Top 10 Colorado Flies That Catch Fish (2025)
Fly Assortments Quick Picks
- Best All-Around Trout Mix: Rio Trout Hopper Dropper Fly Assortment - For trout anglers who want one pack that fishes well from summer through early fall. Built around a proven hopper-dropper concept, it’s an efficient way to cover both topwater eats and subsurface feeding without overthinking fly choice.
- Best Streamer Starter: Rio Streamer Fly Assortment - For anglers learning trout streamer fishing or building a dedicated streamer box quickly. It’s a straightforward grab-and-go option when you want baitfish profiles and bigger flies ready for stripping, swinging, or bank-walking.
- Best Euro / Deep Nymphing: Umpqua Tungsten Bead Trout Guide Fly Selection - For anglers who need flies that get down fast in deeper runs and faster currents. Heavily weighted nymphs help you reach the feeding zone quickly, whether you’re tight-lining or fishing under an indicator.
- Best Flats Species Kit: Rio Bonefish Fly Assortment - For first-time and repeat bonefish trips where you want confidence patterns on hand. This assortment focuses on the core shrimp/crab-style profiles that are common across many tropical flats.
- Best Tarpon Trip Backup: Rio Tarpon Fly Assortment - For anglers traveling with limited tying time who still want a well-rounded tarpon fly lineup. It’s a simple way to show up with multiple baitfish-style options ready for rolling fish, laid-up fish, and changing light conditions.
How to Choose Fly Assortments
Pick by target species and water type first
Action: Start with where you’re fishing and what you’re chasing, trout rivers, warmwater lakes, or saltwater flats, then select an assortment built for that prey base.
Trout assortments typically blend dries and nymphs (or focus on one technique), while streamer assortments lean into baitfish/leech profiles for covering banks and structure. Saltwater assortments are usually shrimp, crab, and baitfish patterns meant to land cleanly and fish well in wind and current.
Match the technique you’ll fish most
Best for: If you fish a lot of hopper-dropper, choose a pack built around that system. If you tight-line or want faster sink rates, look for tungsten-heavy nymph selections. If you like to cover water and hunt bigger fish, start with streamers.
Avoid if: Don’t buy a highly specialized pack (like heavy nymphs) if your water is mostly shallow and clear and you’re fishing small dries, your flies may hang up or land too hard.
Consider pack size and “coverage” versus duplicates
Action: Think about whether you need variety (many patterns) or redundancy (multiple of the same confidence fly). Variety is great for a new river or destination. Redundancy is better when you already know what you’ll fish and you want backups after break-offs and chewed-up flies.
For destination travel, buy flies like you’ll lose them
Best for: Trip packs and destination selections are ideal when you want to arrive prepared with patterns chosen around common forage and conditions. If you’re headed somewhere specific, also consider browsing Fly Selections for more curated, destination-oriented options.
Materials & Durability
- Rinse after saltwater: Give flies a quick freshwater rinse and let them dry fully to slow hook corrosion and keep materials from matting.
- Dry before storage: Open your fly box after the day and let flies air-dry to prevent rust and mildew in the box.
- Retire damaged flies: If a hook point is rolled or a fly is unraveling, replace it, especially for flats species where hookups can be brief.
- Separate by use: Keep saltwater patterns in their own box to avoid transferring salt and moisture to your trout flies.
Complete Your Setup
Related Gear
- Fly Fishing Flies - Add specific hatch matchers and singles to complement your assortment once you learn what your water wants.
- Leaders - Dial in turnover and presentation for dries, nymph rigs, and streamers.
- Tippet - Adjust diameter, abrasion resistance, and sink rate to match your flies and conditions.
- Landing Nets - A practical add-on for safer fish handling and smoother releases.
Related Guides
- Fly Fishing Flies Explained
- How to Choose the Best Trout Flies for Small Streams
- Bonefishing Gear Guide
- The 8 Best Bonefish Flies
- How to Choose the Best Fly Line for Bonefish
Fly Assortments FAQs
Q: What are fly assortments in fly fishing?
A: Fly assortments are pre-selected packs of flies chosen for a species, destination, or technique. They’re an efficient way to build a functional box without buying flies one at a time.
Q: Are fly assortments good for beginners?
A: Yes, especially if you’re unsure which patterns to start with. A curated pack helps you get on the water with flies that cover common situations, then you can refine from there.
Q: Should I choose a trout assortment by hatch or by technique?
A: If you’re traveling or learning new water, start with technique (nymph-focused, hopper-dropper, streamer-focused). If you know the hatch window and fish are selective, hatch-matching becomes more important.
Q: What’s the difference between a streamer assortment and a nymph assortment?
A: Streamer assortments focus on baitfish/leech profiles meant to be retrieved or swung. Nymph assortments focus on subsurface insect imitations (often beadhead or tungsten) designed for dead-drifting or tight-line presentations.
Q: Do I need different assortments for freshwater and saltwater?
A: You should. Saltwater flies are typically tied on corrosion-resistant hooks and built around shrimp, crab, and baitfish profiles, while freshwater assortments usually focus on insects, worms/eggs, and small baitfish patterns.
Q: How many flies should I bring for a weeklong trip?
A: It depends on how snaggy the water is and how many fish you expect to catch, but plan for losses. Many anglers start with a pack or two of core patterns, then add duplicates of the flies they expect to fish most.
Q: Can I fish assortments “as-is,” or should I customize them?
A: You can fish them as-is, and that’s often the point. For best results, treat an assortment as a base layer, then add local favorites in the sizes/weights your guide or river shop recommends.