Favorite dry flies for the Ozarks?

[Bill B.]

Just curious -- what are your favorite dry flies for fishing in the Ozarks throughout the year?

[trythisonemv]

Spring bwo

All year griffiths gnat

Elk hair caddis and hopper for summer.

Fall griffiths 

[Bill B.]

Thanks. Where do you buy your flies, or do you tie your own? I just looked up the Griffiths at a discount fly site. I liked the look of the high-vis gnat they are selling -- something that would be easier for me to see.

 

[ness]

Assuming you mean for trout? 

I've always got stimulators in the box, and a lot of the time they're used as an indicator for a nymph down below. I'll have them fairly large for hopper imitations on down. Elk Hair Caddis in various shades and sizes are always in there; they're durable and effective. Can you tell I like them bushy? I gotta be able to see them 😄 There's always a few parachute Adams and tiny white ones in there too. Occasionally I'll tie a dry/dry setup with a dry fly I can see leading small one I can't see about 4 inches down. 

Get a few flies, learn how to get them to drift naturally and you'll do ok. Don't forget to fish the bottom, especially if you want to catch fish. 😄

Haven't been tying much lately for a variety of reasons. Lots of online sources these days. I try to patronize smaller, locally owned shops when I can. 

[Gavin]

Madame X in black, woodland cricket, and October caddis colors, and the Jarosik beetle from now till the first hard freeze. Little fuzzy things 18-26 occasionally.

[fishinwrench]

I'm not sure what it is about a #16 Coachman Trude (not "Royal") but I have caught a lot of fish on that one, and it does well everywhere, even on NFOW where trout "don't eat drys".

#18 black ant, or a #14 foam over peacock herl Beetle is a deadly one too, even in the Winter when no ants or beetles are around. 

[podum]

18-20 cracklebacks (griffiths gnat without the peacock herl), 16-18 cdc caddis, 10-12 hoppers.

[Bill B.]

Thanks to all. I've made a list. Do you buy those in multiple sizes, or is there just one size that is your go-to?

[slothman]

I've been really turned on to super small size 22-24 parachute flies (high vis) Adams, bwo, etc. I think it is basically a midge pattern. Using the high vis has really helped me catch more with dries. I don't think the fish seem to care at all. 

[fishinwrench]

19 minutes ago, slothman said:

I've been really turned on to super small size 22-24 parachute flies (high vis) Adams, bwo, etc. I think it is basically a midge pattern. Using the high vis has really helped me catch more with dries. I don't think the fish seem to care at all. 

https://books.google.com/books?id=8sGVmsNIJsEC&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&dq=sangre+de+cristo+fly+pattern&source=bl&ots=FT0n2FRB-_&sig=jEL5Qd7k4czsCAgvb3_qKFFokSQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjy-Zak5-TVAhUh34MKHdkGAjsQ6AEICzAA#v=onepage&q=sangre de cristo fly pattern&f=false