With fly fishing patterns becoming more and more diverse, choosing the right patterns can be confusing and costly. After guiding the Green River for 20 years I have amassed a serious collection of bugs. Some of which simply do not work. The following are the 12 flies that I could confidently use as my only flies for the entire guide season.
1. Tungsten Zebra Midge - size #16 with brown thread and a silver bead. Trout will eat this fly for BWO and Midge nymphs. I carry them in a variety of sizes and colors. Black, Wine, and Purple all produce from size #14-20. Darker beads sometimes out-fish the go to silver bead.
2. Triple Double - size #16 black. A large assortment of Triple Doubles will cover many dry fly patterns. Tan and Amber will produce as Caddis and Yellow Sally Stonefly imitations. Purple is also an overlooked color on this pattern. I carry a fly box dedicated entirely to this pattern and have them from size #6-20 in several colors.
3. PMX Cricket - size #10 This very versatile fly will imitate cicadas, crickets, beetles and more. Smaller and larger ones will also produce. This pattern turns over nicely when fished with a dropper fly.
4. Pheasant Tail #18 - Tried and true, this fly can be fished confidently on any river that trout call home. Sizes #14-22 all will produce.
5. Chernobyl Ant - size #10 tan. An original pattern tied by guides on the Green River, the Chernobyl Ant is still a top producer 30 + years later. Black and Brown are also very effective colors.
6. Grey Soft Hackle - size #18. Sparsely tied, these staple flies can be found amongst every guide on the river's go to flies. They imitate scuds, and emerging BWO's. Sizes #14-22 will all work
7.Tungsten Woolly Bugger - size #4 Gold. Heavy with solid jigging action, this fly is a go to streamer pattern. I carry these in white, black and almost every color in-between. Bright flies on bright days tend to work best. When it is dark out, switch to darker colors.
8. Frenchie #16 - Developed by Lance Egan, this fly works as an amazing attractor nymph. With lead and tungsten it gets down quickly and is a great dry/dropper pattern.
9. Morrish Hopper #10 tan. The silhouette of this fly is symmetrical, and buggy. A go to hopper pattern on Utah's #GreenRiver.
10. Parachute Adams - size #18. A solid Blue Wing Olive imitation that has a great silhouette to entice picky fish.
11. Sex Dungeon - articulated, black. Of all of Kelly Galloups' incredible fly fishing patterns, this is my favorite. It mimics sculpins and has great swimming action in the water. I carry these in a variety of colors.
12. Parachute Ant - black #18. A safe sized meal for educated trout, the Parachute Ant is another staple fly fished by the guides.
