How to Pick the Right Lure for Fly Fishing

Importance of Choosing the Right Lure

Whether you're a seasoned angler or a first-timer treading water, choosing the right fly doesn't need to be all that frustrating as some make it out to be. The truth is, trial and error is the only way to discover what works for your individual fishing style, preferences and goals. And the only solid proof, fortunately, is a bite. 

So below, we'll go over the basics you need to get going so you can get to a productive day on the water.

What Are Flies?

While there are specifics to bear in mind and intricacies to master, a fly is essentially a sly baiting tool. An artificial product designed to mimic the appearance and behavior patterns of either insects, baitfish or other prey attractive to fish, they are for the most part made of materials like feathers, fur or synthetic fibers, woven around a hook to create realistic imitations that distract, entice or appeal to a specific catch. They differ in a variety of patterns and types, based on certain preferences, so opting for the right one can help tip the scales in favor of your casts.

1. Factors to Consider When Choosing a Fly

There are a number of things you want to keep in mind, like season, water level, and temperature. But, first and foremost, you want to take factors that can affect your fly’s visibility into account, such as the type of water you’re on or weather conditions.

Water Conditions

Consider the water's clarity and movement when you’re selecting your fly. Is the water crystal-clear or tinged with sediment? Is there a soft current to it or a bustling rush? This greatly dictates fish behavior, especially with regards to potential prey, so it's bound to affect your performance too.

Clear Water

Fish rely heavily on vision to locate prey so adapting your lure (according to its size, color and behavior) will go a long way in actively stimulating your catch. In clear waters, subtlety is key. Dull, realistic colors that blend in with the environment will appear like the bait they usually feed on.

Murky Water

If you prefer fishing in stained waters, a flashy and brightly speckled fly is ideal. Its hue stands out in the murkiness and efficiently attracts the attention of predator fish when visibility is low.

Weather Conditions

Familiarizing yourself with the setting you'll be fishing in is vital for a good understanding of fish activity and tailored flies. This time, your choices will depend on factors such as season, temperature levels, air pressure, wind-activity, and precipitation. 

Sunny Days vs Overcast Days

During bright days with less cloud coverage, fish are more likely to be found in deeper areas, while on cloudy days they tend to come closer to the surface. Bait accordingly; the former conditions call for subtle, bright colors that reflect light and naturally shine in the water while the latter require darker colors to both provide a contrast and provoke a reaction.

Wind Activity

Wind is never good news for anglers. The harder it blows, the harder you cast, the harder you cast, the less you fish. Using the wind to your advantage is easier said than done, but once mastered it becomes a key principle in fly-casting. Techniques will vary, but nymphs will be the first choice, then soft hackles and wet flies. Use extra care while casting, as gusts of wind might pose a threat to your immediate surroundings.

Water Temperature

Different temperatures cater to different behaviors and types of fish, so to pick the right fly, you'll need to take how warm the water is into consideration. In cold water fish have a slower metabolism and respond better to jigs, spoons or soft plastics rather than fast-moving flies. In warm water, the opposite holds true; fish have a higher metabolism and are more likely to strike at faster, more active baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits.

2. Types of Fishing Flies 

Flies take many forms and each of them point to a separate set of tools and strategies best fitted for the job at hand. Depending on who you ask, you might get different answers for what will work best for you. 

Rather than give you our take on what the best flies are, we’re going to describe the four most common categories of flies available and their characteristics so you can decide what will work best for you. 

Dry Flies 

Many consider these the pinnacle of fly-fishing, dry fly-fishing comes down to using flies designed to float on the surface film of the water or within it, instead of sinking. Crafted with lightweight hooks and buoyant materials that keep flies afloat, they mostly simulate adult insects emerging from the stream, laying eggs or dying. As it hits the water, fish are quickly drawn to it and swim up to grab the fly. 

Wet Flies 

These are frequently used in freshwater and intended to sink well below the surface, wet flies imitate either insects in various stages of their life cycle, small fish or other prey swept into a current. Usually they feature heavier hooks, beads, wire, soft hackles and dense bodies to help them submerge and move realistically underwater.

Nymphs

These are often the starting point for most anglers because they often find the most success with these flies. Nymphs imitate the nymphal stage of aquatic insects, not that much different than those you'll encounter in dry fly-fishing. Seeing as it sits submerged, you'll need to use a strike indicator for a clear reel-in signal.

Streamers

These are designed to imitate larger food sources like crayfish, small fish and leeches, and are mostly used to bait predatory fish. They're similar to conventional fishing lures and cover large amounts of water, and as you might expect, are generally heavier and larger than other options.

3. Size and Color of Flies 

You've paid attention to weather conditions, have a baseline for the types of flies available, now it’s time to focus on size and color. Matching all the proportions and parameters of food sources on the fly as close as possible should be your number one priority. Outlines and movement characteristics that closely resemble prey, along with natural size and equivalent color of the lure will impact your success dramatically.

Choosing the Right Size 

Fish are discerning and well aware of surrounding dangers, especially during hatches, so they won't be tricked easily. A fly that's too small or too large will most likely end up ignored, but an object familiar in shape, size and color will go a long way in stimulating your catch. Explore your surroundings and try to match the hatch, meaning try to complement your fly's size to their natural prey. This type of observation doesn't take too much time and pays off greatly.

The Importance of Color

In fly selection, color is heavily debated. However it's clear it impacts not only overall visibility but also acts as an effective attractor for fish, often prompting strikes, giving you a higher likelihood for a catch. Quite similarly to size, if the color of a fly believably resembles that of the prey, there's a higher probability that the fish will mistake it for real food, and the same goes for contrasting and vibrant colors.

Natural Colors vs Bright Colors vs Dark Colors

For most situations, especially in clear water and sunny days, flies in natural colors that closely resemble their prey work best. Brighter colors like chartreuse, orange or white are most effective in murky water or on overcast days. Come late evening, or early morning, or simply fishing in deeper water, dark colors like black or brown provide a clear, strong contrast that fish can pick up on. Stock up on all three and you'll be able to easily adapt to shifting conditions.  

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