The Ultimate 20 Wet Fly Patterns Used In The US

Wet fly fishing holds a special place in American fly fishing culture. While many fly fishers lean towards dry flies or nymphs, wet flies are equally effective and often more versatile, especially when fishing below the water’s surface. Wet flies mimic a wide range of aquatic insects, emerging nymphs, or small baitfish that fish feed on in rivers, lakes, and streams across the country.

In this guide, we’ll cover 20 classic and modern wet fly patterns widely used in the US, providing you with the historical background and practical uses of each pattern. These flies have earned their place in American fly fishing lore and continue to help anglers land fish year after year.

Why Wet Flies Are Popular in the US

Wet flies are popular in the US for several reasons. First, they are perfect for targeting fish that are feeding beneath the surface, a behavior common among trout and other species. Secondly, they are often easier for beginners to fish because they rely more on drift and less on precise casting techniques. Wet flies can be fished in rivers, lakes, streams, and reservoirs, making them highly adaptable to various water conditions across the country.

How Wet Flies Differ from Other Patterns

Unlike dry flies, which float on the water’s surface, wet flies are designed to sink and move with the current, imitating drowned insects or small aquatic creatures. Wet flies often imitate emerging insects like caddisflies or mayflies, but they can also mimic small baitfish or even egg-laying insects.

The Ultimate 20 Wet Fly Patterns Used in the US

Let’s dive into the top 20 wet fly patterns commonly used in the United States, detailing their history, unique characteristics, and how they can help you catch more fish.

1. Woolly Bugger

The Woolly Bugger is one of the most well-known wet flies in the US. Originally developed by Russell Blessing in Pennsylvania in the 1960s, this fly can imitate everything from leeches to baitfish. Its marabou tail and hackled body create a ton of movement underwater, making it effective for trout, bass, and even saltwater species. The Woolly Bugger is a versatile workhorse of American fly fishing.

2. Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail

The Pheasant Tail nymph, originally developed by Englishman Frank Sawyer, has a soft hackle variation that’s widely used in the US as a wet fly. The soft hackle version adds more movement, making it a better choice for swinging through currents. It imitates emerging mayfly or caddis nymphs and is a go-to fly in both fast-moving rivers and calm streams across the US.

3. Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle

The Hare’s Ear is a classic nymph pattern, but in the US, a soft hackle version is often fished as a wet fly. The scruffy appearance of the hare’s fur mimics a variety of aquatic insects in different life stages, making it a must-have in American fly boxes. This pattern is especially effective in the spring and fall, when fish are actively feeding on emerging insects.

4. Zug Bug

The Zug Bug was developed by Cliff Zug in Pennsylvania in the 1930s. This wet fly pattern is designed to imitate caddis nymphs or small stoneflies. Its iridescent peacock herl body adds flash, making it highly attractive to trout in rivers and streams. It’s commonly used in the western US for both trout and steelhead, often fished on a dead drift or swung through riffles.

5. Prince Nymph

The Prince Nymph, originally tied by Doug Prince in the 1940s, is technically a nymph, but it’s often fished as a wet fly in the US. Its biot tails, peacock body, and white wing buds make it a versatile pattern that imitates stonefly nymphs, caddis, or general attractor patterns. It’s especially effective in fast water and is popular with anglers targeting both trout and steelhead in rivers across the West and Midwest.

6. Partridge and Green

The Partridge and Green is a classic soft hackle pattern adapted for American waters, where it’s used to mimic emerging mayflies and caddisflies. The green body and soft partridge hackle create a lot of natural movement in the water. It’s especially effective in rivers where trout feed on emerging insects.

7. Wet Blue Wing Olive

The Blue Wing Olive is one of the most common mayfly species in the US, and this wet fly variation is an effective imitation of its nymph and emerger stages. Typically fished during spring and fall hatches, this pattern is often used on rivers like the Madison and Delaware, where trout feast on BWO emergers just below the surface.

8. Red Fox Squirrel Nymph

Created by American fly fishing legend Dave Whitlock, the Red Fox Squirrel Nymph is a deadly wet fly for imitating mayfly and caddis nymphs. Its bushy tail and natural-looking body make it ideal for targeting trout in rivers and streams throughout the US, especially in the spring and fall. Whitlock designed this fly to excel in all water conditions, and it continues to be a go-to pattern for anglers across the country.

9. Clouser Minnow

Although the Clouser Minnow is technically a streamer, it’s often fished as a wet fly in deeper water. Bob Clouser developed this pattern in the 1980s for smallmouth bass fishing on the Susquehanna River. The weighted eyes help it sink quickly, and its sleek profile imitates baitfish, making it popular not just for bass, but also for trout, pike, and even saltwater species. This pattern is essential for anglers fishing larger rivers and lakes.

10. Soft Hackle Emerger

The Soft Hackle Emerger is a more modern fly pattern developed to imitate mayfly or caddis emergers just as they begin to rise through the water column. In the US, it’s often used in slow-moving rivers where trout key in on insects that are about to hatch. The soft hackle adds movement, while the sparse body makes it look like a vulnerable insect ready to be eaten.

11. Green Weenie

A popular pattern in the Appalachian region, the Green Weenie was developed in Pennsylvania as an attractor wet fly. Its bright green chenille body and simple design imitate inchworms, caddis larvae, or green-bodied nymphs. This wet fly is a go-to for small mountain streams, particularly in the eastern US, and is a reliable pattern for catching brook trout and rainbow trout.

12. Crackleback

The Crackleback is a unique wet fly developed in the Ozark region of the United States by Ed Story. It’s an emerger pattern that mimics midges or small mayflies. This fly can be fished on top, as an emerger, or below the surface as a wet fly. It’s particularly effective on tailwaters like the White River in Arkansas, where trout feed heavily on emerging insects.

13. North Country Spider

This fly, adapted from traditional British patterns, has been widely adopted in the US, especially in the Northeast. The North Country Spider features soft hackles and a sparse body, making it an excellent fly for imitating emerging insects in slower-moving waters. The fly’s effectiveness lies in its simplicity and its ability to move naturally with the current.

14. Soft Hackle Hares Ear

A variation of the Hare’s Ear nymph, this soft hackle version adds more movement to the fly and makes it an ideal choice for American streams and rivers where trout are feeding on emerging insects. Its buggy appearance, enhanced by the soft hackle, makes it an all-around wet fly that can be fished in various conditions.

15. Yellow Sally Wet Fly

The Yellow Sally is a well-known stonefly species in the US, and the wet fly version of this pattern is a favorite among anglers targeting trout in Western rivers like the Madison or Snake. The bright yellow body mimics the adult stonefly, while the soft hackle gives it an enticing movement underwater. It’s especially effective during summer stonefly hatches.

16. Copper John

Designed by John Barr in the 1990s, the Copper John is one of the most popular wet flies in the US. It was initially developed as a nymph, but its fast-sinking copper body and flashy design make it a great wet fly for deeper waters. It imitates stonefly nymphs or general attractor patterns, and its weight helps get it down to where the fish are feeding.

17. Elk Hair Caddis Emerger

Though the Elk Hair Caddis is best known as a dry fly, its emerger variation is fished subsurface, where it mimics emerging caddisflies. This pattern is widely used in the western US during caddis hatches, and its elk hair wing and buggy body make it effective in rivers and streams. Fish it during the evening caddis hatches to draw strikes from hungry trout.

18. Soft Hackle Beadhead Pheasant Tail

This version of the Pheasant Tail nymph adds a soft hackle for extra movement and a beadhead for quicker sinking. It’s a highly effective wet fly for trout fishing in rivers like the Madison, Yellowstone, or Delaware, where trout are often found feeding in deeper pools or riffles. The Soft Hackle Beadhead Pheasant Tail imitates mayfly nymphs or other emerging insects and has become a staple in American fly boxes for its versatility and effectiveness in different water conditions.

19. Mickey Finn

The Mickey Finn is a bright, flashy wet fly with a storied history in the US. Originally developed in the early 20th century, this fly imitates small baitfish and is often used in larger rivers, lakes, and even saltwater environments. Its combination of red and yellow bucktail makes it highly visible and effective at attracting trout, bass, and pike. The Mickey Finn has proven itself as a must-have when targeting aggressive, predatory fish.

20. Soft Hackle Copper John

A wet fly adaptation of the famous Copper John nymph, the Soft Hackle Copper John adds a soft hackle to enhance movement in the water, making it perfect for wet fly fishing. Its copper wire body helps it sink quickly to the strike zone, while the soft hackle pulses as the fly moves through the water, imitating an emerging insect. This pattern is popular across the US in both still and moving waters, where it can mimic a wide variety of nymphs or emergers.

Tips for Fishing Wet Flies Effectively

Now that you’re familiar with these top 20 wet fly patterns used in the US, let’s talk about how to fish them effectively. Wet flies often require a slightly different approach compared to dry flies or nymphs.

Presentation Matters

Wet flies are all about presenting the fly naturally in the water. Focus on letting the fly drift with the current, imitating an insect or small fish as it moves naturally through the water. This is especially important in rivers and streams where fish are used to seeing food drifting by.

Swinging the Fly

One of the most effective techniques for fishing wet flies is to swing them across the current. Cast across the stream and let the fly drift downstream in an arc. As it swings, the fly will move through the water column, imitating a rising insect or swimming baitfish. This technique works wonders on rivers where trout are actively feeding on emerging insects.

Dead Drift

For some wet flies, a dead drift presentation works best, where the fly floats naturally with the current without added tension from the line. This is particularly effective when fishing flies like the Hare’s Ear or Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, which imitate drifting nymphs or emergers.

Conclusion: Mastering Wet Fly Fishing in the US

Wet flies have a rich history in American fly fishing and continue to be essential for anglers targeting fish below the surface. Whether you’re fishing mountain streams in the Appalachians or targeting trout in the large rivers of the West, these 20 wet fly patterns provide a solid foundation for success.

Each pattern has its strengths, from the versatile Woolly Bugger to the subtle Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, and by incorporating these flies into your fishing arsenal, you’ll be prepared for a wide range of conditions and fish species. With the right presentation and a bit of patience, these wet flies can help you land more fish and enjoy a deeper connection to the art of fly fishing.

FAQs

1. Can I fish wet flies year-round in the US?

Yes! Wet flies are effective throughout the year, though they tend to be especially productive in spring and fall when aquatic insects are more active below the surface.

2. What is the best water condition for wet fly fishing?

Wet flies work well in a variety of conditions, but they’re particularly effective in faster water, riffles, and during times when fish are feeding subsurface. They can also be effective in stillwater settings like lakes or ponds.

3. How do I know when to strike when fishing wet flies?

Unlike dry fly fishing, where you can see the take, wet fly fishing requires you to feel the strike. Keep a close eye on your line, and when you feel a pull or see the line hesitate, it’s time to strike.

4. Are wet flies good for beginner fly fishers?

Yes, wet flies are excellent for beginners because they often don’t require the perfect cast or delicate presentation that dry flies demand. They’re more forgiving and can be fished using simple techniques like the swing or dead drift.

5. Do I need a sinking line for wet fly fishing?

While a sinking line can help in deeper water, it’s not always necessary. Many wet fly patterns can be fished effectively with floating lines, especially when you use weighted flies or longer leaders to help the fly sink to the right depth.