Realistic Flies – Terrestrials – Set of 12 Flies
Realistic Flies – Terrestrials – Set of 12 Flies is your ultimate terrestrial fly collection. The set comes with 12 amazing terrestrial patterns from our Realistic Terrestrials Flies collection:
- Ant, Cinnamon in hooks #12 and #14
- Ant, Black in hooks #12 and #14
- Blue Bottle Fly in hooks #12 and #10
- Green Bottle Fly in hooks #12 and #10
- Crane Fly (Daddy Long Legs) in Dark and Natural, hook #12
- Firefly in hooks #10 and #12
These are all remarkably realistic fly patterns that imitate the real insects so well that the fish will not know the difference. These fly patterns have it all: the shape, size, colors, proportions, and overall looks of the real flies. Most importantly, they were designed so they imitate the ‘behavior’ of the real fly when in water. They were tied using high quality, floatable, and light material that has just the right weight so when they hit the water, the way they float emulates the real insect accurately. The flexibility and design of the wings and legs add crucial movement to the fly when in water. The realistic look of these flies provides that imperative advantage when fishing terrestrial patterns. The material is super sturdy – these flies were tied to last and will withstand many takes.
These realistic terrestrials are highly effective – they produce some energetic strikes!
Fly Fishing Ant Flies
Ants belong to a family Formicidae, from the order Hymenoptera (includes: ants, bees, wasps, bumblebees, etc.).
Ants are one of the most important summertime fly patterns. These insects are full of protein, making them one of the best trout food sources. Ants are rarely passed by the fish as they provide a great, nutritious meal. Ants are used for dry fly fishing but, even if they sink – they can be quite effective.
The best months for fishing with ant fly patterns is the time when they are most active in searching for food and reproducing – May through September. However, you can effectively use this pattern from April through October, sometimes well into November, in some areas. Their activity peaks during the mid-morning through the afternoon – making it the best time of day to present this fly. A great time would also be after heavy rain as rain washes them off into the river. The heavier the rain – the more chances for strikes. If the water is stained – black ant patterns will do the job.
When fishing faster, swift waters, larger patterns are recommended. For slow-moving waters, smaller patterns are more effective, especially for more selective fish. Ants can also be very deadly on still waters.
Bottle Fly Fishing
Order: Diptera, Family: Calliphoridae
Blue Bottle Fly (bluebottle fly, bottlebee) and Green Bottle Fly (greenbottle) are common flies also known as Blow Fly (Blowie). These flies are related to house fly but are larger in size – they grow to about half an inch in length. What distinguishes bottle flies from other flies is their bright, shiny metallic blue, green or black color that covers their abdomen. Like other common flies, they have large eyes, one pair of clear wings, and short antennae.
These flies can be found anywhere, including farms, fields, woods. They feed on dead animals, excrement, and open wounds of living animals. They also feed on flowers, eating nectar and pollen. These flies are like shady places and can be also found on the outer walls of buildings.
Bottle flies breed during the warm summer months, when they are most active, making it the best time for fishing these fly patterns. These are great flies to use on streams near farms and meadows, near livestock, as well as near old sheds and cabins. Breezy summer afternoons are the best times to use this pattern. As they account for a good protein serving, hungry trout are not going to pass these ‘happy meals’.
Bottle fly is a great trout dry fly that will get you some serious fish during the hot summer months!
Firefly Fly Fishing
Order: Coleoptera (beetles), family: Lampyridae
Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are not flies, they are actually winged beetles. They are smaller bugs, growing up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) in size. They glow – they emit bioluminescence light to attract mates. The way they produce light is based on chemistry. In the abdomen, fireflies have a light-producing organ that, through a series of chemical reactions, produces the famous firefly light. There are some species (living in southwestern North America) that do not produce light, but most fireflies do. Firefly light comes in a range of colors: yellow, orange, light red, and green. They spend most of their life as larvae. Some larvae are aquatic – live in the water and come out when ready for a transformation. Larvae also emit light and are carnivorous. Adults feed mostly on nectar and pollen, but some species do not eat at all during their short adult life.
Adult fireflies love moist and dump areas and can be found in the woods and around rivers, lakes, and streams. They are nocturnal beetles and can be seen blinking along the streams during summer nights and late evenings. As their activity peaks when dark, these are the best times for fishing these flies. However, during the day these patterns have proven quite effective. Firefly is considered to be one of the most productive beetle patterns. Comes summertime and you see them blinking above the river – pull out your firefly pattern and get some energetic strikes.
Crane Flies Fishing
Order: Diptera (flies), Family: Tipulidae
Crane flies (also known as ‘daddy long legs’ or ‘daddy-long-legs’) resemble large mosquitos but these flies cannot sting and are not very good fliers. This is one of the reasons they are easily blown onto the surface of the water. Their flying sometimes looks wobbly, which is why trout get easily attracted to them. Their life is mostly spent as larvae – they are adults for only 10-15 days. Adult crane flies have long thin abdomen (females have larger abdomen than males), and very long and delicate legs. Their abdomen has a characteristic V-shaped groove. They have large clear wings that span from 1.0 to 7.5 cm (approx. ½ inch to 3 inches). Crane flies are terrestrials, but mostly live around freshwater: rivers, streams, and lakes, in semi-aquatic environments.
Crane flies can be found close to the water surfaces during the early morning, but they are most active around water in the late evening, starting from sundown and sometimes well into the dark. The best conditions to fish them would be breezy weather, as they are easily carried by the wind. However, as they are weak fliers, in these conditions they rarely fly too far from shelter. The ideal would be an evening with intermittent breeze and calm. As for tactics, for fishing crane flies, the dead-drifting technique would be most effective. However, should you see that this is not productive, try skating. As crane flies prefer humid and dump conditions, fall would be a great time to fish these patterns.
Fly Fishing Terrestrial Flies
Terrestrial insects are land-bred. Some of the species of terrestrials include hoppers (grasshoppers), ants, beetles, bees, crickets, etc.
Terrestrials are one of the essential food sources for trout and other game fish during the summer months. Hot summer months are when the aquatic insects become sparse, the trout is the most active and grows the fastest. This is when terrestrials become their most important food source as a rich source of protein. A terrestrial falling into the water is a great and nutritious meal for fish as these insects are usually bulkier and heavier than aquatic insects and they provide a large calorie intake when the trout need it most.
Terrestrial fly patterns are effective from May till October, and sometimes even into November.
As terrestrials are most active and most likely to fall in the river during the day, the best time to fish these fly patterns is anytime from late morning all the way through the evening. Windy days are best as the wind ‘pushes’ them to the water. Optimal locations to present terrestrial patterns are along cut banks, grassy shorelines, or under big trees – places where fish wait for them – easy meals just dropping in. As these insects will eventually be pulled further into the river – midstream can also be a good place to present your fly.
On smaller streams fish are depending mostly on terrestrials as their food source. Small waters don’t have the high-energy riffles where the aquatic insects spend much of their lifecycles. For fishing small streams – terrestrials are a must.
Be it mid-summer, early fall, or the midst of spring – fishing terrestrial fly patterns can provide top dry-fly action!
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