Top 5 Flies for the Caney Fork River

Whether you’re targeting Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout or Brook Trout, these flies will help you have a successful day on the water.

Caney Fork River Top 5 Flies:

1. Wooly Bugger – Mimicking a small bait fish, this artificial fly is commonly categorized as a wet fly or streamer. This fly is fished under the surface and can be fished under an indicator/bobber or by itself. Wooly Buggers come in a variety of colors. White, brown, green and black are all great colors for the Caney Fork River.

2. Griffith’s Gnat – Named after the man who created this pattern, George Griffith, this fly imitates a cluster of midges or a larger insect. This versatile fly is fished on top of the water.

3. Grasshopper – This is exactly what it sounds like. These flies, often made out of foam, mimic grasshoppers. Trout love to eat grasshoppers and other terrestrials. You can even use a grasshopper as an indicator and fish a smaller nymph below it. We call this a hopper-dropper.

4. Zebra Midge – This fly pattern is used to imitate both the pupal and nymphal stages of a wide variety of aquatic-born insects. These flies are fished under the water and should be fished under an indicator. While these flies are very tiny, they are effective.

5. Copper John – Similar to the Pheasant Tail Nymph, Copper Johns are another type of nymph. They get their name because they are often tied with copper wire. These flies come in a variety of colors. However, I have the most luck with red.

If fishing with a guide, all flies and equipment are provided.