Although the food options in Little Pine are many and varied a surprisingly small number of flies are needed to successfully fish it. The reason for this is that most of the fishing is sight fishing where a trout is clearly feeding and visible, and most of the food is approximately the same size. A brown seals’ fur nymph or a hares ear nymph in size 12 will represent the majority of trout foods and will catch fish in a variety of circumstances. The exact pattern is not essential. Stick caddis, scud and wet beetle patterns all have their followers. Small wets eg. woolly worms, fur flies and other “impressionist” patterns will catch fish in sight fishing situations. 

Dry flies work extremely well in sight fishing situations, even if the trout are not obviously surface feeding. Tailing and cruising fish will rise and take a surface fly giving the angler unforgettable pleasure. Again the pattern is not critical and I use mayfly patterns but any number of non-descript will do the job. For searching (or when frogs are on the menu) a few larger wets round off the fly collection. Fur flies, woolly worms, woolly buggers, yetis, matukas are all useful in this regard, faith being the best guide as to which one to use.

           Wet Fly Selection

           Dry Fly Selection