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Below are some flies that can be purchased from Cold River Guide Service. If there are any that are not on the list that you would like, just ask and chances are they can be tied for you. All flies are $2 a piece.
Streamers
Wooly Bugger- The original wooly bugger was tied to imitate a Dobson Fly larva but it was soon discovered to be very versatile. It is now used to imitate many swimming prey animals such as crayfish, tadpoles, small fish and leeches. It is a fly that works equally well for trout and smallmouth bass.
Zonker- This is an outlandish but affective stimulator pattern that can mimic many different aquatic life forms and can catch trout as well as many warm water species of fish.
Mickey Finn- This bucktail streamer is originally credited to a Quebec tier. It is an extremely versatile fly and can be used to catch trout, bass, pike and many other fish.
Blacknose Dace- The Eastern Blacknose Dace is one of the most abundant small fish in local streams such as Great Brook and the Cold River. Need I say more.
Muddler Minnow (Marabou Muddler also available)-The muddler is another versatile fly that can be fished at the surface or underneath the water. It imitates sculpin (a small fish) and Caddis.
Lazy Sculpin- Sculpin are small fish that swim around the rocks at the bottom of many rivers including the Cold. Letting the fly sink and then lifting it is one of the recommended presentations.
Nymphs, Midges and Emergers
Rock Worm (caddis larva)- Caddis fly larva of green and tan are abundant in local streams such as the Cold River. This rock worm pattern should be fished deep among the rocks, so depending on the water conditions the traditional pattern might suffice or the bead-head pattern will be necessary.
Prince Nymph- This pattern is not intended to imitate any particular larval food source of trout, but rather takes advantage of their opportunistic feeding behavior at times. The tail can suggest a May Fly larva and the wings a Stone Fly. It is a “go to” fly for many people when there is no surface activity.
Zug Bug- This fly was first tied in the 1930's in Pennsylvania by Cliff Zug. It imitates a caddis fly larva, which are abundant in the Cold River and other local streams, but it can easily resemble other macroinvertebrates.
Wooly Worm- This is another ubiquitous pattern that can imitate many aquatic organisms but also can imitate terrestrial insects such as a wooly bear or caterpillar. This pattern can catch both trout and bass.
Krystal Pauper- This nymph is an attractor pattern and is a take off on the Prince Nymph. The high stiff goose biot wings make it a good downstream offering.
Marsh Hare’s Ear- This fly has been in existence for 150 years and it's believed it was first tied in Europe. It has been tweaked many times and all versions remain popular trout flies. This one is modeled after the guides choice and includes a gold rib and shiny wing casing.
Siri’s Stonefly Nymph- Throughout summer and into fall stonefly exoskeletons can be found on rocks along many local rivers including the Cold. In fact a large percentage of the diet of trout in the Cold River in August is stoneflies. This fly is weighted and is meant to be drifted low and slow.
Pheasant Tail Nymph- This fly imitates a wide range of macroinvertebrate larva that are food for trout, but in particular it is a nice imitation for the larval stage of a blue winged olive. The blue winged olive hatches on local streams and large rivers including the Connecticut. $2.00
Serendipity- This simple but effective pattern is intended to imitate a midge (larva) but is tied in bright colors such as red. It can also suggest a small caddis or scud under certain water condition.
Dry Flies
Adams- The Adams is a classic “crossover” fly. Although it was originally tied as a Caddis imitation, it works well as a Mayfly imitation as well. Pay attention to the size of flies hatching from the water and choose your Adams wisely. (a parachute Adams is available at the same price)
Yellow Humpy-The Yellow Humpy is thought to have originated in the 1940's in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a fly that has high buoyancy so it is a dry that stays afloat better than some in rougher water. It is an attractor pattern that can imitate larger May Flies or smaller Stone Flies.
Elk Hair Caddis- This is a classic fly pattern that imitates the adult form of the Caddis Fly. This fly can be fished in the following three ways: a dead drift dry, sub-surface swimmer or you can make it skip across the surface as if trying to break the surface film or lay eggs. There are several caddis hatches on the Cold River including a nice October hatch.
Ginger Deer Hair Caddis- This shade of caddis imitates a Northern Case Maker, which inhabits New England rivers. This is one that may be good to try at dusk or even later.
Little Green Stonefly- This is a New England imitation that is a great spring pattern to use during those time periods in between major hatches. Their egg-laying flights usually occur during subdued light in the early evening.
Yellow Stimulator-This fly (pictured at the top of the page) is a pattern that most closely resembles a stonefly, but as the name implies it is designed to be an attractor pattern.
Blue-winged Olive CDC- This pattern imitates the small May Fly known as a Blue-winged Olive. It is one of the more prolific hatches in our area and continues into the fall.
Hendrickson- This famous fly originated in the Catskill Mountains of New York in 1915 and it was first fished on the Beaver Kill River. I have substituted a few materials for this May Fly pattern. In New Hampshire and Vermont the Hatch normally happens in May.
March Brown- This is a classic pattern that imitates a large May Fly that has a hatch season from late May to late June in New England. All trout species will take this fly. (a March Brown wet fly pattern is offered at the same price)
Sulphur (PMD/PED)- In the east, as late spring transitions into summer and the hendricksons have completed their hatch, the sulphur begin. This May Fly will hatch on some rivers into early July. (a parachute version is also available)
Ginger Quill-The key to this fly is the stripped peacock quill body which gives the appearance of the segmented body of a may fly. In the northeast this is a good choice throughout May.
Terrestrials
Moving into the summer months and even into early fall beetle, grasshopper and ant patterns can be very productive, especially on bodies of water that have vegetation that hangs over the water. A foam hopper pattern, two ant patterns (one foam and one dubbed body) and a foam beetle pattern are available.
Streamers
Wooly Bugger- The original wooly bugger was tied to imitate a Dobson Fly larva but it was soon discovered to be very versatile. It is now used to imitate many swimming prey animals such as crayfish, tadpoles, small fish and leeches. It is a fly that works equally well for trout and smallmouth bass.
Zonker- This is an outlandish but affective stimulator pattern that can mimic many different aquatic life forms and can catch trout as well as many warm water species of fish.
Mickey Finn- This bucktail streamer is originally credited to a Quebec tier. It is an extremely versatile fly and can be used to catch trout, bass, pike and many other fish.
Blacknose Dace- The Eastern Blacknose Dace is one of the most abundant small fish in local streams such as Great Brook and the Cold River. Need I say more.
Muddler Minnow (Marabou Muddler also available)-The muddler is another versatile fly that can be fished at the surface or underneath the water. It imitates sculpin (a small fish) and Caddis.
Lazy Sculpin- Sculpin are small fish that swim around the rocks at the bottom of many rivers including the Cold. Letting the fly sink and then lifting it is one of the recommended presentations.
Nymphs, Midges and Emergers
Rock Worm (caddis larva)- Caddis fly larva of green and tan are abundant in local streams such as the Cold River. This rock worm pattern should be fished deep among the rocks, so depending on the water conditions the traditional pattern might suffice or the bead-head pattern will be necessary.
Prince Nymph- This pattern is not intended to imitate any particular larval food source of trout, but rather takes advantage of their opportunistic feeding behavior at times. The tail can suggest a May Fly larva and the wings a Stone Fly. It is a “go to” fly for many people when there is no surface activity.
Zug Bug- This fly was first tied in the 1930's in Pennsylvania by Cliff Zug. It imitates a caddis fly larva, which are abundant in the Cold River and other local streams, but it can easily resemble other macroinvertebrates.
Wooly Worm- This is another ubiquitous pattern that can imitate many aquatic organisms but also can imitate terrestrial insects such as a wooly bear or caterpillar. This pattern can catch both trout and bass.
Krystal Pauper- This nymph is an attractor pattern and is a take off on the Prince Nymph. The high stiff goose biot wings make it a good downstream offering.
Marsh Hare’s Ear- This fly has been in existence for 150 years and it's believed it was first tied in Europe. It has been tweaked many times and all versions remain popular trout flies. This one is modeled after the guides choice and includes a gold rib and shiny wing casing.
Siri’s Stonefly Nymph- Throughout summer and into fall stonefly exoskeletons can be found on rocks along many local rivers including the Cold. In fact a large percentage of the diet of trout in the Cold River in August is stoneflies. This fly is weighted and is meant to be drifted low and slow.
Pheasant Tail Nymph- This fly imitates a wide range of macroinvertebrate larva that are food for trout, but in particular it is a nice imitation for the larval stage of a blue winged olive. The blue winged olive hatches on local streams and large rivers including the Connecticut. $2.00
Serendipity- This simple but effective pattern is intended to imitate a midge (larva) but is tied in bright colors such as red. It can also suggest a small caddis or scud under certain water condition.
Dry Flies
Adams- The Adams is a classic “crossover” fly. Although it was originally tied as a Caddis imitation, it works well as a Mayfly imitation as well. Pay attention to the size of flies hatching from the water and choose your Adams wisely. (a parachute Adams is available at the same price)
Yellow Humpy-The Yellow Humpy is thought to have originated in the 1940's in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a fly that has high buoyancy so it is a dry that stays afloat better than some in rougher water. It is an attractor pattern that can imitate larger May Flies or smaller Stone Flies.
Elk Hair Caddis- This is a classic fly pattern that imitates the adult form of the Caddis Fly. This fly can be fished in the following three ways: a dead drift dry, sub-surface swimmer or you can make it skip across the surface as if trying to break the surface film or lay eggs. There are several caddis hatches on the Cold River including a nice October hatch.
Ginger Deer Hair Caddis- This shade of caddis imitates a Northern Case Maker, which inhabits New England rivers. This is one that may be good to try at dusk or even later.
Little Green Stonefly- This is a New England imitation that is a great spring pattern to use during those time periods in between major hatches. Their egg-laying flights usually occur during subdued light in the early evening.
Yellow Stimulator-This fly (pictured at the top of the page) is a pattern that most closely resembles a stonefly, but as the name implies it is designed to be an attractor pattern.
Blue-winged Olive CDC- This pattern imitates the small May Fly known as a Blue-winged Olive. It is one of the more prolific hatches in our area and continues into the fall.
Hendrickson- This famous fly originated in the Catskill Mountains of New York in 1915 and it was first fished on the Beaver Kill River. I have substituted a few materials for this May Fly pattern. In New Hampshire and Vermont the Hatch normally happens in May.
March Brown- This is a classic pattern that imitates a large May Fly that has a hatch season from late May to late June in New England. All trout species will take this fly. (a March Brown wet fly pattern is offered at the same price)
Sulphur (PMD/PED)- In the east, as late spring transitions into summer and the hendricksons have completed their hatch, the sulphur begin. This May Fly will hatch on some rivers into early July. (a parachute version is also available)
Ginger Quill-The key to this fly is the stripped peacock quill body which gives the appearance of the segmented body of a may fly. In the northeast this is a good choice throughout May.
Terrestrials
Moving into the summer months and even into early fall beetle, grasshopper and ant patterns can be very productive, especially on bodies of water that have vegetation that hangs over the water. A foam hopper pattern, two ant patterns (one foam and one dubbed body) and a foam beetle pattern are available.
