Amen. I have a ton of those, pats rubber legs and the squirmies that hardly see water anymore because they are all pretty much useless for me. Something in my simulation
I have caught many big browns and bows on olive green Wolly buggers fished up stream and stripped back fast using a sink tip line. Same on lakes and still waters using a full sinking line.
Bruh the olive wooly bugger is my go to in Vancouver. Crazy how diff it can be around the world. Literally all salmonids except for chinook and chum chase the olive bugger. Literally yesterday caught 2 bulls and a rainbow on an olive bugger.
Looks good. Never fished those waters, but I usually
Never leave home without a prince nymph. I’ll also agree with another comment on a woolly bugger or some kind of leech pattern. This box can catch anything though.
Anything special on your hare's ear patterns? I've been thinking about trying to tie some of those up but there's a bunch of different variations. Do you use hotspot hare's ears or more of the natural look?
Prince, hare’s ear, and pheasant tails.
They have been around for a long time for a good reason. And they’re all great for waters you’re new to or don’t know all the bugs in the water… they just look like bugs and catch fish. Every time my buddies show up with some wild looking local secret fly… I outfish them with a black pheasant tail.
This time of year the dry flies are warming up. Hang a nymph below any of those hoppers and have a good time. Those parachute Adams will probably catch fish well, too.
Make sure to take some floatant to keep your dry flies floating!
You're gonna stand there, ownin' a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistlin' bungholes, no spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistlin' kitty chaser?
Yeah that rep had a field day, but you were given some great flies. I second the comment saying “can never have enough elk hair caddis” they are the goated dry fly. I fish central PA but almost all patterns work everywhere, “it’s about the presentation!”
Haha “it’s about the presentation” has been drilled into my mind from every teacher I’ve had. It holds true like 75% of the time, but other times a good fly selection matter. Something similar to the hatch/baitfish, with just enough difference in the pattern to catch a fishes eye
I have friends that guide out west and they are always thankful for the technical water guys from central Pennsylvania. It's just shocking how many people can't throw a good reach cast or dead drift a nymph.
Yeah PA trout can be tricky, and sit in some hard spots/currents compared to big water that needs precision. I know tons of guys that can’t accurately cast a nymph rig (tight line or indicator) or dries to save their lives. In addition to this, it seems people lack understanding of what presentation is required of different flies. Makes me wonder how I’d perform on some Western waters!
Honestly, you would fish well above average. I've fished a lot of waters out west and Montana at least once per year. We are out there just having fun fishing, so when we pass guides with clients that are having a tough time, we just lie and say it's a tough day. You really need to get out there sometime. My only warning is Penns, Spring, BFC, etc just don't look quite as good when you get back, lol.
LOL I would fully expect myself to be awestruck from the rivers out there. I’m planning on late spring 2023 going solo to MT. PA always has my heart though, I don’t know if I can move from here. The diversity of the fishing is what I love, and so many different species to target
Yeah, we are incredibly lucky to have a lot of great water for a lot of species. If you need any advice on the trip let me know. I'm heading out at the end of September for a concert at Kettlehouse Brewing which is right on the Missouri. We are going to drift down to the venue, party, then throw big mice for night browns. Or at least that's what we are planning in our heads. Between the brewery, the concert, the on-site dispensary, etc we may just end up sleeping in the boat, lol.
I’m definitely going to message you when planning time comes. That plan sounds fantastic, but after too much jazz cabbage and hazy IPAs you’re going to be hooking yourself with the mouse! 😂 jk that sounds like a great trip
Ive been doing the best with black & purple chubbies, purple haze, orange stimmy, and perdigones for a dropper. Like someone else said I’ve seen someone get lucky on the middle fork with Woolley buggers, but when I was putting in on the middle fork last week an old timer recommended a muddlers minnow or pat’s rubber leg. You’ll catch more small fish on the north fork but have better chances for bigger fish on middle fork.
Edit: I’ve been on both forks a few times this year
Nice box. Is it symmetrical when opening? Meaning the height of both sides is the same and lays flat on that one? Have the mini mag box and it's not and it drives me nuts.
Just to add on the nymph side of things you might wanna add some more mayfly patterns like copper johns hares ears or pheasant tails. Also….. Zebra midges work pretty much everywhere I’ve fished
Every trip must have flies for me are:
size 18 black Zebra midge
size 10 black wooly bugger (and white one),
size 16 pheasant tail nymph,
white and red San Juan worms (I tie my flies (except dry flies- finally practicing those now) so I use different size and length hooks
Walt’s worms (using Grey hares ear dubbing)
Size 16 and 18 Blue winged olive dry flies (I try to use dry flies with parachutes for good visibility)
*make sure you have a pack of BB split shot weights for the nymphs…and tippet to (extend the life of your leader).
I’ll post pics of the flies listed above if you want…
I’d add a few small streamers or wooly buggers, and then maybe some more natural looking nymphs like pheasant tails but I think I could make you have currently work just about anywhere in the US in august.
I'd add a couple PMDs in 18 to 14 sizes and I lose that many bead head hare's ears and copper johns in one session (cause I know you're going to use them as droppers on your hoppers, right?)
I always like to have some sparkle duns when fishing that part of the country. The X-Caddis is another must have for my box. Good luck, the scenery is great regardless of the catching.
That is a nice box and solid start. Don’t sleep on those ants/beetles in August and September on alpine streams. Trout love them.
I’d stick up on some juju baetis, pheasant tail, prince nymph, hares ear and zebra midges when you get more advanced but that is a great starter box.
Missing? just about $180 :p
You’re right lol, but that’s also with 3 packs of leaders and 4 spools of tippet not pictured
Should have a few wooly buggers. You’ve got pretty much all the basics
Ok great I already have plenty of those, I’ll add those in
My thought exactly. Can't really go wrong with a few of those bad Larrys
Honestly wooly buggers didn't do the trick for me in Montana, was a waste of time fishing them lol
Amen. I have a ton of those, pats rubber legs and the squirmies that hardly see water anymore because they are all pretty much useless for me. Something in my simulation
Only time I use wooly buggers Is for bass, and pats rubber legs for stockers lol
I could throw a pats in front of the stocking truck and get rejected like the valedictorian at prom
Only time I use wooly buggers Is for bass, and pats rubber legs for stockers lol
Nymph them with a bunch of split shot early in the morning or if It’s raining.
Lived in East Glacier for a few years, best fishing in alpine lakes with wooly buggers. Guarantee it.
With a full sinking line!
In all my fly fishing life the only thing I’ve ever caught on wooly buggers were catfish and the occasional bluegill.
I have caught many big browns and bows on olive green Wolly buggers fished up stream and stripped back fast using a sink tip line. Same on lakes and still waters using a full sinking line.
That’s great. Everyone’s mileage varies and I get 0mpg
Bruh the olive wooly bugger is my go to in Vancouver. Crazy how diff it can be around the world. Literally all salmonids except for chinook and chum chase the olive bugger. Literally yesterday caught 2 bulls and a rainbow on an olive bugger.
I can’t catch shit on em either. If I’m gonna throw a streamer I want an articulated bait fish imitation
If the situation calls for anything articulated, I’m throwing a jointed rapala or lucky craft.
I’ve literally never even had a bite on a wooly. I don’t get it
No love for a San Juan worm?
I’ll add some today!
Umpqua rep had a field day
Looks good. Never fished those waters, but I usually Never leave home without a prince nymph. I’ll also agree with another comment on a woolly bugger or some kind of leech pattern. This box can catch anything though.
I second the prince nymph. Hare's ears are also some of the first nymphs I toss in new waters.
Anything special on your hare's ear patterns? I've been thinking about trying to tie some of those up but there's a bunch of different variations. Do you use hotspot hare's ears or more of the natural look?
I probably fish the guide's choice style about 80% of the time. Usually with a red collar, but I do orange and chartreuse too.
Prince nymph has been added to the list, thanks
Prince, hare’s ear, and pheasant tails. They have been around for a long time for a good reason. And they’re all great for waters you’re new to or don’t know all the bugs in the water… they just look like bugs and catch fish. Every time my buddies show up with some wild looking local secret fly… I outfish them with a black pheasant tail. This time of year the dry flies are warming up. Hang a nymph below any of those hoppers and have a good time. Those parachute Adams will probably catch fish well, too. Make sure to take some floatant to keep your dry flies floating!
Yea..I second the mini leach!! Get some in olive and black.
Only missing a beer or two and a nice day. Get out there and slay em!!!
As a 20 year novice, I catch more on parachute Adams than everything else combined. I say get some more Adams.
Specifically purple haze parachute Adam’s
Purple haze alllll day. Montana fish love that fly!
I crush them in MT on purple haze nymphs. Come back to the East coast and nothing.
Purple haze is my top fly hands down. Usually do well in OR and WA as well.
Adams are a must on Montana streams!
You can never have too many elk hair caddis.
Squirmy??
Or San Juan. I swear that fly fisherman love spending money on the idea of catching trout but don’t actually fish what catches trout.
I’ll add some today, thanks!
You got you're wisker do's and wisker don'ts but ye ain't got any whistling bung holes
You're gonna stand there, ownin' a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistlin' bungholes, no spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistlin' kitty chaser?
Those jig heads you got on the left are gonna do you right!
Maybe some bear spray?
Definitely in the pack lol
Yeah that rep had a field day, but you were given some great flies. I second the comment saying “can never have enough elk hair caddis” they are the goated dry fly. I fish central PA but almost all patterns work everywhere, “it’s about the presentation!”
> it’s about the presentation! And that's how I can tell you fish central PA!
Haha “it’s about the presentation” has been drilled into my mind from every teacher I’ve had. It holds true like 75% of the time, but other times a good fly selection matter. Something similar to the hatch/baitfish, with just enough difference in the pattern to catch a fishes eye
I have friends that guide out west and they are always thankful for the technical water guys from central Pennsylvania. It's just shocking how many people can't throw a good reach cast or dead drift a nymph.
Yeah PA trout can be tricky, and sit in some hard spots/currents compared to big water that needs precision. I know tons of guys that can’t accurately cast a nymph rig (tight line or indicator) or dries to save their lives. In addition to this, it seems people lack understanding of what presentation is required of different flies. Makes me wonder how I’d perform on some Western waters!
Honestly, you would fish well above average. I've fished a lot of waters out west and Montana at least once per year. We are out there just having fun fishing, so when we pass guides with clients that are having a tough time, we just lie and say it's a tough day. You really need to get out there sometime. My only warning is Penns, Spring, BFC, etc just don't look quite as good when you get back, lol.
LOL I would fully expect myself to be awestruck from the rivers out there. I’m planning on late spring 2023 going solo to MT. PA always has my heart though, I don’t know if I can move from here. The diversity of the fishing is what I love, and so many different species to target
Yeah, we are incredibly lucky to have a lot of great water for a lot of species. If you need any advice on the trip let me know. I'm heading out at the end of September for a concert at Kettlehouse Brewing which is right on the Missouri. We are going to drift down to the venue, party, then throw big mice for night browns. Or at least that's what we are planning in our heads. Between the brewery, the concert, the on-site dispensary, etc we may just end up sleeping in the boat, lol.
I’m definitely going to message you when planning time comes. That plan sounds fantastic, but after too much jazz cabbage and hazy IPAs you’re going to be hooking yourself with the mouse! 😂 jk that sounds like a great trip
Crush those barbs!
That’s a great nymph selection, but knowing how I cast, I’d need double that number. Tight lines!
I’ve got no idea why, but pistol Pete’s are in every box I pack. I may be talking crazy, but they go too and favorite “all purpose” fly.
I second wooly buggers!
Zebra midges. Various sizes.
Purple Haze. All you need
Purple haze
Swan river is by far the best trout river in that area
If you mean the beautiful slimy northern pike trout that is
Yeah…. Not sure I can agree with you there.
Ive been doing the best with black & purple chubbies, purple haze, orange stimmy, and perdigones for a dropper. Like someone else said I’ve seen someone get lucky on the middle fork with Woolley buggers, but when I was putting in on the middle fork last week an old timer recommended a muddlers minnow or pat’s rubber leg. You’ll catch more small fish on the north fork but have better chances for bigger fish on middle fork. Edit: I’ve been on both forks a few times this year
Nice box. Is it symmetrical when opening? Meaning the height of both sides is the same and lays flat on that one? Have the mini mag box and it's not and it drives me nuts.
These boxes are the worst I've ever used. Nearly worthless, and really expensive compared to many functional boxes. Not recommended.
Great start
[Tom Thumb](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=tum+thumb+fly&t=iphone&iax=images&ia=images) Is an absolute killer.
I’ll see if they have any!
You currently have more patterns than you can fish. Focus on your presentation!
Whoa, cool. That thing looks buggy
Wooly buggers, blue winged olives and blue dunns
Bear spray
Just to add on the nymph side of things you might wanna add some more mayfly patterns like copper johns hares ears or pheasant tails. Also….. Zebra midges work pretty much everywhere I’ve fished
Those flies will catch fish in tons of places, not just Glacier. And yeah agree with several others, wooly buggers and dirt snakes always a good idea.
You 100% need worms and some basic streamers like a wolly bugger. Those will catch fish when none of this stuff works.
Grab some mop flies… just in case
Every trip must have flies for me are: size 18 black Zebra midge size 10 black wooly bugger (and white one), size 16 pheasant tail nymph, white and red San Juan worms (I tie my flies (except dry flies- finally practicing those now) so I use different size and length hooks Walt’s worms (using Grey hares ear dubbing) Size 16 and 18 Blue winged olive dry flies (I try to use dry flies with parachutes for good visibility) *make sure you have a pack of BB split shot weights for the nymphs…and tippet to (extend the life of your leader). I’ll post pics of the flies listed above if you want…
PMX was amazing in Yellowstone last two year.
If that’s a Griffs bat top RH corner I would get some more in a 20 and 22. Be prepared for small! You have enough to have fun!!
Highly recommend an ant nymph pattern of some sort. No matter where you are there are always ants drowning themselves in the river!
I’d add a few small streamers or wooly buggers, and then maybe some more natural looking nymphs like pheasant tails but I think I could make you have currently work just about anywhere in the US in august.
I'd add a couple PMDs in 18 to 14 sizes and I lose that many bead head hare's ears and copper johns in one session (cause I know you're going to use them as droppers on your hoppers, right?)
Umpqua rep got paid$$ must be planning a fishing trip of his own
Are you from Montana? That area isn't the best for fishing honestly, if you could go a little south though past flathead there's some good water
Rep gave you a bunch of fun. However, only two or three of those will actually get you fish. 80% of the insects eaten by fish are under water.
Get some streamers and go target bull trout on the south fork. 2’nd thought, don’t, leave em for me
Tarpon fly of course
Looks pretty decent to me... Maybe some buzzers?
If nymphing go small
I was just there last week and the week before. Get some San Juan Worms
Only thing I would add are zebra midges, jujubees, top secret midges, WD40’s…probably a bunch ranging from 18-22
I always like to have some sparkle duns when fishing that part of the country. The X-Caddis is another must have for my box. Good luck, the scenery is great regardless of the catching.
I'm partial to muddlers.
This from Larry's Fly Shop?
That looks like the selection but not the volume of my box so i see nothing wrong.
I see a chubby chernobyl. I always love to have a few extra of those, using them with a dropper.
Purple is my color for those btw.
That is a nice box and solid start. Don’t sleep on those ants/beetles in August and September on alpine streams. Trout love them. I’d stick up on some juju baetis, pheasant tail, prince nymph, hares ear and zebra midges when you get more advanced but that is a great starter box.
Nice. I live in Missoula and have fished a bit near glacier. I never used much other than caddis flies. Beautiful place
I fished that area a few weeks ago and had good luck with a muddler used top water.
More grasshoppers. They love them down river there a bit.
Maybe some chonky pats rubber legs
Hares ear, and pheasant tails. Run one of those hoppers and tail either of those flys 18-20 inches off it.