River Pattern Guide

Best Flies for Ausable River

The Ausable River tumbles out of the High Peaks wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains in a spectacular series of cascades, gorges, and boulder-studded pocket water pools that define the classic north...

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11 recommended patterns

Hare's Ear Nymph fly pattern
Nymph

Hare's Ear Nymph

Buggy, messy, and irresistible to every trout in the river.

Sizes 10–18

Woolly Bugger fly pattern
Streamer

Woolly Bugger

If you could only fish one fly for the rest of your life.

Sizes 2–10

Royal Wulff fly pattern
Dry Fly

Royal Wulff

The king of attractor dry flies — regal and irresistible.

Sizes 10–16

Deep Sparrow Nymph fly pattern
Nymph

Deep Sparrow Nymph

A heavy tungsten jig nymph with a dubbed body and CDC collar that imitates a range of small mayfly n

Sizes 14–18

Quill Gordon fly pattern
Dry Fly

Quill Gordon

The Quill Gordon is a Catskill classic tied with a stripped peacock quill body that creates a delica

Sizes 12–14

Lightning Bug fly pattern
Nymph

Lightning Bug

The Lightning Bug is a flashy attractor nymph with a pearl tinsel body and tungsten bead that catche

Sizes 14–18

Mop Fly fly pattern
Nymph

Mop Fly

The Mop Fly — made from a strip of chenille mop material on a jig hook — is the most controversial a

Sizes 10–14

Two Bit Hooker fly pattern
Nymph

Two Bit Hooker

A hot-collared jig nymph that combines a wire body with a fluorescent dubbing collar for a slim, fas

Sizes 14–18

Spotlight Emerger fly pattern
Emerger

Spotlight Emerger

A modern emerger pattern with a bright foam post for visibility and a sparse body that hangs in the

Sizes 14–18

Tungsten Torpedo fly pattern
Nymph

Tungsten Torpedo

A heavy, streamlined Euro nymph with a smooth thread body under UV resin and a large tungsten bead.

Sizes 10–14

March Brown Wet fly pattern
Wet Fly

March Brown Wet

The wet fly version of the March Brown is a classic swing pattern for early season fishing. Its mott

Sizes 12–14