Fly Fish BC Fly Patterns
"One does not exactly choose to become a purist - it is a conviction that overtakes one... I have believed for a long time that all fresh-water trout, except for a few surly and unimportant monsters down on the murky beds of deep lakes, can and should be caught on the fly." - R.H. Browne
The actual act of fly fishing, that is casting a fly over a body of water, is a small part of fly fishing as a pursuit. Perhaps even more artistic and challenging than casting a weightless artificial fly is creating them. Tying flies is no easy task. A good knowledge of entomology is helpful but only as necessary as you'd like to make it. Knowing the parts of the various flies goes a long way to acheiving verisimilitude. But other than using ridiculous words like verisimilitude I am not what you would call an accomplished fly tyers. 
I tie flies because they are expedient, and because I can create out of bits of thread, feather and fur something that resembles the intended pattern. Many are intricate, delicate little things, but the vast majority are utilitarian and as John Geirach says, "I'm as impressed as anyone with artistic fly-tying but, to be useful, flies must be thoughtlessly expendable."
View the entomology page for more information on the different insects and terrestrials we fly tyers try to imitate.
Below are a few standard patterns I use for the lakes and streams of the Kootenays. Click on image for recipe.
Stimulator
 |
Salmon fly |
Dave's Hopper |
Shaggy bugger |
Black stonefly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
October Caddis |
Elk Hair Caddis | John's River Moth | Prince Nymph |
Dragon nymph |
Klinkhammer
 |
Flash Chironomid  |
Cicada | Tom Thumb | Flying Ant |
Thumpy fly
 |
Biggie's Crayfish
|
The Adams |
Crystal Leech |
