What a fly assortment is and why it matters
A fly assortment is a curated collection of artificial flies designed to match the insects and baitfish in the waters you fish most often. Rather than buying random patterns, an assortment gives you the core flies that work across different seasons, water conditions, and target species in your region. The goal is to have something effective in your box without owning 200 flies you'll never use.
Most anglers build assortments around two principles: matching what's actually hatching or present in the water, and having backups of patterns that consistently catch fish. A well-stocked assortment for trout streams looks completely different from one for saltwater flats or warmwater lakes, because the insects and forage are different. Starting with a regional assortment saves money and keeps you from the paralysis of choice when you're standing streamside.
Key Takeaways
- An assortment should match the insects and baitfish in your target water, not generic "best flies" that work everywhere.
- Most assortments include dry flies for surface feeding, nymphs for subsurface feeding, and streamers for larger prey, in the sizes and colors that match your region's hatches.
- Buying pre-assembled assortments from fly shops or tiers in your area is faster and cheaper than building from scratch, because they already know what works locally.
- You should carry backups of your most productive patterns and rotate out flies that never catch fish to make room for new experiments.
Trout stream assortments and what to stock
Trout assortments typically split into three categories: dry flies (what fish see on the surface), nymphs (what they eat below), and streamers (larger patterns that imitate baitfish). A working assortment for most trout streams includes dry flies in sizes 12 to 20, nymphs in sizes 14 to 18, and streamers in sizes 2 to 8. The exact patterns depend on your region's major hatches—mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies in cold-water systems, or midges and small mayflies in spring creeks.
Start with patterns that match the most common hatches in your area. In the West, that often means Adams, Pale Morning Duns, and Elk Hair Caddis for dries; Pheasant Tail and Hare's Ear nymphs for subsurface work; and Woolly Buggers or articulated streamers for bigger fish. In the East, add patterns for Hendricksons, Blue-Winged Olives, and Isonychia. Ask at your local fly shop what hatches happen when you plan to fish—they'll tell you exactly what to carry and in what sizes.
Nymphs should include both weighted and unweighted versions, because water depth and current speed change how deep your fly needs to sink. Carry at least two of your most productive nymph patterns in different weights so you can fish different depths without changing flies constantly. Streamers work year-round but are most effective in spring and fall when water is cooler and fish are more aggressive.
Saltwater and warmwater assortments
Saltwater assortments are built around the baitfish and crustaceans in your target environment. Flats fishing for bonefish, permit, and tarpon requires small, realistic patterns in sizes 4 to 8 that imitate shrimp and small baitfish. Offshore and inshore assortments for stripers, redfish, and snapper use larger, flashier patterns in sizes 1/0 to 3/0 that trigger aggressive strikes. Warmwater lakes for bass and pike need assortments heavy on streamers and poppers that move water and create vibration.
Color matters more in saltwater than in freshwater because visibility changes with water clarity and light. Clear flats call for tan, gray, and white patterns; murky inshore water works with chartreuse, orange, and black. Carry multiple color options in your most productive sizes so you can adjust without guessing. Many saltwater anglers keep separate boxes for different fisheries—one for flats, one for offshore, one for inshore—because the conditions and target species are so different.
Warmwater assortments for bass and pike should include topwater patterns (poppers and sliders), subsurface streamers in natural and bright colors, and crayfish patterns. Sizes run larger than trout flies, typically 2 to 4/0. Unlike trout fishing, where matching the hatch is often critical, warmwater fish respond to movement and profile, so your assortment can be smaller and more flexible.
Pre-assembled assortments versus building your own
Most fly shops and online retailers sell pre-assembled assortments organized by region or target species. These are usually cheaper per fly than buying individual patterns, and they're built by people who fish the water regularly. A regional assortment from a local shop includes patterns proven to work in that specific system, which saves you from buying flies that don't match local hatches. Pre-assembled assortments also come in organized boxes, so you're not spending time sorting and storing.
Building your own assortment makes sense once you've fished a water several times and know which patterns work for you. Start by buying a pre-assembled set, fish it for a season, then replace the flies you never used with patterns you want to experiment with. This approach is faster than guessing from scratch and cheaper than buying individual flies one at a time. Keep notes on what worked and when—that data is worth more than any generic advice about "best flies."
Some anglers buy assortments from independent fly tiers in their region rather than from large retailers. Tiers often tie patterns specifically for local hatches and conditions, and they can customize sizes and colors to match what you're seeing on the water. This is especially useful if you fish a spring creek or tailwater where hatches are predictable and specific.
Organizing and maintaining your assortment
How you organize your flies affects how quickly you can find what you need on the water. Most anglers use compartmented fly boxes organized by fly type (dries, nymphs, streamers) or by size. Label each compartment clearly so you can grab the right pattern without fumbling. Some boxes have magnetic strips for saltwater flies; others use foam inserts for freshwater patterns. The box itself matters less than being able to find a fly in 10 seconds when fish are rising.
Rotate out flies that don't catch fish or that you've damaged and replaced. A fly with a bent hook or torn wing is taking up space that could hold something you'll actually use. Keep your most productive patterns in the front of the box so you reach for them first. If you fish multiple waters, consider keeping separate boxes for each—a trout box, a saltwater box, a warmwater box—rather than one overstuffed box that's heavy to carry and slow to search.
Check your assortment before each trip and restock patterns you've used up. Nothing is worse than running out of your most productive fly halfway through the day. Keep a list of what's in each box so you know what to replace when you get home. Many anglers tie their own flies or have a local tier keep them stocked, which is cheaper than buying retail if you fish regularly.
Adjusting your assortment through the season
Your assortment should change as the season progresses and different hatches emerge. In spring, add patterns for early mayflies and stoneflies; in summer, focus on smaller dries and midges as water warms; in fall, stock streamers and larger nymphs as fish feed aggressively before winter. Seasonal adjustments don't mean buying a completely new box—it means swapping out 10 to 15 flies to match what's happening on the water.
Pay attention to what other anglers are catching on and what you see on the water. If you're seeing Blue-Winged Olives but you don't have any in your box, add them. If you haven't caught a fish on a particular pattern in three outings, replace it with something else. Your assortment should evolve based on what actually works in your water, not on what a magazine says is a "must-have" fly.
Experiment with new patterns in small numbers—carry two or three of a new fly before committing to a full set. Some patterns become staples; others never produce. The only way to know is to fish them and keep notes on what works. Over time, your assortment becomes a personalized collection that reflects your local water and your own fishing style.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many flies should I carry in my assortment?
Most anglers carry 50 to 100 flies split across dries, nymphs, and streamers. A smaller box with 30 to 40 flies works fine if you fish the same water regularly and know what works. A larger box with 150+ flies is useful if you fish multiple waters or experiment frequently, but it becomes heavy and slow to search. Start with a pre-assembled assortment of 50 to 75 flies and adjust based on how often you use each pattern.
Should I buy an assortment or tie my own flies?
Buying a pre-assembled assortment is faster and usually cheaper per fly if you're new to fly fishing. Tying your own makes sense if you fish frequently, want to customize patterns for your water, or enjoy the craft. Many anglers do both—they buy assortments to start, then tie their own versions of their most productive patterns to save money and control quality.
What if I fish multiple waters with different conditions?
Keep separate assortments for each water type—one for trout streams, one for saltwater, one for warmwater lakes. This keeps your boxes organized, reduces weight when you're traveling to one specific place, and lets you stock patterns specific to each fishery. If you fish multiple trout streams in the same region, one assortment usually covers all of them because the hatches are similar.
How do I know what size flies to carry?
Ask your local fly shop what sizes are most productive in your water. For trout, sizes 12 to 20 cover most hatches; for saltwater, sizes 4 to 2/0 are standard; for warmwater, sizes 2 to 4/0 work for most species. Carry mostly medium sizes (14 to 16 for trout, 6 to 8 for saltwater) and a few larger and smaller options for specific conditions.
Can I use the same assortment for different regions?
A generic assortment of Adams, Woolly Buggers, and basic nymphs will catch fish almost anywhere, but you'll catch more fish with patterns that match local hatches. If you travel frequently, buy regional assortments for each place you fish, or ask local guides and shops what patterns work best. A trout assortment built for Western freestones won't be as effective on an Eastern spring creek because the hatches are different.