5 Best Flies for Catching Trout
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Ventures Fly Co. 200-Fly Assortment
The reference cards make 'matching the hatch' approachable for newer fly anglers, and the variety covers almost any water.
- Reference cards make matching the hatch easy
- Variety covers almost any water
- More flies than a beginner needs
- Type
- Dries, nymphs, streamers
- Count
- 200 flies
- Boxes
- 3
- Best for
- Rivers, lakes, streams
Trout can be pushovers or impossible, and the fly on the end of your line is usually the deciding factor. The good news: you do not need hundreds of patterns. A handful of proven flies in a couple of sizes will catch trout across most rivers, lakes and streams. Here is how to think about fly selection, plus the assortments that get you there fastest.
Match the hatch (loosely)
Trout eat what is in front of them, so the goal is to imitate the size, shape and color of the natural insects on your water. You do not need a perfect copy — get close on size first, then shape, then color, and you will fool most fish.
Nymphs do most of the work
Trout do the large majority of their feeding underwater, so nymphs and wet flies put more fish in the net on an average day. A well-rounded box like the Ventures 40-fly assortment or the bigger 200-fly collection covers the subsurface patterns that produce day in and day out.
Dries for the magic
When you see trout rising, switch to a dry fly — it is the most exciting way to catch them. The BASSDASH 64-fly kit and the budget FAISOX 100-fly kit both carry the classic mayfly and caddis dries you will reach for.
Streamers for bigger fish
To target larger, predatory trout, strip a small wounded-minnow fly like an injured baitfish. It is a numbers-down, size-up tactic that can produce the fish of the day.
Start with an assortment
The fastest way to build confidence patterns is a curated kit. Beyond the Ventures boxes, the Ansnbo 36-fly set is an inexpensive way to round out a box.
To fish these flies you will want a balanced fly outfit — see how to pick the perfect fly rod combo. And for clear water and wary fish, do not miss the light flies that fool pressured trout.
The Picks, Tested
Ventures Fly Co. 200-Fly Assortment
A 200-fly, three-box assortment of professionally selected dries, nymphs, streamers and terrestrials with reference cards that explain when to fish each pattern. It is built to cover a full season across rivers, lakes and streams.
- Reference cards make matching the hatch easy
- Variety covers almost any water
- More flies than a beginner needs
- Type
- Dries, nymphs, streamers
- Count
- 200 flies
- Boxes
- 3
- Best for
- Rivers, lakes, streams
Tigofly Wounded Minnow Flies (12 pc)
A dozen size-8 wounded-minnow streamers in six colors that sink slowly with a UV flash to imitate dying baitfish. They shine for trout, crappie and bass when fish are keyed on small forage.
- UV flash pulls strikes in stained water
- Cheap enough to fish snaggy water
- Single pattern, only one size
- Type
- Wounded-minnow streamer
- Size
- Size 8
- Colors
- 6
- Count
- 12 pc
BASSDASH 64-Fly Assortment
BASSDASH packs 64 hand-tied dries, nymphs, streamers and terrestrials into a slim magnetic-latch box. It is a balanced starter spread for trout, panfish and steelhead.
- Magnetic box keeps small flies in place
- Selection weighted toward proven producers
- Slim box fills up fast
- Type
- Dries, nymphs, streamers
- Count
- 64 flies
- Box
- Magnetic latch
- Best for
- Trout, panfish, steelhead
Ventures Fly Co. 40-Fly Assortment
A 40-fly foundational box of dries, nymphs, terrestrials and streamers in sizes 8-18 with a reference card. It is the right size when you want quality patterns without paying for hundreds you may never tie on.
- Curated confidence patterns with little filler
- Tied on chemically sharpened hooks
- Pricey per fly versus bulk kits
- Type
- Dries, nymphs, streamers
- Count
- 40 flies
- Sizes
- 8–18
- Includes
- Reference card
FAISOX 100-Fly Kit
A 100-piece kit of woolly buggers, poppers, nymphs and peacock patterns from size 6 to 18 in a compact waterproof box. It is a budget-friendly way to build out a fly selection fast.
- Tremendous variety for the money
- Low-risk way to learn your patterns
- Tie quality is inconsistent
- Some filler patterns in the mix
- Type
- Buggers, poppers, nymphs
- Count
- 100 pc
- Sizes
- 6–18
- Box
- Waterproof
Ansnbo 36-Fly Hand-Tied Kit
Ansnbo hand-ties this 36-fly trout and bass assortment of dries, wet flies, nymphs and streamers and packs it in a slim fly box. It is an inexpensive, well-rounded starter set.
- Hand-tied on sharp hooks
- Cheap add-on to round out a box
- Small assortment, limited sizes
- Type
- Dries, wets, nymphs, streamers
- Count
- 36 flies
- Best for
- Trout, bass
- Includes
- Fly box
Compare The Field
| Compare | Our Pick Ventures Fly Co. 200-Fly Assortment | Also Good Tigofly Wounded Minnow Flies (12 pc) | Also Good BASSDASH 64-Fly Assortment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 9.2 | 8.1 | 8.4 |
| Realism | 9.1 | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Durability | 9.0 | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| Value | 9.4 | 8.2 | 8.6 |
| Type | Dries, nymphs, streamers | Wounded-minnow streamer | Dries, nymphs, streamers |
| Count | 200 flies | 12 pc | 64 flies |
| Boxes | 3 | — | — |
| Best for | Rivers, lakes, streams | — | Trout, panfish, steelhead |
| Size | — | Size 8 | — |
| Colors | — | 6 | — |
| Box | — | — | Magnetic latch |
| Price | $194.99 Check price → | $9.99 Check price → | $23.98 Check price → |
Common Questions
Dry flies or nymphs for trout?
How many flies do I really need?
About The Author
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas is a fisherman who loves catching tales from his fellow fishermen. He always enjoys a good story, especially when it comes from the sea.
