At The Drift Fly Shop we are blessed with being home to skilled and knowledgeable fly fishing professionals with a passion for the Arkansas River Tailwaters. Being such, there are particular patterns you can only find at our shop. These patterns have been honed by years of fishing and insect observation. Being an educational shop we want EVERYONE to be successful on the water, so below you will find a few of these patterns and how to tie them. Don’t tie? That’s ok! These flies are available for purchase in the shop or over the phone with a three dozen minimum.
The Ninja Midge
The Ninja Midge was created by The Drift’s Head-Guide Connell O’Grady. Designed specifically for the midge pupa found in the tailwaters of Pueblo, Colorado this bug has gained fame around the state on several of its most technical trout waters. It can be fished in a variety of different rigs.
The F.O.D
The F.O.D. (Which is short for Fly of Destiny) was created by Connnell O’Grady to mimic a BWO emerger.
The True Blood
Designed by Shop Owner Alex Zipp, the True Blood is a staple for anyone looking for success on the Arkansas River in Pueblo. With a plethora of blood midges flushing out from Lake Pueblo and several of the local Valco ponds, this pattern fits well to match our trout’s natural diet.
The Arkansas River in Pueblo, Colorado holds more than 20 different species of midges. Most which pupate and emerge with a black coloration. Created by Alex Zipp, the New Moon and Full Moon flies offer a new take on the reflective nature of a midge body. Varity in a fly box is vital on a tailwater and these two patterns do just that!