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Top Ten December Fly Patterns
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Date: 01/01/2025
It’s that time of the year again when the fish move out of their fast water holding areas and into the deeper slower runs where they can use less energy and feed lazily. If you haven’t fished much in the winter it can almost be easier than the summertime. In the winter you know exactly what type of water the fish are holding in, and there aren’t as many options of bugs for fish to eat. Your entire winter fly box can consist of some worms, eggs, brassies, a few midge variations and you’re pretty much good to go on any given day. Here are my top ten flies for December in no particular order.
Worm imitations work awesome in the wintertime, and the weight on the wire worm will help get your flies down deep where the fish are holding.
The Peach Unreal Egg
This is a great egg pattern with a light veil over an orange bead that turns translucent in the water and looks just like the real thing.
The Beadhead Brassie
A simple pattern that always produces fish in the winter months.
The Griffiths Gnat
This midge cluster imitation is probably the only dry fly you’ll need during December, as midges are going to be the only thing hatching.
The Soft Hackle Pink Firebead Sowbug
Is it a sowbug, a scud or an egg? Doesn’t matter fish like it.
The Midge Mess Emerger
Sometimes a little flash can help, and sometimes you get bored of casting Griffiths Gnats.
The Tailwater Tiny
A slight variation of a zebra midge that can always catch a fish in December.
The Blue Psycho Prince
I don’t know why blue seems to work during the winter months but it does, and this is a good fly for it.
The Dark Poxyback Microstone
This is a great winter fly for any of the freestone rivers, as the stoneflies are always in the system.
The Red D-Midge
This fly always seems to work. With a little bit of flash and some red translucent beads in the thorax it will usually get some fish to eat.