Terrestrial flies
Artificial fly
Joes Hopper
TypeTerrestrial fly
ImitatesAdult Terrestrial insects
Materials
Typical sizesDry fly sized to imitation
Typical hooksTMC 900, Firehole 718
Uses
Primary useTrout, Freshwater Bass (fish), Panfish


Terrestrial flies are a broad group of artificial flies used by fly anglers to imitate terrestrial insects that fall prey to fish in rivers, streams and lakes. Most typical are patterns imitating grasshoppers, crickets, ants, beetles, leaf hoppers, cicadas and moths.[1]

History

Terrestrial fly patterns as a class of artificial was developed in earnest in the 1950s with the publication of Vincent C. Marinaro's A Modern Dry Fly Code-The Classic and Revolutionary Book on Dry-Fly Fishing with Aquatic and Terrestrial Artificials (1950).[2] In the early centuries of fly fishing, fly anglers certainly attempted to replicate just about any type of live bait used for fishing. Some of these flies were undoubtedly replicating terrestrial insects. The Palmer Worm of the 17th century was a heavily hackled fly that resembled a common fuzzy caterpillar, yet as Andrew Herd in The Fly-Two Thousand Years of Fly Fishing (2003) relates, palmer worms were never found in or on the water.[3]

General description

Most terrestrial patterns are designed to float and are fished as dry flies. They replicate a terrestrial insect that is either blown on to the water surface or falls into the water from bankside vegetation. Exceptions are patterns replicating ants may be designed to sink as when ants drown, they sink. Early terrestrial patterns relied on hair, fur, hackle and other feathers to craft the fly. Modern terrestrial patterns rely heavily on foam, rubber and other synthetic materials.[1]

List of Terrestrial patterns

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2022)

Hoppers

As described in Trout Flies-A Tier's Reference (1999), Dave Hughes[4]

As described in A Modern Dry-Fly Code (1950), Vincent C. Marinaro[5]

As described in Yellowstone Country Flies (2002), Bruce Staples[6]

As Described in Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop (2013), Walter Wiese[7]

Hopper Patterns
  • Letort Hopper
    Letort Hopper
  • Ensolite Hopper
    Ensolite Hopper
  • Henry's Fork Hopper
    Henry's Fork Hopper
  • Parachute Hopper
    Parachute Hopper
  • Madam X
    Madam X

Crickets

As described in Trout Flies-A Tier's Reference (1999), Dave Hughes[4]

Ants

As described in Trout Flies-A Tier's Reference (1999), Dave Hughes[8]

As Described in Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop (2013), Walter Wiese[7]

Ant Patterns
  • Black foam ant
    Black foam ant
  • Black winged ant
    Black winged ant
  • Cinnamon fur ant
    Cinnamon fur ant
  • Tan foam ant
    Tan foam ant
  • Black and red sinking ant
    Black and red sinking ant
  • Black sinking ant
    Black sinking ant
  • Brown winged ant
    Brown winged ant
  • Black fur ant
    Black fur ant

Beetles

As described in Trout Flies-A Tier's Reference (1999), Dave Hughes[8]

As described in A Modern Dry-Fly Code (1950), Vincent C. Marinaro[5]

Beetle Patterns
  • Black Foam Beetle
    Black Foam Beetle
  • Black Featherwing Beetle
    Black Featherwing Beetle
  • Brown Foam Beetle
    Brown Foam Beetle
  • Black Crowe Beetle
    Black Crowe Beetle

Leaf Hoppers

As described in A Modern Dry-Fly Code (1950), Vincent C. Marinaro[9]

Moths

As described in Fly Patterns-Tie Thousands of Flies (2008), Randall and Mary Kaufmann[10]

As Described in Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop (2013), Walter Wiese[11]

Cicadas

As described in Fly Patterns-Tie Thousands of Flies (2008), Randall and Mary Kaufmann[12]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Steeves, Harrison R.; Koch, Ed (1994). "The History of Terrestrial Fishing". Terrestrials-A Modern Approach to Fishing and Tying with Synthetic and Natural Materials. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 8–9. ISBN 0-8117-0629-X.
  2. ^ Steeves, Harrison R.; Koch, Ed (1994). "The Terrestrial Menu". Terrestrials-A Modern Approach to Fishing and Tying with Synthetic and Natural Materials. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. pp. 10–21. ISBN 0-8117-0629-X.
  3. ^ Herd, Andrew Dr (2001). The Fly. Ellesmere, Shropshire: Medlar Press. pp. 135–138. ISBN 1-899600-19-1.
  4. ^ a b Hughes, Dave (1999). "Grasshoppers and Crickets". Trout Flies-The Tier's Reference. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 443–457. ISBN 978-0-8117-1601-7.
  5. ^ a b Marinaro, Vincent C. (1950). "Grasshopper". A Modern Dry Fly Code. New York: G. P. Putnam Sons. pp. 92, 195–214. ISBN 1-55821-413-5.
  6. ^ Staples, Bruce. "Terrestrial Patterns". Trout Country Flies-From Greater Yellowstone Area Masters. Portland, OR: Frank Amato Publications. pp. 132–141. ISBN 1571882480.
  7. ^ a b Wiese, Walter J. (2013). "Attractor and Terrestrial Dry Flies". Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop. Walter J. Wiese. pp. 131–164.
  8. ^ a b Hughes, Dave (1999). "Ants and Beetles". Trout Flies-The Tier's Reference. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. pp. 427–442. ISBN 978-0-8117-1601-7.
  9. ^ Marinaro, Vincent C. (1950). "Japanese Beetle". A Modern Dry Fly Code. New York: G. P. Putnam Sons. pp. 92, 181–194. ISBN 1-55821-413-5.
  10. ^ Kaufmann, Randall; Kaufmann, Mary (2008). "Dry Flies". Fly Patterns-Tie Thousands of Flies. Moose, WY: Western Fisherman Press. p. 196. ISBN 9781885212238.
  11. ^ Wiese, Walter J. (2013). "Attractor and Terrestrial Dry Flies". Yellowstone Country Flies-The Fly Patterns of Parks' Fly Shop. Walter J. Wiese. pp. 158–159.
  12. ^ Kaufmann, Randall; Kaufmann, Mary (2008). "Dry Flies". Fly Patterns-Tie Thousands of Flies. Moose, WY: Western Fisherman Press. p. 165. ISBN 9781885212238.
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