Seemingly Endless Variations of Fishing Flies

A fly is an insect, of course, but in addition, it also means a device, a lure, that resembles fish food such as an insect. The design itself is simple, and the idea is to make the lure look like natural prey of fish, so that they'll bite. At least since the mid-17th century, probably centuries previous, this grand idea has been tested many times over.

And in fact, it works quite well.

Fishermen and their friends make flies for fun and profit, and this is astonishing not just to those who make them. In fact, flies can become works of art in addition to being devices that are practical for use. They can look like a mayfly, a small rodent, or even a tiny ant. In fact, a fly made to exquisite detail is indeed a wonder.

One choice is to try the simple Dry Fly. This fly simply floats on the surface of the water and seems to a curious fish below to be a dragonfly simply resting on the pond. It can also look like many thousands of other insects that simply rest on the water for a moment before they take off again. Oftentimes, a real insect of this type doesn't see what's hit it.

For example, an Orange Stimulator may appear to a fish to be a grasshopper that jumped on the water's surface. Of course, fishermen hope that the "grasshopper" will be irresistible to the fish. And in fact, this often does happen. These types of flies are most often used for freshwater fishing, such as in a lake where the waters remain calm.

By contrast, a Wet Fly sits just below the water's surface so that they appear to be an insect that's apparently drowning. Of course, what the fisherman hopes is that the fish is the one whose life is ended soon afterward.

The Nymph looks like a developing insect that hasn't yet sprouted wings. As a larva, these insects often float through the water or crawl along the tops of underwater rocks. Hungry trout can't resist these tiny insects, or so eager fishermen would like to believe. In fact, hope is what keeps the sport of fishing alive in many cases.

Terrestrial flies look like worms or non-aquatic insects. Unfortunately, these insects are often convenient meals for the fish that seek them.

Another type of fly, Streamers, looks like baitfish. You can use these in either salt water or freshwater, and they are diverse enough that they can fit just about any situation. A Clouser looks like a minnow and is a favorite of many, but the Sucking Leech is popular, too.

Not all flies look like animals. Some look like plant food that fish also eat. These can include flowers, seeds or berries. Fruit or flower petals that go into the water often drop into the water where fish gratefully consume them. Carp flies fall into this category.

Eventually, most fishermen have the urge to try to make their own flies. Most often, the urge comes forth because of the desire to land a perfect lake trout. If that's you, let your inner creativity burst forth and enjoy what it brings. And if you don't catch anything, you can still be proud of the flies you make.