The Woolly Gentleman

Broad sourceStrong match

Fly Fish Food

Matched on dry flies, trout, midge. Strong technical tying and trout catalog coverage, especially nymphs, dries, and stillwater flies.

dry fliestroutmidge

Broad sourceStrong match

Orvis Fly Catalog

Matched on dry flies, trout, midge. Broad retail catalog for standard trout, warmwater, salmon/steelhead, and saltwater patterns.

dry fliestroutmidge

Regional shopStrong match

AZ Fly Shop

Matched on dry flies, trout, trout. Arizona and Southwest shop lead for desert trout, bass, canal carp, and warmwater patterns.

dry fliestrout

Regional shopStrong match

Davidson River Outfitters

Matched on dry flies, trout, trout. Southern Appalachian trout shop lead tied to the Davidson River and regional freestones.

dry fliestrout

George Griffith founded Trout Unlimited and then tied this fly, which was arguably the more lasting contribution. When trout are sipping at the surface and you cannot see a single insect, they are eating midges. This pattern imitates a cluster of those near-invisible insects, and it works with the quiet reliability of a well-kept secret. Peacock herl and grizzly hackle. Nothing fancy. Everything effective.

Quick Facts

TypeDry Fly

Difficultybeginner

SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Target SpeciesBrown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout

Sizes#16 - #22

Best LocationsTimber Coulee Creek, WI; Bennett Spring, MO; Roaring River, MO

Where to Fish It

Timber Coulee Creek

WI · Spring Creek

Bennett Spring

MO · Spring Creek

Roaring River

MO · Spring Creek

Map unavailable. Locations for Griffith's Gnat: Timber Coulee Creek, WI; Bennett Spring, MO; Roaring River, MO

Related Reading

region guide

Driftless Area: Spring Creek Paradise

Tucked into the unglaciated hills of southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and northeastern Iowa lies the Driftless Area — a landscape of cold spring creeks, limestone bluffs, and wild trout that rivals any destination in the country. This is the complete guide to fishing the Driftless.

hatch guide

The Hex Hatch: After Dark on the Great Lakes

The Hex hatch is the defining event of Great Lakes fly fishing — a massive emergence of North America's largest mayfly that happens after dark and brings the biggest brown trout of the year to the surface. This is how to prepare for, find, and fish the most anticipated hatch in the Midwest.

hatch guide

Midge Fishing: The Tiny Flies That Save the Day

When every other hatch has shut down, midges keep trout feeding. From winter tailwaters to high-altitude stillwaters, Chironomidae are the most abundant insects in freshwater ecosystems. Learning to fish these tiny patterns unlocks twelve months of dry-fly and nymphing opportunities.

technique

Fly Selection: A Decision Tree for Every Situation

Most anglers open their fly box and stare at it like a menu in a foreign language. But fly selection isn't mystical — it's a decision tree. Start with what the fish are eating, narrow by presentation depth, match the profile and size, and you'll arrive at the right fly in under sixty seconds. Here's the system.

seasonal playbook

The Winter Guide: Cold Water, Warm Hands, Willing Fish

Winter separates the dedicated from the fair-weather crowd. The rivers are empty, the hatches are tiny, and the fish feed in slow motion. But they do feed — they have to. And the angler who understands cold-water metabolism, midge biology, and the art of slowing down will find winter fishing not just productive but deeply rewarding.

Dry Flyintermediate

Blue Wing Olive

Find a tier or trusted source

Midwest & Driftless

#16 - #22

Small mayfly imitation matching Baetis hatches. The most reliable hatch on Driftless spring creeks, especially on overcast days.

Dun GrayOlive Gray

Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin

Dry Flyadvanced

Trico Spinner

Find a tier or trusted source

Midwest & Driftless

#20 - #24

Tiny spent-wing spinner for the legendary summer Trico fall. Fish it in the mornings when the spinners carpet the water.

Black/WhiteOlive/White

Brown Trout · Brook Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin

Dry Flyintermediate

Calamus River Midge

Find a tier or trusted source

Midwest & Driftless

#18 - #22

Tiny cluster midge pattern for Nebraska's spring-fed Sandhills rivers. Peacock herl body with a CDC wing sits flush in the surface film during the year-round midge hatches.

BlackOliveGrayCream

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin

Dry Flyintermediate

Sulphur Dun

Find a tier or trusted source

Midwest & Driftless

#14 - #18

Pale yellow mayfly pattern matching Ephemerella invaria hatches. The premier evening hatch on Ozark and Driftless waters.

Pale YellowCream

Brown Trout · Rainbow Trout

SprSumFallWin

Dry Flybeginner

Parachute Adams

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Rocky Mountain West

#12 - #22

The universal dry fly. Grizzly hackle, white post, dubbed body. If you cannot identify the hatch, tie on an Adams.

Standard GrayFemale (yellow egg sac)

Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Cutthroat Trout · Brook Trout · Mountain Whitefish

SprSumFallWin

Dry Flybeginner

Elk Hair Caddis

Find a tier or trusted source

Rocky Mountain West

#12 - #18

Al Troth's iconic caddis imitation. Elk hair wing, palmered hackle. Floats like a cork in fast water.

TanOliveBlack

Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Cutthroat Trout · Brook Trout

SprSumFallWin