Wet flies are fished subsurface, often on a cast of two or three flies, and can be deadly for targeting both brown and rainbow trout, especially when there’s a bit of a wave on the water. Most wet fly patterns aren’t tied to represent any natural food item in particular but their general size, shape and colour could imitate a wide variety of natural insect life trout commonly feed on – from nymphs and hatching insects, to drowned adult or terrestrial flies and even small pin fry!
Wet flies are commonly fished on floating lines just below the surface with a bushy, fully hackled pattern, also known as a bob fly, on the top dropper followed by one or two lighter dressed, smaller patterns fished below it. The bob fly is drawn through the water causing a disturbance that draws the attention of nearby trout. Fish rise to have a look at the bob fly when they’ll either take it or turn away, at which point they’ll often take one of the smaller, slimmer flies fished behind.
Below we’ll detail some of the most popular and effective wet fly patterns along with the full dressing and list of materials required to tie them. Plus a few bonus tips to add into your own tying to make your fly stand out from the rest!
1. Kate Mclaren
The Kate Mclaren is a classic Scottish wet fly dressing that every angler should have in their box! This fly excels fished on the top dropper where it’s bushy hackle creates plenty of disturbance drawing fish in to investigate. The hen hackle gives plenty of added movement when the fly is retrieved through the water.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or 12
Thread: Uni 8/0 Thread in black
Tail: Golden Pheasant Crest
Rib: French Oval Tinsel Silver
Body: Seals Fur dubbing in black
Body Hackle: Cock Saddle Hackle Black
Head Hackle: Ginger Hen Hackle
Top Tip!: Trying changing the pheasant crest tail for a few strands of Glo Brite floss in lime green or chrome yellow to add a bright hotspot to your fly.
2.Bibio
The Bibio is a traditional Irish fly pattern that can be fished on the bob or further down the cast. Tied heavier with more turns of hackle this pattern makes a good bob fly fished on the top dropper. The Bibio can also be tied sparser or in a smaller size, with fewer hackle turns and fished further down the cast. The black colour represents a wide range of insects while the red dubbing adds a nice hot spot for fish to home in on.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or 12
Thread: Uni 8/0 Thread in black
Rib: French Solid Wire fine silver
Body: Seals Fur Dubbing in black and red
Body Hackle: Cock Saddle Hackle Black
Head Hackle: Black Hen Hackle
Top Tip!: Try replacing the Seals Fur dubbing for Ice Dub of the same colours. This will give your fly added attraction by adding some sparkle and flash!
3. Black Pennel
The Black Pennel is a classic pattern that has accounted for many fish over the years. The slimmer dressing of this fly makes it a good pattern to use on the middle dropper or point fly. It’s smaller size makes it a good imitation of small midge or black buzzers and it excels during summer fly hatches where the orange tippet tail gives the trout something to pick out amongst the natural insects hatching off.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 12 or 14
Thread: Uni 8/0 Thread in black
Butt: Silver Holographic Tinsel Medium
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets
Rib: French Oval Tinsel
Body: Black Thread
Head Hackle: Black Hen Hackle
Top Tip!: Trying adding a butt of holographic silver tinsel underneath the tail or finishing the head with fire orange thread to add a hotspot and help trigger takes!
4. Teal Blue and Silver
The Teal Blue and Silver is the perfect fly for late summer and autumn when fish are homing in on small fish and pin fry. The silver tinsel body and black barred wing perfectly represents the colour and flash given off by small fry. This fly is also a proven pattern for sea trout and is commonly fished on the point of a cast of wet flies.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or 12
Thread: Uni 8/0 Thread in black
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippets
Rib: French Oval Tinsel
Body: Holographic Tinsel Large
Throat hackle: Blue Chinese Cock Hackle Fibres
Wing: Teal Duck Flank Feather
Top Tip!: Add jungle cock cheeks to give the impression of eyes and make this fly look even more like a small prey fish or fry. Finishing the head of the fly with fire orange thread can also add a hotspot for fish to home in on.
5. Greenwells Glory
The Greenwells Glory is a classic British pattern that does an excellent job of imitating olive upwing flies and mayflies. This pattern can be tied in a range of sizes to imitate the natural insects hatching off. The grey mallard wing slips imitate the wings of an adult fly meaning this pattern is particularly effective fished near the surface.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 12 or 14
Thread: Uni 8/0 Thread in olive
Rib: French Solid Wire medium gold
Body: Olive Thread
Throat hackle: Olive Hen Hackle
Wing: Mallard Duck Wing Quills
Top Tip!: Try adding a fine silver holographic tinsel rib to give the fly some added flash.
6. Yellow Owl Sedgehog
The Sedgehog is a more recently created pattern, it excels fished on the top dropper where the buoyant deer hair keeps the fly near the surface and creates maximum disturbance. This fly perfectly imitates adult sedges struggling through the surface film, drawing fish in to investigate.
Hook: Kamasan B160 size 10 or 12
Thread: Uni 8/0 Light Cahill Thead
Tag: Glo Brite Floss No.5
Body: UTC Ultra Thread 140 Yellow
Wings: Deer Short & Fine
Top Tip!: We like the yellow owl version of the Sedgehog but it can be tied in a wide range of colours. Try a black or claret Sedgehog for a more subtle pattern when fishing for wary trout or when they’re keying in on darker food items.
