One of our guides, Tate D., shares his favorite fly patterns for fishing in Vermont:
Henryville – It just looks fishy. This is my favorite small brook trout stream selection. If the fish are there, they can’t seem to resist this fly. It resembles so many things, caddis, stonefly, ant… When all else fails this is my go to fly.
Woolybugger – Maybe not the most exciting selection, but how can you shy away from the results. This fly catches fish. Again, mimics so many aquatic foods, small bait fish, crayfish, helgramite, large stonefly… I like to tie a nymph off of the back when I’m drifting pools searching for fish.
Pheasanttail – The answer to one of the most difficult tasks… having any chance of success chasing large cruising trout on still water. Casting these small flies (sizes 18-22) requires 7x tippet, and a 12 ft. leader.
USGS Streamflow Map