Fly Fishing Flies – Types Of Flies

By Author: RiverBum
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In fly fishing, the “bait” or “lure” is the fly, hence the name. However, the term “Fly” is a general term and doesn’t refer to just insects. They are designed to mimic baitfish, insects, crustaceans, invertebrates, small animals, and other food sources a wide variety of fish species. Fly fishing flies are classified into different types, such as wet flies, dry flies, nymphs, bass flies, and streamer flies, and each has a specific purpose of catching certain types of fish.
Knowing the difference between them can help you pick the right ones that can help you catch the fish you want.

Flies were traditionally tied with natural materials, like animal fur, thread, hair, or feathers. Modern versions are made of natural and synthetic materials, and some even have both. Here's what you need to know about the different types of fly fishing flies:

Wet flies

These are fished beneath the surface and tied to look like nymph- and pupal-stage aquatic insects, worms, crayfish, fish eggs, freshwater shrimp or scuds. When looking for wet fly fishing nymphs for sale, you will generally be either nymphing with and indicator to tighlining.

The strike occurs below the water's surface, so it's important for you to sense that by observing line movement if tighlining. Using an indicator, it is far easier to see the strike.

Dry flies

These fly fishing flies are fished at or on the water's surface, and they work to mimic emerging or adult insects like midges, stoneflies, caddisflies, damselflies, and grasshoppers. The flies are tied in specific patterns to suit certain kinds of imitations. Medium to slow-action rod is appropriate for dry flies because they put them more delicately on the water and less likely to pull the fly on the hook set.

Streamers

Streamer flies are larger flies that imitate small animals like crayfish, leeches, and baitfish. They are usually fished like lures, as you will have to strip in or retrieve the lure to make it act like the fish's prey.

Fish can hit streamers hard and are often violent. Streamers are fished using two- or one-handed fast action rods, and they can be used mostly for any fish in most conditions.

Bass flies

These fly fishing flies are meant specifically for catching bass and other similar species, like the pike. High-quality ones are built to last and can be used through many casts and fish.

Where to get the right flies

RiverBum has a wide variety of flies just for you! Check out our range of dry, streamer, bass, and fly fishing nymphs for sale. The fly fishing flies we have are tied with only high-quality materials, like Waspi, Flyme, Hareline, Cascade Crest on Gamakatsu, Tiemco, and Daiichi hooks. So, fish can see that they look, drift, and taste better.

This article is written by Ricky Martin, Pro Staff at RiverBum. RiverBum is a powerful new force in the fly fishing industry. RiverBum offers premium quality flies and gear at highly competitive prices. A family owned US business, RiverBum promotes the sport of fly fishing to all folks from every walk of life.