I am not a "match the hatch" type of fly fisherman and my selection of Big Thompson flies is not large. When fishing this river most of the standard patterns work very well. Patterns such as pheasant tails, hairs ears and elk hair caddis are some of my favorites.
Here's what I carry in my Big Thompson box that can be found at any of the local shops.
Summer Patterns - Dry Flies
1. PMX size 12-16
The PMX fly is considered a stimulator or attractor pattern and can
imitate many insects. In the summer I use it as a dry-dropper rig paired
with a red copper john. In sizes 12-16 it can be used if any stoneflies
or grasshoppers have been active and in size 18 I use it for some of
the caddis hatches. Easy to see and it can be tied in many colors. I
like it in a royal pattern or with a yellow body.
2. Puterbaugh Caddis size 14-20
This pattern works well in fast moving water and in Rocky
Mountain National Park. The foam keeps it riding high and a few false
casts dries it off after a fish. When it does start to sink I like a
powder floatant instead of a paste. The powder keeps the hair separate
which keeps the fly looking natural. This fall I am also going to tie
this fly with a black body and wing in a size 18-20. I noticed a small
black caddis on the water last year and was getting none of the rises.
3. Elk Hare Caddis 10-20
4. Parachute Adams Size 12-20
This fly works well for imitating a mayfly or midge. It also works
great in slower moving or still water. It rides lower in the surface
film and the parachute hackle helps the fly from actually breaking the
surface tension. This is a staple in the box of Big Thompson flies.
5. Royal Wolf Size 14-18
Summer Patterns - Nymphs
5. Copper John Size 12-20
I love the pattern!
It's durable, easy to tie and catches fish. My favorite color is in red
but I have found a dark hunter green works almost just as good. When I
tie the pattern I use tinsel for the wing cover and hen for the legs. If
I buy it look for ones tied with epoxy for the wing case and rubber for
the legs. This is an attractor pattern or works as a stonefly
imitation.
6. Beadhead Hare's ear Size 14-20
This is got to be the pattern I least like to tie. The hair never sticks to the thread for me even with dubbing wax. I just buy this pattern in bulk and with a bead head. Many of the Big Thompson flies are very easy to tie but for some reason I have a problem with this one. This pattern works for caddis and stonefly imitations.
7. Pheasant tail Size 14-20
This is a good mayfly
nymph and works in still water also. You will want this pattern weighted
and unweighted. If you can see the fishes tail break the water or they
are feeding deep use the beadhead to get down to their level. If they
are feeding on the surface but are not taking a dry fly use the
unweighted version to float in the surface film. In most tying books
this will be the second fly you do after a woolly bugger.
8. Stoneflies Size 12-18
(Beadhead Stonefly, Turpin's GPS Stonefly, Micro Stone and Kauffman's Stone
I
like all these patterns and have caught fish on all of them. Pick a
pattern that you like but you will need them in black and yellow. Big
Thompson flies will work in most rivers and I also had reat luck with
these patterns on the Gunnison river for the stoneffly hatch.
9. Rainbow Warrior Size 14-20 (in memory of Don)
I
originally learned to tie these Big Thompson flies at the now closed
Great Western Fly Fishing Company. Don helped me string up my first rod
and was where I learned to tie flies. This pattern is tied with rainbow
dubbing, flash tinsel and pheasant barbs for the tail. This pattern is
available at Sportsman's Warehouse and is a good pattern right after ice
off before the river blows out.
10. Go-To-Nymph (Prince Nymph)Size 12-20
This is a pattern I found in Fly Fisherman magazine and tried out on the tying bench. It can be tied with pheasant, copper, yarn and uses Antron as the wing. It is an easier way to tie a Price nymph and I like using different body types. I will look for the article online and post it with the fly tying patterns instructions . It works well as an imitation for most of the Big Thompson flies.
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