The 7 must-have flies for trout anglers in the West

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What are the West’s top must-have flies for trout? To find out, I consulted several of the region’s top fly fishermen. And though opinions varied, I was surprised by how often the choices aligned. Even when there was disagreement, it was usually only about variations on a pattern. And there was unanimous agreement that western trout flies need to be general in appeal, representing a wide variety of insects. Enter the following seven essential patterns. If you plan on tying up a storm this winter, these are flies you should have in your vest once spring arrives.

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Looking for more even new flies? Check out our running list of the all-time best flies for Canadian anglers at www.outdoorcanada.ca/musthaveflies. And you can see all of Outdoor Canada’s expert fly tying tips at www.outdoorcanada.ca/flytyingtips.