Dry Fly Innovations

If you are a die hard fly fishing enthusiast who likes to dry fly fish Idaho in late fall and winter conditions, than I have the perfect weapon for you.  Dry Fly Innovations is proud to introduce the “Miracle” fly box from that is equipped with every fly that you would ever need on the South Fork of the Boise River or any low elevation rivers.  There is one major misconception when it comes to dry fly fishing Idaho and that is when the big hoppers and large stimulator patterns are finished at the end of the summer, it is time to put the gear away until next year.  Wait!!  There is a whole season for Idaho fly fishing enthusiast that takes place in the late fall and into the winter until there is ice floating on the river.  It is a micro world for bug hatches such as the Blue Wing Olive (emerger, hatching emerger, and adults) and midges galore.  It is in my opinion the best time to dry fly fish Idaho because there is no other anglers and it is just you going to battle with big South Fork of the Boise River trout.

The “Miracle” fly box comes in a Umpqua Pro Series box (Small-  4.5″ x 3.35″ x 1.5″ ) that is filled with 6 dozen flies that you will never see anywhere on this planet.  The “Miracle” was designed with 35 years of dry fly fishing Idaho in the late season.  Nate Brumley (owner of Dry Fly Innovations) has been chasing trout around in late fall/winter since he moved to Boise (originally from White Bird, Idaho) and he is sharing his fly selections to anyone that is willing to brave the elements.  Dry fly fishing Idaho never stops and with the help of the “Miracle” fly box you will never put your fly pole away.  If you are skeptical of dry fly fishing Idaho in the late fall/winter just grab a “Miracle” box and put it to the test.  Check out Fly Magic: Fishing with Blue Wing Olive, it was filmed on December 2, 2008 if you need a little inspiration to go chase trout around with a fly pole in the dead of winter.

The “Colossal” from Dry Fly Innovations is the total dry fly fishing system from ice off the rivers and lakes to ice on.  This box equips you to dry fly fish Idaho in all mountain elevations to low rivers such as the South Fork of the Boise River, Owyhee River, and South Fork of the Snake River.  If you are heading anywhere to fly fish, the “Colossal” should be in your fly vest because you will be prepared for any species of fish that Idaho has to offer.  Dry fly fishing in Idaho never stops (if you’re a die hard), and that is why the “Colossal” is essential for all dry fly fishing in Idaho and throughout the northwest.  From giant stone fly hatches to emerger and midge hatches, the “Colossal” has you covered for any hatch.  The “Colossal” is peace of mind when dry fly fishing Idaho because with 144 hand-crafted, durable, and amazing flies you cannot go wrong.

Dry Fly Innovations created the “Colossal” with one thought in mind, and that was to bring the most comprehensive collection of dry flies to fly fishing enthusiast across the globe.  The “Colossal” box is the Umpqua Pro Guide Series, unquestionably the finest fly box available.  It is a 2-sided, waterproof box loaded with custom features such as slotted foam, see-through plastic construction for easy fly identification, and it is light and nearly indestructible.  The “Colossal” comes with 12 dozen of the most premier, field tested, and proven flies that are absolute fish catching machines.  Dry Fly Innovations offers the “Colossal” in three colors (green, blue, and orange).  If you are serious about dry fly fishing, then I would highly recommend the “Colossal” to any angler because it will equip you to go toe to toe with all trout throughout Idaho and the northwest.  If you are planning to dry fly fish Idaho anytime throughout the year, put the “Colossal” to the test; I guarantee you will be saying, “There he is”!!

One of the great summer season attractor patterns that has consistently caught and landed big fish is the Orange Humpy.  Like all Dry Fly Innovations humpy patterns, the Orange Humpy is big, plump, and meaty, with beautiful orange overtones on the abdomen and wings.  The Orange Humpy will float perfectly in the water with the hook down and wing up and because the wing is tied with dyed black elk hair it will float like a cork.  You can effectively dry fly fish Idaho with the Orange Humpy on all low elevation rivers and tail waters throughout the summer fly fishing season.  You could also use the Orange Humpy in the early spring because in Idaho we have an orange stone fly that hatches, which this fly could imitate.

Dry Fly Innovations ties this fly in four sizes (#16, #14, #12, and #10).  While dry fly fishing Idaho with the Orange Humpy you would not be targeting any specific hatch or trying to match any hatch, it is a pure attractor fly that is fished just like a stimulator.  You can effectively catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer, but the Orange Humpy is not designed to fish at high elevation lakes.  If you are willing to catch big trout while dry fly fishing Idaho, than the Orange Humpy is a great fly to use all throughout the summer seasons.

If you are a fly fishing enthusiast who likes to fish mayflies than I have the perfect mayfly that you can dry fly fish Idaho with at all elevations.  The Hun Wing Mayfly from Dry Fly Innovations is a stately fly that is hands down a trout catching machine.  It comes equipped with a gorgeous striated body and high split Hun wings that give this fly life like qualities on the water.  The Hun Wing Mayfly can be dry fly fished throughout Idaho on any river, stream, creek, or lake; this is one of the most universal mayflies in the whole Dry Fly Innovations collections.  It will float perfect on the water with its body and thorax laying flat on the water and the wings sticking straight up.  Out of all the mayflies that Dry Fly Innovations offers, the Hun Wing Mayfly is by far the easiest to use and operate while dry fly fishing Idaho.

Dry Fly Innovations offers the Hun Wing Mayfly in two sizes (#16/#14) and in two colors (gray/brown).  If I was heading to dry fly fish Idaho in the mountain elevations I would recommend the gray because there is a large gray mayfly that hatches at high elevations and the Hun Wing Gray Mayfly matches this hatch perfectly.  If you are dry fly fishing Idaho on the low elevation rivers and tail waters the Hun Wing Brown Mayfly might be your go to fly in a mayfly hatch.  You can catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer with the Hun Wing Mayflies, but in order for this fly to be effective you have to be in a mayfly hatch.  The Hun Wing Mayflies (gray/brown) are strictly summer season flies; so when you come to dry fly fish Idaho this summer make sure you are packing this stately, trout slaying fly.

If your summer vacation plans are bringing you to dry fly fish Idaho this summer I have the perfect attractor fly that can be used anywhere in the state.  The PMD Humpy from Dry Fly Innovations is the ideal summer time fly that is a big, plump, and juicy morsel that trout have a hard time turning down.  With the standard hook down wing up the PMD Humpy will have perfect presentation every time, and it floats like a cork in the water.  There is absolutely no mystery where the PMD Humpy is on the waters at any time.  You can effectively dry fly fish Idaho with the PMD Humpy at all elevations and on any lake, river, stream, or tail waters.  The PMD is a great universal fly that should be in any fly box when hitting any Idaho waters.

Dry Fly Innovations ties the PMD Humpy in four sizes (#16, #14, #12, and #10).  If you have been reading the previous blogs then you are privy on my recommendations on what sizes to use in the Idaho high country and on lower elevation rivers.  If this is your first time reading then you are in luck because I will give you the right recipe right now on what flies to use.  If you are dry fly fishing Idaho in the higher elevations I would tie on a PMD Humpy in a size #16 or #14.  If you are dry fly fishing Idaho on the South Fork of the Boise River I would tie on a #12 or #10.  The PMD Humpy has an iridescent thorax that has the ability to attract the monster trout that come from the depths of the water.  The PMD Humpy does not mimic anything in the wild and should be fished just like a stimulator.  All species of trout that Idaho has to offer are vulnerable to the PMD Humpy.  Grab some PMD Humpy’s and come dry fly fish Idaho this summer and have the ultimate Idaho fly fishing experience.

Does size matter in the fly fishing world?  Does it have to be a fly on a hook size of a #10 or #8 in order to land big fish?  The answer to both of these questions is no.  The Black Midge from Dry Fly Innovations has landed more big fish in all elevations of Idaho.  You can dry fly fish Idaho with the Black Midge in all mountain elevations, low elevation rivers, and any stretches of water in between.  This fly is universal, but it is very underestimated because it is such a small fly.  The Black Midge is small in size but it is easy to fish and it floats quite well with the Z Lon that protrudes out over the eye of the hook.  The Black Midge is the perfect imitation of the black midges that hatch in Idaho in the early spring, late fall, and winter.  It is a dynamite fly that will land you big trout when you come to dry fly fish Idaho.

Dry Fly Innovations ties the Black Midge in two sizes (#22, #20) and in two wing colors (black/white).  When dry fly fishing Idaho with the Black Midge you will want to make sure that there is a midge hatch coming off because this fly is not designed to stimulate fish from the depths.  The Black Midge will catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer from cutthroats in the high country to giant rainbows on the South Fork of the Boise River.  Do not underestimate the catching abilities of the Black Midge when you come to dry fly fish Idaho this year.

One of the most important flies you can have in your fly box while dry fly fishing Idaho in the higher elevations is a Cinnamon Ant.  Packing a Cinnamon Ant is crucial in the high country because there are prolific hatches of them and if you are not packing a Cinnamon Ant in your fly box you could be practicing casting.  The Cinnamon Ant is designed for higher elevations and it can be used on any river, stream, or lake.  The neat aspect of a Cinnamon Ant is you can fish it just under the waters film surface or you can fish it completely dry on the surface.  I cannot stress enough the importance (necessity) of having the Cinnamon Ant in your fly box when you are dry fly fishing Idaho in the high country.

Dry Fly Innovations ties this fly in two sizes (#14 and #16).  While dry fly fishing Idaho in the higher elevations here is my personal rule of thumb.  Your tie on fly when you first hit the waters is a black ant because they are the most dominant ant that hatches on the waters.  When you are fishing and observing the waters and you start to see different colored ants around the banks or in the water look close and if there are cinnamon ants you know what to do.  The Cinnamon Ant will catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer in the high country.  Come dry fly fish Idaho with the Cinnamon Ant this summer and get ready for your arm to be tired, because it will get a good workout.

One of the best early season caddis pattern that I have ever used was a CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green by Dry Fly Innovations.  The CDC Biot Caddis Black and Green is the perfect imitation or replica of a small early season caddis.  This fly comes equipped with a caddis green body, black thorax, antennas, and a beautiful silhouette that fish just cannot refuse.  The CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green also comes with a CDC wing from a duck, which gives this fly the ability to float like a cork.  You can dry fly fish Idaho with the CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green on all low elevation rivers, such as the South Fork of the Boise River, Owyhee River, and the Big Wood.

Dry Fly Innovations ties this fly in two sizes (#20 2XL and #18 2XL).  You can effectively dry fly fish Idaho with the CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green in the late spring and early summer.  The CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green will catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer.  This particular caddis has to be fished in a hatch, but the upside is there are small caddis hatches coming off on Idaho waters almost daily during the spring and summer seasons.  The CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green is one of those flies that I have in my fly box everywhere I go, because it is just a flat out fish catching machine.  This fly is maintenance free, which means you do not need gink or floatant due to the CDC wing.  Grab your CDC Biot Caddis Black & Green and come dry fly fish Idaho this late spring/ early summer and you will be saying, “There he is”!

If you are the type of fly fishing enthusiast that likes to throw big patterns at trout in the summer seasons, than I have the perfect fly for you.  The Golden Humpy from Dry Fly Innovations is a big, fat, and plump little morsel that trout have a tough time turning down.  It comes equipped with an elk hair wing that floats perfect in the water with the hook down and wing up, but the best part is the Golden Humpy floats like a cork.  You can dry fly fish Idaho on all lower river elevations, but the Golden Humpy is not intended for the high elevations of Idaho.  The Golden Humpy is designed to imitate a few different things in nature, such as a small golden stone, yellow jacket, and a wasp.  When you are dry fly fishing Idaho with the Golden Humpy it is used as a stimulator where you are not trying to match any hatches, but luring the big fish from the depths.

Dry Fly Innovations ties this fly in four sizes (#16, #14, #12, and #10).  When dry fly fishing Idaho with the Golden Humpy, you will need a bottle of gink or ointment, because it is a hair pattern that requires floatant to fish effectively.  The Golden Humpy will catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer from rainbows, browns, and cutthroats.  The Golden Humpy is a great summer season fly, so when you come to dry fly fish Idaho make sure you are packing a few of them in your fly box.  You never know when the Golden Humpy just might be your ticket to landing some big Idaho trout!!!

If you are coming to dry fly fish Idaho in the mid summer fishing season I have the perfect low elevation river fly in the Ginger Mayfly.  This is a great fly that has proven itself time and time again from the South Fork of the Boise River, Silver Creek, Big Wood River, and the Owyhee River.  The Ginger Mayfly is a match the hatch type of fly, which means you would only fish this fly when there is a light color mayfly coming off.  The Ginger Mayfly is not intended for use in the high country because there are very few light colored mayflies that come off at that elevation.  When you are dry fly fishing Idaho I would highly recommend you having a couple of Ginger Mayflies in your fly box because you never know in the summer seasons when their will be a light mayfly hatch coming off.

Dry Fly Innovations ties the Ginger Mayfly in two sizes (#18, #16) and in two wing styles (clear/quill).  Fish the clear wing in bright sunny conditions and use the quill wing in darker conditions.  The Ginger Mayfly comes equipped with the standard Dry Fly Innovations single upright wing and the body is spun with stripped peacock, which gives it a beautiful striated body.  You can effectively dry fly fish Idaho on low elevation rivers or streams and it will catch all species of trout that Idaho has to offer.  Come enjoy the Ginger Mayfly this summer and come dry fly fish Idaho, the rivers are calling out your names.