Updated: June 27 2025 | By Shayne Prinsloo
Best Dry Flies for Dullstroom: Top Patterns by Local Guides
If you're planning a fly fishing trip to Dullstroom, selecting the right dry flies can make or break your success. With clear waters, skittish trout, and seasonal hatches, knowing what works at local venues like Laverpa and Valley of the Rainbow is key. Below, I’ve listed some of the best-performing dry flies and emergers that have consistently produced results on our trips.
PLEASE NOTE: "These flies are not arranged in order of preference or performance."
Click an image to open the lightbox viewer.
1. Parachute Adams
The Parachute Adams is a versatile dry fly that imitates a range of mayflies. It's effective throughout the year, especially during afternoon hatches at Laverpa.
- Size: 14–16
- Best Time: Late morning to sunset
- Water: Still and slow-moving
- Colour: Naturals, Purple Haze
2. Klinkhammer
This emerger pattern floats perfectly in the surface film and is deadly in Dullstroom’s calm and choppy waters. Use 5x or 6x tippet pay attention and be quick on setting the hook.
- Size: 14–18
- Best Time: All day
- Color: Olive, Purple Haze, Tan and Black
3. Shuttlecock Emergers
Another very productive emerger pattern floats perfectly in the surface film, deadly in Dullstroom’s calm waters. Use 5x or 6x tippet for stealth and use a strip strike to set the hook.
- Size: 14–18
- Best Time: All day
- Color: Olive, Tan, Black or Brown
4. VR Caddis
The VR Caddis is more than just a fly — it's a tribute to a special fishery.
I was personally commissioned by Valley of the Rainbow Fly Fishing Estate to design a signature fly pattern specifically for their waters — a fly that would honor their unique environment while delivering consistent results for anglers. After observing the entomology and behavior of trout across both their stillwaters and stream sections, I developed the VR Caddis — a custom-tied dry fly built for their home waters.
This caddis imitation floats high yet sits naturally in the surface film, making it perfect for tempting both rainbows and browns in calm or lightly rippled water. I’ve blended a natural silhouette with just the right amount of movement and visibility, ideal for targeting selective trout during evening rises or midday hatches.
Proven effective across all seasons at Valley of the Rainbow, the VR Caddis is now a staple in my fly box — and a trusted pattern for guests looking to experience the magic of topwater takes in this stunning setting.
- Size: 12-16
- Best Time: All day
- Recommended Tippet: 5X or 6X mono
- Color: Tan or Brown
- Target Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
5. Griffith’s Gnat
When trout are sipping midges, this is your go-to fly. Dead drift it across slicks or calm edges. This pattern also imitates many other food sources that get blown onto the water.
6. Stimulator (Orange or Yellow)
Larger trout often respond aggressively to Stimulators. This fly also doubles as a dry-dropper indicator fly.
7. Hoppers
I love fishing hoppers and the trout love eating them, thay can be fished all day and also doubles as a dry-dropper indicator fly.
- Sizes: 8 - 12
Top Tips:
-
1. Pay Close Attention to Your Dries and Emergers.
When fly fishing, especially in challenging waters like Laverpa, your success often hinges on observation and adaptation. Always keep a close eye on your dry flies and emergers. These patterns imitate insects in their most vulnerable and active stages—either sitting on the surface or emerging through the film—and trout will often rise subtly, sometimes sipping rather than striking. A missed take here can mean a missed opportunity.
-
2. Start Big, Then Scale Down.
A good rule of thumb is to begin your session with larger flies. Bigger patterns are easier for fish to see and often provoke aggressive strikes, especially early in the morning or when insect activity is just starting. But as the day progresses or conditions become tougher—bright skies, clear water, or increased pressure from other anglers—it’s wise to scale down both your fly size and your tippet. Dropping to a smaller fly and a finer tippet (one size thinner) can often turn refusals into solid hookups, especially during selective feeding windows.
-
3. Match the Hatch with Observation.
Before you even make your first cast, take a moment to scan the water. What insects are present? Are there midges dancing in the air, mayflies riding the surface, or caddis fluttering near the banks? Look under rocks or along the reeds. This kind of "river reconnaissance" can give you valuable clues about what the trout are feeding on. Matching your fly to the natural insects—both in size and silhouette—dramatically increases your chances of success.
-
4. Observation:
Match brightness and colour of your fly to the water clarity and light conditions.
-
5. Point Out:
Purple tones are especially productive (Purple Haze, emergers).
-
6. Get Local Insight.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the value of local knowledge. As a guide who spends countless hours on these waters, I can quickly assess conditions and recommend the most effective fly patterns based on current hatches, water temperature, weather conditions, and fish behavior. Whether you're new to fly fishing or a seasoned angler visiting Dullstroom, tapping into this expertise can help shorten the learning curve and make your day on the water far more rewarding.
Recommended Gear:
- Rod: 3–5 weight
- Line: Floating
- Store-Bought Tapered Leaders - 9 foot 3x (tippet to be added)
- Hand tied leaders welcome.
- Tippet: 4X, 5x and 6X mono
- Flurocarbon used on the droppers
- A healthy supply of the flies listed above. LOL 😂
- For dry flies with CDC use Loon Lochsa or powdered fly floatants
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best months to use dry flies in Dullstroom?
Dry flies perform best in spring and autumn, but year-round success is possible with the right pattern and tippet.
Are these fly patterns beginner-friendly?
Yes. Many flies like the Parachute Adams and Griffith’s Gnat are ideal for beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Where can I fish with these flies?
Popular spots include Laverpa, Valley of the Rainbow, and other private stillwaters in Dullstroom.
Best Fly Colours: Dry Flies On Dullstroom Waters
Choosing Fly Colours for Dullstroom Conditions
Colour Visibility:
Water alters colour perception – red disappears within ~6 ft, orange/yellow at 10 ft, while blue stays visible deeper; black and flash remain highly visible due to contrast. Fluorescent dyes hold colour near the surface because they reflect UV light, aiding visibility on sunny days. Grey and neutral tones (e.g., Parachute Adams) are flexible patterns that match multiple hatches in clearer water.
Daylight & Water Clarity:
- Sunny, clear water: Use bright flies like white, yellow, or chartreuse to reflect light and remain visible on the surface.
- Overcast or muddy water: Go dark—black, olive, or brown flies create a strong silhouette trout can easily detect.
- Stained or tea-coloured water: Chartreuse and olive tones work well, as they contrast and complement these hues.
- Neutral tones (like grey): Patterns such as the Adams imitate a range of insects and are highly effective in stillwaters.
- Purple hues: Purple Haze variants take advantage of trout’s sensitivity to violet light—great for selective feeders during hatch windows.
Pro tip: “Dark day, dark fly. Bright day, bright fly. If the water is high and muddy use a dark fly, Water is gin clear use a bright fly. Matching brightness and colour to conditions can often be the difference between a follow and a strike.
Final Recommendations for Dullstroom Flies
Even in clear stillwaters, light can vary significantly:
- 1. Parachute Adams (grey/olive) – versatile for varied hatch matching.
- 2. Purple Haze – purple hues signal violet-light sensitivity in trout
- 3. Bright stimulators/hoppers (orange, yellow, white) – high in the column; grab attention for surface feeders .
- 4. Olive/Tan – ideal all-rounders that mimic midges, caddis, and small mayfly emerger stages.
- 5. Black/Brown – fall back to these for overcast days or discoloured water.
Guided fly fishing trips
Book a trout fishing experience