sable in the Adirondacks) some streams where I live are predominitely "caddis " streams and a Peking caddis nymph works wonders. On limestone streams scud patterns and tiny
brassies seem to work really well. No matter where I go, I always take a few BWO nymphs because they are so prevelant.
By and large if I had to pick just a handful of nymphs to fish anywhere in the US they would be as follows (in no particular order)
1) Pheasant tail - should be no surprise ; )
2) gold ribbed hare's ear
3) Peking caddis
4) small BWO nymphs
5) copper john
6) prince nymph
7) stonefly nymphs in black/brown/gold

If you look at the above patterns I mentioned, you'll see that there is a good variety of color, wing cases and bodies.
I'm sure one of them will match some type of underwater
food the trout will key on.

Take a few each in different sizes, bead-head or no bead head is a personal choice, I like the PT and the Hare's ear w/ beads and the Prince and stones w/o

Sometimes it's not just the nymph, it's the presentation that counts. There have been days that I have caught many fish on
a "dead-drift" and other days when a down and across method works better. In pocket water and riffs I like to fish an
attractor fly such as an Au Sable Wulff or a large Elk hair caddis as my indicator and put a flashy nymph
such as a copper john as a trailer.

Perhaps Sagefisher would like to elaborate............

Answer 2

These fly's will work almost everywhere, pheasant tail nymph, hares ear nymph, prince nymphs, copper johns, midges, caddis pupaes, and globugs.

Answer 3

I love his second pick the gold ribbed hares ear is a great all around nymph

Answer 4

match the hatch.