TOP FLIES FOR JANUARY

WINTER IS IN FULL SWING HERE IN COLORADO, AND THAT MEANS SMALL BUGS. GONE ARE THE DAYS OF THROWING LARGE DRIES, AND WE'RE COMPLETELY OK WITH THAT.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS THE BEST TIME TO IMPROVE. IF YOU CAN CONSISTENTLY CATCH FISH ON TAILWATER IN THE WINTER, YOU'LL CATCH FISH ALL YEAR LONG. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO TROUT BEHAVIOR, MATCH THE HATCH AND GET YOUR PRESENTATION DIALED IN (WEIGHT, WEIGHT, WEIGHT).

THERE WILL BE A SMALL FEEDING WINDOW ALL WINTER, SO NO RUSH TO GET ON THE WATER BEFORE 10AM.

AS MOST KNOW, THE PRIMARY FOOD SOURCE WILL BE SMALL MIDGE PUPA AND LARVA.

SMALLER IS BETTER; 24-26 WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS THROWING 20.

YOU'LL MISS A LOT OF TAKES, BUT THAT'S JUST HOW IT GOES. HOWEVER, YOUR STRIKE RATE WILL BE AT LEAST 50% HIGHER THAN USING 18-22.

SMALL TIPPET (6X-7X), YARN INDICATORS AND TINY FLIES ARE THE KEY.

AND HERE ARE OUR TOP 5 FLIES FOR JANUARY, ALL AVAILABLE ON OUR SITE:

#1: MAYER'S TUBE MIDGE

THIS FLY IS AN INCREDIBLE LEAD FLY IN SIZE 20-22. I KNOW I KNOW, WE JUST SAID STICK WITH 24-26, BUT LEAD FLIES/ ATTRACTORS ARE DIFFERENT.

THIS MIDGE CAN DOUBLE AS A LARVA AND PUPA, HAS ENOUGH WEIGHT TO GET DOWN IN THE DEEP POOLS AND HAS AN EXTREMELY REALISTIC APPEARANCE. IT'LL FOOL THE PICKIEST TROUT YOU CAN FIND.

#2: CRAVEN'S POISON TUNG

ANOTHER KILLER LEAD FLY/ ATTRACTOR. THE BLUE IS EXTREMELY VISIBLE IN DEEP HOLES.

WE FISH THIS IN SIZE 20 ALL WINTER LONG AND TRAIL A BLACK BEAUTY, JUJUBEE OR TOP SECRET. GET SOME.

#3: BLACK BEAUTY

YOU CANNOT BEAT THE SIMPLICITY OR EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS FLY. 75% OF A TROUT'S DIET COMES FROM MIDGE PUPA DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

LARVA AND EMERGERS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL CASH IN. OUR FAVORITE IS A SIZE 24 MERCURY FLASHBACK.

#4: DORSEY'S MEDALION MIDGE PUPA

AGAIN, ANOTHER MIDGE PUPA. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST REALISTIC PUPA'S THERE IS. IT IS NOT EASY TO TIE, BUT DAMN DOES IT WORK.

THE WHITE THREAD PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL TRANSLUCENT SEGMENTATION UNDER WATER.

#5: CRAVEN'S JUJUBEE

THIS MIDGE CAN IMITATE ANY STAGE, IS EXTREMELY DURABLE AND WILL TRICK THE PICKIEST TROUT.

IT CAN ALSO DOUBLE AS BWO DURING THE SPORATIC MIDGE HATCH ON A WARMER DAY. DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THIS FLY.