Step up Your Fishing Game With the Best Fishing Flies
Fly fishing is a fun, clever sports activity that requires precision and attention to detail. To land a catch, you need to outsmart the fish to catch it using a wide array of fishing flies. These flies look like local insects and baitfish that various fish enjoy. The color, size, and patterns of these flies trick fishes into believing they are real insects or bait, which can help you catch them easily! After extensive research, we found the best fishing flies a fisherman could ask for, including the impressive Croch Fishing Flies Kit. This kit has 120 pieces of many different types of flies and a waterproof box to keep them all in.
Our Top Picks For Fishing Flies
The Best Fishing Flies
Best Overall
The Croch Fishing Flies Kit comes with lightweight flies that are small enough to draw the attention of the fish without sinking too far into the water. The flies are hand-tied by professionals to achieve extreme strength and experience. They also contain high-quality carbon steel hooks that are sharp enough to hook the fish and not let go. The kit contains flies of different styles and colors, including 21 different styles, six hook sizes, and five types of flies to ensure you have a wide variety of flies to choose from. All the flies have vibrant colors, so you and the fish can easily spot them. We have rated this product as our best overall because of the wide assortment of colors and styles it provides.
Pros
- Large variety of flies
- Comes with a waterproof box
- Vibrant colors for visibility
Cons
- Quite small in size
Best for Beginners
When it comes to fly fishing, it’s better to be safe than sorry. This is why having a large variety of fishing flies is never a bad idea. The Ventures Fly Co. Fishing Flies Assortment brings you two fly boxes that include several types of flies. Featuring everything from wet flies, dry flies, nymphs, streamers, wooly, buggers, and terrestrials–this kit is great for beginners and those who are looking to gift an experienced friend. It comes with instruction cards for all flies and details on how to correctly install them on your fishing line.
Pros
- Features a wide assortment of fishing flies
- Each fly comes with instructions
- Accommodates a variety of fish
Cons
- Boxes are bulky and inconvenient
Best Variety
There is no such thing as too many flies. Hence, this FISHINGSIR 120-piece fly kit comes with a large selection of fishing flies that include but are not limited to wooly buggers, elk hair caddis, and egg flies. You get the option to choose from various types of flies, including wet flies, dry flies, and nymphs–and to top things off, these hand-tied flies are perfect for bringing out the most stubborn fish, including a large trout. The different shapes and colors of the flies allow you to match them with the hatch at any given time. Each kit also comes in a secure ABS plastic box that is easy to carry around.
Pros
- Waterproof fly box
- Large variety of flies
- Hand-tied flies
Cons
- Some flies are too delicate
Best for Budgeting
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the BASSDASH Fly Fishing Flies Kit is a great choice. Although it contains a lesser number of flies as compared to other kits, they are still enough to help you catch a hefty number of fish. This 64-piece fishing fly kit includes streamers, leeches, wet flies, dry flies, terrestrials, and caddisfly dries. All of these flies come in vibrant colors and resemble different fish bait and plants that can lure even the sharpest fish. To help you organize your things, these flies come in a plastic box with magnetic fasteners for easy accessibility. You can use these flies to attract different kinds of fish, including steelhead, bass, trout, and panfish.
Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Flies come in vibrant colors
- Come in an organization box
Cons
- Magnetic fasteners may become weak
Best Quality
If you’ve been using fishing flies for some time now, you may recognize how crucial it is to have flies that resemble different bugs and insects. The Piscifun Fly Fishing Flies Kit gives you exactly that advantage. While this 12-piece kit may not have a variety of options, all its flies are recognizable and distinguishable. With the resemblance these flies have to real fish bait, you’re bound to get a bulk of fish in no time! They come with strong and sharp hooks to promote a more efficient catch rate. Each fly is also lightweight and small enough to float on water.
Pros
- Great for trout and bass
- Hooks are easy to connect
- Lightweight and can easily float on water
Cons
- Loses buoyancy over time
Fishing Flies Buying Guide
Now that we’ve gone over several different options of fishing flies, it is time to determine which fishing fly would be the best for your unique experience!
What You’ll Need
When going on a fishing trip, you will need some basic fly fishing equipment on you. While you may come across many types of fishing gear that feature fun or bright colors, you probably won’t need them.
Your basic equipment should include:
- Fishing line
- Fly rod
- Fly reel
- Fishing flies
Many fishing fly gear kits come with these items and some more. If you’re interested in getting extra items, you’re more than welcome to get them.
The Purpose of Fly Rods and Reels
The fly rod and fly reel are two of the most important items in your fishing gear. Fly rods come in many different sizes and can cost around $50-$1000. The disparity in this range is due to different materials being used for the construction of the rod. You will need to choose a rod for yourself depending on what kind of fishing you will be doing. It is generally suggested to go for a graphite rod which is not very expensive and can get your work done just as easily.
Just like fly rods, fly reels also come in various sizes and makes. On the cheaper end, we have plastic reels that don’t last long and can easily break. It is always advised to stay away from these reels and invest in a metal fly reel that is much sturdier and will last a long time. The most important thing to note when buying a fly rod and reel is the weight of the rod. You can also opt for a combination of fly rod and reel as they will be matched and might even cost you less than getting two separate pieces.
Fly Fishing vs Regular Fishing: Know the Difference
Fly fishing is different from regular fishing in many ways. Here are some features that set them apart:
- In regular fishing, you weigh at the end of the line which helps you land your bait wherever you want. Meanwhile, with fly fishing, there is no weight at the end of the line.
- In regular fishing, your bait dunks in the water and is then grabbed by fish (or not). When fly fishing, your bait has to float on water, as if it were a bug.
Types of Fishing Flies
Choosing the right kind of fishing fly kit means choosing an appropriate fly. Here are some of the most commonly used flies you can add to your fly box:
Parachute adams
This is a versatile, attractive dry fly that is quite commonly used on rivers. It has a dark body that can be easily spotted in daylight or even in the evening. Easy to float on water, it imitates different kinds of small flies, including mayflies and caddisfly.
Wooly bugger
Wooly bugger is a traditional fly that is used to catch cold-water species like trout. You will find a wooly bugger in almost every fishing fly kit. Even though it is an old fly, it has the perfect appearance and moves for catching several fish at a time. It has a pulsating motion which attracts a lot of fish.
Elk hair caddis
This style of fly is optimal for turbulent waters due to its feathery body that allows it to remain atop water no matter the turbulence. It has a dark body that fish can easily spot, and as its name suggests it imitates the caddisfly–which is known to bounce on the water’s surface.
People Also Asked
Which flies should I buy for fly fishing?
Normally, nymphs, dry flies, and wet flies are quite common for fly fishing. You can go for dry flies and nymphs up to a size of 16. In other cases, you may opt for dry flies of size 20. Having different sizes can yield better results while you fish, and keeping a variety on hand will allow you to switch out your fishing flies in the act.
Why do you need separate rods for freshwater and saltwater fishing?
There are different rods for freshwater and saltwater bodies because of the composition of the water. You cannot use freshwater rods in saltwater because of the high quantities of salt. However, you can use saltwater rods in freshwater. To promote visibility, you should keep different rods for both water sources.
Which style of fishing fly is the best for catching fish?
The most successful fly in landing heaps of fish is the wooly bugger. As an old fly known for its resistance to restless water, it can help you catch fish even when there is higher turbulence in the water.
How can I tell if my fishing fly needs replacement?
Generally speaking, you’ll know when your fishing fly needs replacement if it shows signs of general wear and tear. Other signs you should replace your fishing fly (or consider swapping it out with another size or color) are a lack of biting or a general lack of pull when you finally get a bite. Since certain sizes and species of fish will call for different flies, you should research which unique fly will yield a higher catch rate for that specific fish.
Will I attract more fish if I go fly fishing in a large group?
Since there will be more bait out on the water, it wouldn’t be at all uncommon to experience a larger (and quicker!) catch rate if you went fly fishing in a group. If you have no one to go with, consider joining a local fishing group!