Some folks say fly selection is an art. Others say it’s science. For me, it’s a little of both—and a lot of memory. Every fly in my box has a reason it’s there. Some earned their spot through pure performance. Others… well, they carry stories.

If you’re looking to simplify your fly box or just want to know what I trust on the water year after year, here are the flies I always keep—and why they keep earning their place.

1. Elk Hair Caddis (Size 14–16)

Why it’s always with me: It’s a classic for a reason. This dry fly floats like a dream and imitates a wide range of caddis and small stoneflies. It’s also visible, durable, and just plain fun to fish.

The memory: I still remember my first real rise to a dry fly. I was fishing a slow-moving bend in the early evening light. The take wasn’t explosive—it was subtle, almost polite. But it changed everything. It made the day perfect in every way. A small brook trout no more than 7 inches. My first brook, and I will never forget that moment.

2. Blowtorch (Size 14–16, orange collar)

Why it’s always with me: The Blowtorch is one of those confidence flies that’s earned every fish it fooled. It gets down fast, has just the right amount of flash, and that orange hotspot seems to turn trout aggressive—especially in off-colored or cold water.

The memory: Early spring. Snowmelt made the river cloudy and cold. It was cold out, but growing u in Syracuse it felt like a typical spring morning.  I fished a with a Blowtorch down steam and swung it from the bank to the center of the river. Fish after fish, it did all the work. 

3. Parachute Adams (Size 16–20)

Why it’s always with me: The most versatile dry fly I own. It can pass as a mayfly, midge, or spinner. Works during hatches, between hatches, and even when I’m not sure what’s hatching at all.

The memory: Midday, glassy pool, very picky trout rising to who-knows-what (never figured it out). The Parachute Adams fooled one the biggest fish I’ve landed on a dry. Sometimes, simplicity wins.

4. Woolly Bugger (Size 6–10, black or olive)

Why it’s always with me: If I had to pick just one fly to take anywhere, this would be it. It can mimic leeches, baitfish, hellgrammites—whatever you want it to be. Strip it, dead drift it, swing it—it gets eaten.

The memory:I had been fishing all morning with success and I was about to call it for the day when I gave the olive Bugger one last toss. A 13 inch rainbow slammed this thing like a sledge hammer. It gave a great fight. That woolly bugger did its job.

5. Kreelex (Size 6–10, gold/silver or copper)

Why it’s always with me: When the water’s stained or I’m chasing aggressive fish, this is my hammer. It’s flashy, obnoxious, and moves like a wounded baitfish. Big browns and smallmouth love it.

The memory: it was a sunny afternoon, and nothing was happening on top. I tied on a gold Kreelex, let it swing through a deep bend, and watched a thick brown crush it like it owed him money. One of the most violent strikes I’ve ever had. One of my favorite flies to use and to tie. It is a staple in my fly box.

A Fly Box is a Time Capsule

Over time, your fly box becomes more than a toolkit—it becomes a journal of the rivers you’ve fished, the fish you’ve fooled, and the moments that kept you coming back. You start to recognize the patterns that aren’t just tied with thread and hackle—but with memory.

These five aren’t flashy (well, some are), but they’ve never let me down. They’ve worked when nothing else has. And sometimes, they’ve reminded me why I love fly fishing in the first place.

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