The Big 3 Summer dry fly patterns for trout

[afishinado]

Great article detailing the summer hatches / spinnerfalls and a common terrestrial found on PA streams right now > Tricos, White flies and ants.

Midsummer Trifecta

 

[redietz]

Those were the three that popped into my mind as soon as I saw the subject line.

 

[dryflyguy]

Pretty hard to argue against those 3 patterns for sure.
However, personally, I seldom use any of them now.

I just don't live close enough to streams with trico and white fly hatches, to fish them very often.
I catch way more fish on slate drakes, and tan or gray caddis.

As for terrestrials: I used to use ants a lot. But as my eyes aged, I was really having a hard time seeing them.
So I switched to beetles, which have a larger profile on the surface.
And think that they work just as well - if not better

 

[Dave_W]

dryflyguy wrote:
As for terrestrials: I used to use ants a lot. But as my eyes aged, I was really having a hard time seeing them.
So I switched to beetles, which have a larger profile on the surface.
And think that they work just as well - if not better

I couldn't agree more. ^
I still like ants but now use them as wet droppers as often as on top.

Over the years I've mostly switched to beetles as go-to terrestrials for searching. Their larger size and shape is better formed for the use of a visibility post that I rely on to see the fly (well designed terrestrials float low and just can't be seen like hackled dries).

I still fish tricos and white flies, but not as much as in the past. Not sure what I'd consider my other top summer trout flies, but being more a nymph and streamer guy, these selections don't change much when summer arrives other than that I tend to use 'em in smaller sizes on freestone streams.

 

[PennKev]

dryflyguy wrote:

I catch way more fish on slate drakes, and tan or gray caddis.

Yeah, I'd probably consider slate drake patterns more of a must-have summer trout fly than white fly patterns. Slate drakes are just more universal and are active during daylight hours making them a more likely bug to encounter.

 

[laszlo]

What would be a good white fly nymph while you're waiting for the hatch?

 

[klingy]

HOPPERS!

 

[OrangeCahill]

Slate Drakes must taste really good to trout because if you see any Isonychias flying around it's time to fish them. September can be a great month for them. I've always felt the same way about blue wing olives

 

[Oregon_OwlII]

Before looking at the article, my guess was tricos, hoppers, and ants, in that order. So yeah, hoppers should be on that list. Beetles are a good choice too if you are going terrestrial.

 

[RLeep2]

1) Deerhair ant -#10 Splat! Slurp! Etc...

2) Deerhair caddis tied delta wing style with hackle clipped flush to bottom of body. #12-16. Mostly 14's. Best color is hare's ear body and brown hackle. Best mixed water dry I know. Floats flush in the flat water and bounces like a cork in the runs.

3) Hare's ear parachute #12-18. Mostly 14's.

 

[rrt]

I am a great admirer of Fauceglia's photography and his book, "Mayflies." I wish he would do another book, possibly calling it "Downwings," one that would deal with caddisses and stoneflies. I imagine he has many wonderful photos of grannoms, etc. that he could use to illustrate such a book.

(Just saying -- not meant to hijack this topic.)

 

[Tigereye]

Here is one I spoke of before on a different thread, a #14 or #16 bright green or chartreuse Adams. Not sure what it represents, an inch worm, BWO, leafhopper, small katy-did, grasshopper, or some other odd ball land based critter.. It just looks buggy enough that fish like it.

 

[flyflicker]

I love the Letort Hopper and Cricket. Easy to tie and large enough to fish a dropper under. I also love the disco beetle. I use a .30 or .35 cal shell to cut the disc from the foam sheet. Peacock herl wrap on the shank, tie the disc 2/3 of the way down on top and voila! Done! Love late summer!

 

[falcon]

When they are about ISOs are cheeseburgers to a trout's palate.

 

[WildTigerTrout]

Trico duns and spinners ( on streams where they are present)

Parachute black ant

Foam beetle

Letort hopper and cricket

Inchworm

I know that's more than three but it's as narrow a selection as I can muster.