Best Flies for East Verde River (Arizona)

What's hatching now

Month, insect, size, and pattern from the East Verde River hatch chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.

No month-by-month hatch chart is stored for this river yet. Use the nymph, dry, and streamer lists below, then read the river guide.

Nymphs

Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.

• 

  Hare's Ear Nymph

  #10–#18

• No photograph

  Silver Bullet Baetis

  #14–#18

• 

  Zebra Midge

  #16

• 

  Pheasant Tail Nymph

  #12–#20

• 

  Flashback Hare's Ear

  #12–#18

• No photograph

  Soft Hackle Carrot

  #12–#18

• 

  Squirrel Nymph

  #10–#16

• 

  Beadhead Caddis Pupa

  #12–#18

• No photograph

  Pheasant Tail

  #14–#18

• 

  Scud

  #12–#18

• No photograph

  Hares Ear

  #16

• 

  Mop Fly

  #10–#14

• 

  Prince Nymph

  #10–#18

• 

  Walt's Worm

  #12–#16

• 

  Squirmy Wormy

  #10–#14

• 

  Blowtorch

  #12–#16

Dries

Dries and terrestrials for the East Verde River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.

• 

  Elk Hair Caddis

  #12–#18

• 

  Parachute Adams

  #12

Streamers

Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.

No catalog patterns in this group yet. Use the hatch chart and the river guide.

Setup

4X and 5X cover most nymphing. 4X on dries until the fish get picky, then 5X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.

FAQ

What flies work on the East Verde River?

Start with Hare's Ear Nymph and Silver Bullet Baetis, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The East Verde River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.

When is the best time to fly fish the East Verde River?

The editorial window we list is April, May, June, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.

Do I need a guide on the East Verde River?

Arizona has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.

Where can I see live flow for the East Verde River?

Open the East Verde River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.

Is this a report of what's working now on the East Verde River?

No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.

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