Flies come in every shape and size and in every level of buoyancy and density. Some flies float like as if they’re wearing life jackets and other sink like stones. Some can't decide and hang around partially submerged or just below the surface and some hang around partially submerged for a short while before the decide to sink slowly.

Every fly fisherman has that select fly patterns that’s proven to be successful. These flies usually have strange names - usually thought up over a bottle of whiskey late at night after a day’s fishing. "Duckworth's Dargle Delight", "Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear", "Red Arsed Bastard" and "Sawyer's Pheasant Tail Nymph" are real fly pattern names and they are all very successful flies if fished properly.

Freshwater flies can be grouped into two categories: Dry and Wet. Dry flies float and wet flies sink, it’s that simple. Wet flies can be grouped further into "streamers", "nymphs" and the all encompassing "others". Wet flies sink, and whatever line they're attached to will do the same (albeit at a different rate).

Dry flies require a floating line and in most cases a floatant. Fly floatant is available in different forms including liquid, powder and gel types. Whichever sort you choose, don’t use too much and make sure that you dry the fly with a few false casts before you apply the floatant.

Flies will get lost and damaged, and it can be frustrating when you've found a fly that works and your one and only version disappears into the murky depths of the trout waters. So, make sure that you have at least three of each fly in your fly box. You should also have a variety of sizes of the same pattern. Sometimes trout will ignore the right fly pattern, but of the wrong size.

Here is a list of general trout flies you should have in your box.

WET - NYMPHS
Emerging Nymph
Gold Rib Hare's Ear
Red eyed Damsel
Beady Woolly Worm
Woolly Worm
PTN

WET - OTHER
Hamill's Killer
Mrs. Simpson / Walkers Killer
Suspender Buzzer

DRY
Adams
Black Gnat
DDD
Dave's / Joe's Hopper
RAB
Coch-y-Bondhu / Peacock Spider

When you get to the water, make it a habit to see insects are around and try to identify what the trout are feeding on. If you can match the hatch then you will catch more fish. Also before you start chucking your fly at the fish, stand back and observe the water. If the trout are rising then your dry flies will be more successful. If they not rising and all you see are ripples or wakes then your subsurface flies will be more successful.

If the water is still then you should be fishing deeper down to where the trout are. So if they are feeding then you will be more successful with nymphs and other wet flies.