Brown trout eat dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Depending on the time of day and activity, they eat different things. Some of the best brown trout flies include Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Zebra Midges, Blue Winged Olive, Parachute Adams, Chubby Chernobyls, and Woolly Buggers.
A day targeting brown trout has the potential to be one of your most memorable days on the water. They live in picturesque places, fight exceptionally hard, and grow to impressive sizes. You’ll land fish if you can perfect your fly choice and the presentation. They eat different things depending on where you’re fishing, but a few universal flies work regardless of where you’re fishing.
What are the Best Nymphs for Brown Trout?
Brown trout primarily feed below the surface on smaller food. While they eat fish and large prey, most of their diet is small insects and crustaceans. Nymph flies represent the majority of their food and prove to be effective.
Hare’s Ear Nymph
The Hare’s Ear is a universal pattern that imitates numerous insects. It’s one of the best patterns to use if the water is stained. If you’re fishing early in the spring or after some precipitation, the Hare’s Ear is unique enough to get trout’s attention.
Hare’s Ear Nymphs look buggy; the buggier it looks, the better. When fishing with the Hare’s Ear, understand where the brown trout feed in the water column. Be prepared to fish the upper, middle, and lower, depending on what the fish want.
You want the Hare’s Ear to bounce along the bottom if possible. Some anglers use a sink-tip line when fishing with nymphs, but a floating line works if your leader is long enough. Fish it in sizes 12-18.
Pheasant Tail Nymph
The Pheasant Tail Nymph imitates a Blue-Winged Olive, which often hatches in early spring. You can fish it in a nymph rig, dry-dropper rig, and solo. I like to throw it under an indicator and see what happens.
Drift it through seams, riffles, and under cut banks. The Pheasant Tail nymph needs to be a primary option pre-hatch or post-hatch. To rig it, use a floating line as well as a 7-9 foot leader and a few feet of 3x to 5x tippet
Pat’s Rubber Legs
A Pat’s Rubber Legs should be your first choice if you’re fishing near stoneflies. It is available in several color options and sizes but will always be productive. These flies rarely have beadheads, so ensure you know the depth you need to hit before using them.
Brown trout love stoneflies because they’re so large, and the rubber legs get their attention immediately. Fish it in sizes 8-12. When you see stonefly nymphs crawling along the banks, it’s go time.
Prince Nymph
The Prince Nymph imitates Stoneflies. It works well when used in slightly faster water. As the years have passed, anglers have found that the Prince Nymph can imitate various insects. If Caddisflies or Blue Winged Olives are hatching, use a Prince Nymph.
You can use it in a dry-dropper and nymph rig like many other nymphs. I’ll use a size 10-14 if I’m fishing a dry-dropper rig. If it’s a nymph rig, I’ll have it as the lead nymph and use a size 10.
The prince nymph is a phenomenal option if you’re fishing pocket water or riffles. It catches the trout’s attention as it bounces along the bottom. Fish the beadhead patterns so they drop low in the water column and bounce along the bottom where the fish feed.
I’ve had more unexpected strikes on the prince nymphs than many other flies.
San Juan Worm
Anglers often forget the usefulness of a worm. Many of us started fishing with a bobber and a worm. The San Juan Worm is a solid search pattern that works well in the spring, summer, and fall. Cast it up along the shore and let it drift downstream.
Find banks with exposed dirt and mud because that’s where worms will wash into the water.
When fishing in a lake or pond, I’ll use a split shot to ensure it falls enough in the water column. Let it float throughout the water column if you’re fishing moving water. Worms don’t often reach the bottom, so it’s okay if it moves up and down.
Use a floating line with the San Juan!
Zebra Midge
I always fish with Midge Nymphs when targeting brown trout. I have a mix of sizes, colors, and weights. It’s one of the patterns I throw if I don’t know what to use. I want my zebra midges to cover all levels of the water.
Fishing with midge nymphs isn’t always easy. You must find the correct color and likely fish it with a light tippet.
Use a floating line, 7-9 foot leader, and 3x to 5x tippet with zebra midges. They come in sizes 14-20, and having a few different options is best. This fly will test your skills, but finding a more productive pattern when they’re eager to eat can be challenging.
What are the Best Dry Flies for Brown Trout?
When you see rises on the surface, it’s time to throw dry flies. Brown trout feed on the surface in the mornings and evenings during the insect hatches. While they mainly feed on nymphs, you need to be prepared with enough dries for when the rises start.
Elk Hair Caddis
Every angler needs to carry some sort of caddis pattern in their box. Caddis hatches happen throughout the United States most of spring and summer. The Elk Hair Caddis works all over the country at almost all times of the day.
If you know that Caddis hatches are occurring but aren’t sure what you should use, the Elk Hair Caddis is your best choice. A size 16-22 Elk Hair Caddis is perfect whenever the rises start. It imitates numerous sizes and types, so stay prepared for whatever.
Pair it with 3x to 5x tippet as well as a floating line.
Griffiths Gnat
The Griffith’s Gnat is one of my favorite patterns. Growing up in the Midwest, the gnats were relentless, and I found that they worked great on late summer evenings. If my caddis or mayfly patterns weren’t working on the small streams, I always used a small gnat pattern.
Use it in sizes 16-22, and you’ll catch brown trout. They almost always fall for the tiny presentation.
Golden Stonefly
Western United States anglers understand the effectiveness of Golden Stones. Many classic trout waters have Golden Stonefly hatches, so have a size 12-16 pattern available at all times. I fish these anywhere I see rises.
Right around dusk, when the big fish get ready to feed, the Golden Stoneflies are exactly what you want. Pair it with a floating line, a 7-9 foot leader, and a few feet of 3x to 5x tippet.
Parachute Adams
The Adams is an ideal fly for brown trout. It’s versatile and can represent a mosquito, caddis, horsefly, midge, and other insects. The Adams should be in your tackle box no matter where you’re targeting brown trout. You can find these in sizes 10-20. Sizes 12-16 are nice and easy options.
When using a Parachute Adams, you’ll need a floating line. Attached to the floating line, you should have a 7-9 foot leader and a few feet of 3x to 5x tippet. I fish this fly on its own unless I’m throwing a tiny nymph like an RS2 or something similar.
If you see mosquitoes, horseflies, or caddisflies in the air, a Parachute Adams is a solid fly to use. Their light wings and dark body work great in various light conditions. It imitates an adult Mayfly, so use this pattern early in the season.
Whether you’re fishing in a lake or a river, these patterns will work. Like the Elk Hair Caddis, the Parachute Adams is a great searching fly. Throw it towards any rise you see, and you’ll likely land a fish.
Chubby Chernobyl
If you ask trout anglers to use one fly for the rest of their lives, many will choose the Chubby Chernobyl. It’s a terrestrial pattern that represents grasshoppers and giant beetles. These work especially well in late summer, the warmest part of the year.
They sit high on the water column and attract the attention of brown trout.
Fish this pattern in late July through August. Fish it along banks with high grasses and vegetation because it’s where most terrestrials sit. Grasshoppers will fall off plants and into the water into the mouths of waiting trout. If fishing along the bank doesn’t work, fish it along the foam line.
The Chubby is best fished later in the day when the sun gets warm.
What are the Best Streamers for Brown Trout?
When brown trout are aggressive and eager to eat larger prey, it’s time to throw streamers. Streamers represent minnows, smaller fish, crayfish, and leeches. I love throwing streamers at browns.
Woolly Bugger
The Woolly Bugger is a premier streamer for brown trout. It represents minnows, crayfish, and leeches. Plus, you’ll find it in numerous colors and sizes. I like olive, black, white, and brown. Have them in sizes 6-10.
Fish it through pools, seams, cut banks, eddies, and pockets. Anywhere the water depth changes, the Woolly Bugger is a great choice. Some anglers choose to dead drift, while others swing this fly. That’s the beauty of fishing streamers. You can fish them using various methods until you learn what the fish want.
You can use a beadhead or non-bead head Woolly Bugger. I like a beadhead bugger because it gets deeper where more of the larger fish sit.
Clouser Minnow
If I’m unsure what the fish want to eat, I’ll tie on a Clouser Minnow and dead drift it through pools. It’s flashy, significant, and gets the aggressive fish to feed. These patterns are a blast to use and relatively easy to fish with. If you know minnows and smaller baitfish are in the water, fish a clouser.
These are incredibly productive in stained water! Pair it with a floating line, a 0x or 1x 9’ leader, and get ready for a strike.
What Are the Best Emergers for Brown Trout?
Emerger flies are those that aren’t quite at the adult stage, but they’re close. They’re moving towards the surface and starting to dry their wings. Trout love these flies because they’re some of the easiest for them to find and eat. Trout feed on them for a small window, but when they do, it’s a hot bite.
Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear
This is a classic fly pattern for brown trout. Hare’s Ear nymphs are buggy-looking, and brown trout absolutely love them. As they move towards the surface, they grow their wings. Stay patient and fish these below the surface.
I like to dead drift them and let them float naturally in the current. If I’m starting to see a few rises, I’ll throw an emerger to see if the trout prefer those. Use the Soft Hackle in a size 12-20 and pair it with a 3x to 5x tippet.
Midge Emerger
If I know zebra midges are working, I like to use a midge emerger as the hatches approach. The flashiness paired with the hackle is a nice combination. Pay close attention to how this fly is drifting. If it’s not moving in the current, let your fly line pull it downstream a little more than usual.
You need to achieve as natural of a drift as possible. Again, pair it with 3x to 5x tippet if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Best Streamer for Brown Trout?
The best streamer for brown trout is the Woolly Bugger. Its versatility and ease of use help you land many fish.
What is the Most Successful Fly for Brown Trout?
The most successful fly for brown trout is either the Pheasant Tail Nymph or the Woolly Bugger. Both land a significant amount of browns.
What are the Best Brown Trout Flies for Winter?
In the winter, you want to fish small flies slowly. Brown’s metabolism slows down, and they don’t feed as aggressively. I like to throw midges, Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, and RS2s.
What are the Best Brown Trout Flies for Summer?
In the summer, you can open up all of your boxes. Chubby Chernobyls, Clouser Minnows, Woolly Buggers, and Golden Stoneflies are my favorite.
What are the Best Brown Trout Flies for Fall?
In the fall, the trout are preparing for the cold weather. Hare’s Ear Nymphs, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith’s Gnat, and Woolly Buggers work.
What are the Best Brown Trout Flies for Spring?
In the spring, brown trout want to feed. I like to throw streamers like Woolly Buggers and Clouser Minnows. I also throw big nymphs like Pat’s Rubber Legs and look to use dries like Parachute Adams and Elk Hair Caddis.
What is the Best Size Fly for Trout?
When fishing for browns, use flies in sizes 12-20. Most nymphs and dry flies fall within these sizes.
What Color Fly is Best for Trout?
Use natural colors like black, white, olive, and tan.
Conclusion
Fly fishing for brown trout requires accurate presentations and fly patterns that resemble their food. The phrase “match the hatch” should be taken seriously whenever you head to the water. Pay close attention to local hatch charts, but if you aren’t sure what they’re eating, any of the flies mentioned above will work.
