I have selected twelve of the best old classic wet fly patterns and twelve of best of my original patterns that were the most productive trout patterns from the thousands of wet fly patterns I tied and fished in Pennsylvania, the Adirondacks, Yellowstone, the North Cascades and Alaska from 1948 to the present. Unlike the mounted art pieces of the same patterns, I utilized modern holographic tinsels on many of the old classics and my originals, because I found it more effective and productive fish attractors than the traditional gold and silver tinsels that were available in the era of the classic wet fly patterns.

Today there are several generations of fishermen and untold millions of trout that have never seen these old wet fly classics. Be sure to read the section on how to fish the wet flies. Practicing those techniques of casting to holding areas and utilizing the Leisenring Lift will increase your catch numbers.

Pictured below are the classic designs of wet flies. Click on each to see a larger picture.

Classic Fly Names

Black Gnat, Blue Bottle, Butcher, Catskill, Cow Dung, Dark Montreal
Grizzly King, Katydid, Last Chance, Pebble Beach, Saltoun, Whickhams Fancy Light
Whickhams Fancy Dark

Original Fly Names

Pictured below are original designs from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s from Clay Cunningham, master fly tier and biologist.

Barbey 1961, Black Gold 1949, Black Hollie 1967, Brown Hollie 1967, Gordon Variant 1952, Juice 1963
Mantis 1950, Pumpkin 1960, Rubok 1954, Silverwood 1949, Widow Maker 1949, Yellowstone 1967