Hook: Spring is when the big trout make mistakes, and having the right flies in your box can mean the difference between a slow day and your personal best catch. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five fly patterns I rely on every spring to consistently hook big fish.

1. Balanced Leech

• A stillwater staple, fished under an indicator for a natural, irresistible movement.
• Best used in early spring when fish are holding lower in the water column.
• Pro Tip: If the fish seem sluggish, slow down your presentation or give your line a sharp pull to trigger a reaction strike.

2. Chronomids

• Make up over 80% of a trout’s diet in spring.
• As soon as you see chronomid shucks on the water, switch over.
• Best fished under an indicator, about a foot off the bottom.
• Pro Tip: Match the size, shape, and color of the emerging pupae for the best results.

3. Damsel Nymph

• Key food source as water warms and vegetation grows.
• Best fished in late spring, near weed beds and shallows.
• Strip and retrieve with slow, steady pulls to mimic their natural swimming movement.
• Pro Tip: Use a mix of short strips and pauses to create realistic movement.

4. Water Boatman & Backswimmers

• Often overlooked, but trout absolutely crush them.
• Most effective on warm afternoons in early to mid-spring.
• Use short, erratic strips to imitate their darting movement through the water.
• Pro Tip: Big fish key in on these flies—don’t ignore them.

5. Blobs & Boobies

• Trigger aggressive strikes without imitating anything specific.
• Effective throughout the entire spring, especially when trout ignore natural patterns.
• Fish them under an indicator or retrieve them with a slow, steady pull.
• Pro Tip: Pair a static blob under an indicator with an actively retrieved leech or damsel for maximum success.

Spring is one of the best times to be on the water, and having the right flies at the right time can make all the difference. The Balanced Leech, Chronomid, Damsel Nymph, Water Boatman, and Blob should be in every stillwater angler’s fly box.

Call to Action:
Which of these flies is your go-to for spring fishing? Let me know in the comments or send me a message. And if you want to see these flies in action, follow me on Instagram at @StillwaterEdge for real-time updates from the water.

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Tight lines, and I’ll see you on the water