Sunrise over HCFF Strawberry Fishout - photo by club member Jennifer Raney

Build a Fly Box That Works on Any River

Many fly anglers carry multiple fly boxes packed with dozens of patterns for every imaginable situation. One box for tailwaters. Another for freestone streams. Yet another for spring creeks. While that approach may provide confidence, it often creates unnecessary complexity.

A simpler approach is to build your fly box around the major aquatic insect groups that trout eat everywhere:

  • Mayflies
  • Caddisflies
  • Stoneflies
  • Midges

Rather than carrying dozens of different patterns, focus on a few proven flies that imitate these insects throughout their life cycles. Success often comes from presenting the fly correctly, not from having hundreds of choices.

Size vs Color

This is one of the most debated topics in fly fishing, but there is actually a fairly strong consensus among many respected anglers and authors:

Size First, Then Presentation, Then Color

Many of the best-known fly fishing authors—including Gary LaFontaine, Dave Hughes, Pat Dorsey, Charlie Craven, and Tom Rosenbauer—argue that size is generally more important than color, and that presentation is more important than either one.

A common rule of thumb is:

  1. Presentation – Is the fly drifting naturally?
  2. Size – Is it approximately the right size?
  3. Profile/Shape – Does it resemble the insect?
  4. Color – Is it reasonably close?

Why Size Matters

Trout see thousands of insects every day. Research suggests they often use a fly's silhouette and size as the primary trigger for recognition.

For example, a trout feeding on size 20 Blue-Winged Olives is much more likely to reject a size 14 fly of the correct color than a size 20 fly of a slightly different shade.

Pat Dorsey often teaches that when fish are refusing flies, the first adjustment should usually be going smaller, not changing colors.

When Color Matters

Color becomes increasingly important when:

  • Fish are feeding selectively during a hatch.
  • Water is extremely clear.
  • Fishing pressure is high.
  • The fly is very small and subtle color differences become more noticeable.

For example:

  • Black midges often outfish olive midges.
  • Cream-colored PMD patterns may outperform gray flies during a PMD hatch.
  • Pink or orange hotspot nymphs can trigger strikes when natural colors fail.

However, anglers frequently discover that a fish will accept several different color variations of the same correctly sized pattern.

What About Attractor Patterns?

Many successful flies bear little resemblance to natural insects:

  • Royal Wulff
  • Chubby Chernobyl
  • Purple Haze
  • Rainbow Warrior
  • San Juan Worm

These flies work because they trigger a trout's feeding response through visibility, movement, or suggestion rather than exact imitation.

Their success further supports the idea that trout often focus more on size, shape, and presentation than perfect color matching.

Focus on Size and Presentation

Experienced anglers frequently discover that size and presentation matter more than constantly changing patterns.

Instead of carrying ten different mayfly imitations, consider carrying one or two trusted patterns in multiple sizes. For example:

  • Parachute Adams (sizes 12-20)
  • Zebra Midges (sizes 14-20)
  • Frenchies (sizes 12-18)
  • Elk Hair Caddis (sizes 12-18)

A well-presented fly drifting naturally through the feeding lane will often outfish a "perfect" pattern presented poorly.

A Simple Four-Box System

One practical fly box system includes:

Dry Fly Box

Traditional dries such as:

  • Parachute Adams
  • Elk Hair Caddis
  • Sparkle Duns
  • Griffith's Gnats

Foam & Terrestrial Box

Larger floating flies that imitate stoneflies, hoppers, beetles, and other terrestrial insects:

  • Chubby Chernobyls – Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12
  • Hoppers – Sizes 6, 8, 10
  • Beetles – Sizes 12, 14, 16
  • Stimulators – Sizes 8, 10, 12

Large Nymph Box

For stoneflies and larger aquatic insects:

  • Pat's Rubber Legs – Sizes 6, 8, 10
  • Prince Nymphs – Sizes 10, 12, 14
  • Hare's Ear Nymphs – Sizes 12, 14, 16

Small Nymph Box

For selective trout and situations requiring smaller, more natural presentations:

  • Zebra Midges – Sizes 16, 18, 20, 22
  • Perdigons – Sizes 14, 16, 18
  • Frenchies – Sizes 14, 16, 18
  • Pheasant Tails – Sizes 12, 14, 16, 18

For HCFF waters, if you wanted to trim it down even further, the "sweet spot" sizes would be:

  • Chubby Chernobyl: 8, 10
  • Hopper: 8, 10
  • Beetle: 14
  • Stimulator: 10
  • Pat's Rubber Legs: 8, 10
  • Prince Nymph: 12
  • Hare's Ear: 14
  • Zebra Midge: 18, 20
  • Perdigon: 16
  • Frenchie: 16
  • Pheasant Tail: 14, 16, 18

Those sizes alone would cover the vast majority of trout fishing situations encountered on the Weber, Provo, and most Utah freestone streams.

This system covers nearly every trout-fishing situation while keeping gear organized and easy to access.

Resist the "Emotional Support Fly" Trap

Many anglers carry flies they've never used simply because they might need them someday. While new patterns are fun and often effective, filling boxes with every new fly can make it harder to find the flies you actually use.

A better strategy is to identify the flies that consistently catch fish on your local waters and stock plenty of those.

Become a Better Angler

Limiting fly choices forces anglers to focus on:

  • Reading water
  • Improving drifts
  • Detecting strikes
  • Matching insect size
  • Adjusting presentation

These skills catch more fish than constantly changing flies.

The Bottom Line

A successful fly box isn't necessarily the one with the most flies. It's the one that contains a small selection of trusted patterns that imitate the major aquatic insects trout eat every day.

Keep it simple. Carry flies you trust. Focus on presentation. You'll spend less time digging through fly boxes and more time catching fish.