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Favorite Flies for Black Hills Fly Fishing - Tie your Own

Favorite Flies for Black Hills Fly Fishing - Tie your Own

Hans Stephenson |

Need Flies for Black Hills Fly Fishing? Are you fly tyer?

If you’re gearing up for fly fishing in the Black Hills, having the right fly patterns in your box is essential. At Dakota Angler & Outfitter, we’ve showcased some of our most effective Black Hills trout patterns on our YouTube channel. Whether you're targeting finicky trout in our spring creeks or eager fish in our larger streams, these patterns have proven their worth. Here’s a look at some must-try flies, all featured in our tying tutorials.

CDC Mayfly Dun

Mayfly hatches are a staple of Black Hills fly fishing, and a well-tied CDC Mayfly Dun is a deadly choice when fish are sipping duns off the surface. The CDC fibers provide an incredibly realistic profile and natural buoyancy, making it a great option for slow-moving water where fish scrutinize every drift.

CDC Mayfly Dun

You can find all these materials in our CDC Mayfly Dun collection.

CDC Thorax Dun

Another fantastic mayfly imitation, the CDC Thorax Dun, sits low in the film, mimicking an emerging mayfly. This is an excellent pattern for selective trout during a hatch, especially in clear Black Hills waters where a natural silhouette is key.

CDC Thorax Dun

All materials are available in our CDC Thorax Dun Tying Materials collection.

MGT Perdigon

Perdigons are go-to patterns for fast, deep runs, and the MGT Perdigon is a perfect option for Black Hills streams. Tied slim and heavy, this fly gets down quickly to where the fish are feeding. It’s especially effective when fish are feeding subsurface, making it a great choice for Euro nymphing setups.

MGT Perdigon

These materials can be found in our MGT Perdigon Fly Tying Materials collection.

Morgan's Midge

Midge hatches are common year-round in the Black Hills, making Morgan’s Midge a fly you don’t want to leave home without. This simple yet effective pattern is great for targeting fish rising to small dries in the winter and early spring months.

Morgan’s Midge

All materials are available in our Morgan's Midge Fly Tying Materials collection.

Ginger Midge

A slight variation of traditional midge patterns, the Ginger Midge is a great choice when fish are keying in on small insects. Its subtle coloration and lifelike profile make it deadly during midge hatches on local streams.

Ginger Midge

All materials are available in our Ginger Midge Fly Tying Materials Collection


Tungsten Split Case BWO Nymph

When Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) are hatching, trout often key in on the nymph stage just before emergence. The Tungsten Split Case BWO Nymph is an excellent pattern for fishing during these hatches, as its design mimics the natural nymphs found in the Black Hills streams.

https://flyfishsd.com/collections/split-back-baetis-nymph-tying-materials

Tungsten Split Case Baetis Nymph Materials

  •  Hook- Daiichi 1100 size 16-22
  •  Bead- Black Nickel Tungsten Bead Sized to hook
  •  Thread- 70 Denier Ultra Thread Olive
  •  Tail- Partridge dyed Olive or Whiting Brahma Hen Fibers
  •  Rib- Clear Micro Tubing or 5x Tippet
  •  Abdomen- Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing
  •  Wing Buds- Black Goose Biots
  •  Wingcase- Wapsi Razor Foam Olive
  •  Thorax- Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing
  •  Legs- Partridge dyed Olive or Whiting Brahma Hen Fibers

Black Fly Larva

Black Fly Larva Fly Tying Video. Black Fly Larvae are frequently overlooked as trout food. They are one of the most important trout foods in many rivers and streams. This simple, durable, and effective pattern is a great pattern for beginning fly tiers. Don't let it's simplicity fool you! This is a dynamite pattern. It was Hans's top-producing nymph in 2023 & 2024.

https://flyfishsd.com/collections/black-fly-larva-jig-nymph-materials

  • Hook: Kumoto KJ310 Jig Hook Size 16-20 or Umpqua 210bn Perdijig Hook size 16-18
  • Bead: Silver slotted bead sized to fit hook size - 2.8 to 3.2 mm for size 16; 2.4 to 2.8mm for size 18; 2.0 to 2.4 mm for size 20 
  • Thread: Tan or Gray 8/0 Semperfli Classic Waxed
  • Tail/Feelers: Tan or Gray Fluoro Fiber
  • Abdomen: Hends Half Round Rib, Wapsi Midge Vinyl Rib, or Hareline D-Rib Finish- Solarez Bone Dry Plus or Head Cement to coat head thread wraps

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Each of these patterns has been tested on our local waters and proven to fool trout time and time again. Want to tie them yourself? Check out our Dakota Angler & Outfitter YouTube channel for step-by-step tying tutorials on each of these flies. Stock up your fly box, hit the water, and let us know how these patterns work for you!

Tight lines and happy tying!