Flies for Early Season Trout

There are a lot of flies to choose from when we go into the fly shop or when we sit down to the bench to get some work done. The key to having the flies for early season is to tie based on priority. If you need early season flies, you shouldn't be tying Green Drakes that you won't need until late June. You need to focus on what is needed short term, and then if you want to stock up ahead of time, then bust out the giant hooks and tie the drakes!

The first ones on your list should be the Early Stones, G.R. Hare's Ear, Blue Wing Olives, and Woolly Buggers.
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Early Black Stone



The stones start showing up when the water hits about 40 degrees consistently. They don't swim well, so a dead drift through a riffle or the head of a pool is a good place to start.







Hook: Size#14-16
Thread:Black 8/0
Tail:Black goose biot
Rib:Black Larva Lace "Soft Midge Body Material"
Abdomen:Dyed-brown squirrel, blended with black rabbit
Thorax:Same as abdomen
Wing Case:Turkey tail, slips pre-treated with Dave’s Flexament.
Antennae:Black goose biot


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Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear
This is another very popular worldwide fly that every fly box should have. It imitates all sorts of aquatic insects from stoneflies to cased caddis. Definitely one you don't want to be without. y favorite is with a beadhead.


Size: #20-12
Thread: Black 8/0
Tail: Hare's guard hairs
Rib: Gold Tinsel/Wire
Body: Hare's Mask Dubbing - picked out spikey when complete
Wingcase: Turkey tail fibers
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Blue Wing Olive


When the weather is drizzly and gray, be on the lookout for a hatch of Blue Wing Olives (baetis). There are a bunch of species of this mayfly, and the differences so the fly tyer is size. For early spring though they range from 16-20.








Hook: #16-20.
Thread: 8/0 tan
Tail and Legs: Light olive dyed pheasant tail.
Abdomen: "Baetis" dyed turkey wing biot
Thorax: Light Olive dubbing
Wingcase: Natural dark goose quill.

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Woolly Bugger

The Woolly Bugger, it is said has accounted for more fish than any other pattern, but doesn't imitate anything in particular. Some argue that it imitates a stonefly. Others say it could be taken as a leech, small fish, or crayfish. I don't really care what the fish think it is as long as they like it.



Hook: 3x long #4-10
Thread: Black 8/0
Tail: Marabou to match body color (add 3-5 strands crystal flash if desired)
Rib: Gold wire (counter wrapped)
Body: Chenille in choice of Black, Olive, Brown, Tan, WhiteHackle: Palmered saddle hackle to match body