THE WET FLY

The featherwing wet flies are an older and more traditional European pattern. They may incorporate one to twenty different kinds of feathers.

Hairwings are simpler, more durable flies which many fly fishers feel are just as effective as the larger, embellished featherwing attractors. Hair may have more of a lifelike action in the water so fly-tiers duplicate the classic featherwing patterns by substituting the less durable feathers with the more durable and life-like hair.

Wet flies are excellent imitations of drowned or drowning mayflies, duns and spinners, and caddis and stonefly adults. In attempting to hatch, not all adults make it. Some get drowned in fast water while others fail to crawl out of their nymphal shucks. After a hatch is over, a wet fly fished through the riffles will often catch fish.

Color in wet flies may sometimes be more important than size and shape - especially in streams where there is little food and the most visible patterns attract the Trout. In wilderness waters, relatively gullible Brook or Cutthroat Trout may respond well to bright yellow, red and white colors. However, in today's heavily fished waters the more somber lightly dressed patterns are much more successful.
 

THE WOOLLY WORM
The chenille body and soft, webby hackle make this fly a buggy imitation of both terrestrials and aquatic nymph life. 

This is a pattern that every fly fisher should have for fishing the numerous streams of the west. It is tied in various lengths, weighted or unweighted in orange, yellow, red, green and you name it. It is not uncommon to see a fly fisher using a three-inch Woolly Worm in lakes bringing in 2-3 pound Trout. A size eight black woolly worm with gray hackle is rated by some as the all-time single favorite pattern.

Other popular patterns include yellow, peacock green or dark brown bodies with either grizzly, brown, badger or black hackle. A tail of red wool yam doubled to form a small loop is the most popular. Many will float the imitation on a dead drift just like a nymph, others as a streamer retrieving it by various methods.

THE MARCH BROWN
The March Brown dates back to the infancy of British fly-tying. This fly is usually tied to match a particular insect in a particular habitat therefore it may he tied larger, smaller, darker or lighter to accomplish this. This pattern is especially popular in spring creeks and small spring fed rivers - usually slow flowing with lots of moss and many different insect hatches.