Three starting sections
Let the clue point to the box.
Begin with one physical section of the box: Surface, Film, or Subsurface. The river clue points to that section, and the decision card inside it gives you the next step.
The fly stays on top.
Begin here when trout repeatedly rise or take insects from the surface.
The fly sits in or just below the surface.
Begin here when you see bulges, backs, fins, or incomplete rises.
The fly fishes deeper.
Begin here when you see flashes below the surface or no clear surface activity. Nymph, wet-fly, and streamer approaches all live within this section.
What happens next
Open the section before choosing the exact fly.
| River clue | Open | The decision card helps you choose |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated rises or food taken on top | Surface | A dry fly, matching rig, and starting presentation. |
| Bulges or movement in the film | Film | An emerger or soft-hackle choice, matching rig, and starting presentation. |
| Flashes below or no clear surface activity | Subsurface | A nymph, wet fly, or streamer path based on the water and activity. |
Narrow the fly
Size first. Shape second. Color third.
- Stay in the selected section.A convincing fly in the wrong part of the water is still the wrong starting test.
- Compare size.Choose the closest practical size to what the river is showing.
- Compare shape.Match the general form before worrying about fine detail.
- Use color only when it helps.Color refines the choice after the larger decisions are right.
Open Find It in the Box.
That page shows how the decision card points from this section to a labeled location in the fly box.
Help refine this page
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