Fly Patterns for Southeast Minnesota

Fly fishing in southeast Minnesota can require a variety of patterns depending upon the time of year and the weather conditions.  However, much of the guess work can be eliminated by narrowing down your choice of flies, especially for those who are novices to the sport and to the area.  I have listed most of the basic patterns, ingredients to tie them, and how to fish them. 

More patterns will be appearing as I have time to load them.  If you have a question about a pattern or would like to see a pattern listed, please drop me a line at ontheflyguiding@msn.com

General Nymph Patterns:    Scuds    Tato Scud    Pheasant Tail Nymph    Bead Head Pheasant Tail Ostrich Herl    Black Krystal Flash Pheasant Tail    Lightning Bug    Hare's Ear Nymph    Prince Nymph    Black Biot Krystal Flash PT    Cress Bug    Pink Squirrel    Orange All Purpose    The Root River Special    Copper John    Soft Hackled Fly    The Shillinglaw Emerger

General Dry Fly Patterns:    Adams Dry Fly    Blue Winged Olive    Diving BWO    Elk Hair Caddis    Deer Hair Caddis    Gray Caddis Dry    Tape Wing Caddis    Dark Hendrickson    Dark Hendrickson (variation)    Light Hendrickson    Light Hendrickson (cdc)    Light Hendrickson Dry/Emerger    Simpleton Midge    Griffith's Gnat    The Black Midge Emerger    Golden Lo    The Usual

Caddis Nymphs:    Bead Head Caddis Larvae    Caddis Larvae    Caddis Danger Baby    Theo's Danger Baby    Caddis Emerger         

Terrestrials:    Black Wet Fly    Foam Beetle    Japanese Beetle    The Pink Ant    Bitch Creek Bugger    Black Foam Beetle    Madame X

Streamers:    Zonker    Woolly Bugger    Polar Bugger    Brian's Big Fish Streamer    Double Bunny    Hairy Leech    Bent Head Streamer    Zoo Cougar

Realistic Patterns: Root River Golden    Simply Golden