Updated: 18 August 2025 | By Shayne Prinsloo
Best Dry Flies for Dullstroom Trout :
Top Patterns by Pro Guide - Shayne Prinsloo
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 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."
What Flies To Use In Dullstroom ?
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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 SP 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, 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
- Target Species: Rainbows and Browns
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
8. Foam Daddy (Daddy long legs - Crane Fly)
The Foam Daddy is a highly effective terrestrial-style dry fly designed to imitate crane flies (often called daddy longlegs) that accidentally fall onto the water surface. Its foam body ensures excellent buoyancy, keeping the fly riding high—making it particularly visible and enticing to trout.
- Sizes: 10 - 12 short shank curved hook
- Colours: Tan , Brown, Yellow and Orange
- Where to fish: Stillwater margins, weedy banks, around structure—where crane flies commonly fall.
- Use a floating line and let the fly drift naturally.
- Cast into likely feeding lanes—near reeds, banks, or inflows.
- Watch for subtler takes; fish may follow before rising.
Pro Tips:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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4. Observation:
Match brightness and colour of your fly to the water clarity and light conditions.
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5. Point Out:
Purple tones are especially productive (Purple Haze, emergers).
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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.
At Immersive Angling, we fine-tune fly choices based on water temperature, light, and hatch conditions on the day. If you're unsure, just ask Shayne during your trip—he'll help match the hatch for success.
Recommended Gear:
- Rod: 3–5 weight
- Line: Floating
- Tapered Leaders - 9 foot 3x (tippet to be added)
- Tippet: 4x, 5x and 6x mono
- Flurocarbon used on the droppers
- A healthy supply of the flies listed above
- For dry flies with CDC use Loon Lochsa or powdered fly floatants
Other Top Sub Surface Fly Patterns for Dullstroom Waters
Dullstroom's high-altitude stillwaters and rivers offer unique challenges and rewards. Matching the hatch and using the right fly pattern can make all the difference. Here's a breakdown of some of the most effective fly types for the area:
Fritz Bugger
A hybrid between a flashy Fritz and the classic Woolly Bugger, this fly offers the movement of a streamer with the visual attraction of a fritz body. Perfect for deeper or slightly stained waters.
Woolly Bugger
This worldwide classic imitates everything from leeches to baitfish. Use black, olive, or brown in various sizes and retrieve speeds to trigger strikes in both rivers and stillwaters.
Nymphs
Crucial in clear water, nymphs imitate subsurface insects like:
- Caddis Larvae (olive or mustard)
- Mayfly Nymphs (black, brown, olive)
- Midges or bloodworms for stillwaters
Terrestrials
Foam beetles, ants, and hoppers are deadly in spring through early autumn. They’re best fished near the bank or in windy conditions when insects fall into the water.
Zonkers
Zonker patterns like the Rabbit Strip Leech create irresistible lifelike movement. Fish them deep and slow in colder water or when trout are holding low.
Best fly colours for Dullstroom
Choosing The Right 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.
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🧾 Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best fly patterns for Dullstroom stillwaters?
Popular choices include Woolly Buggers, Fritz Buggers, and Zonkers for deeper water. Nymphs and dry flies like mayflies and caddis can also be highly effective in the right conditions.
When is the best time of year to fish with dry flies in Dullstroom?
Late spring to early autumn offers the best dry fly opportunities, especially during mayfly and caddis hatches. Terrestrials are most effective in the warmer months.
Should I bring different fly patterns for rivers and stillwaters?
Yes. While some flies like Woolly Buggers work well in both, river trout often respond better to smaller, more natural patterns like nymphs, dry flies, and soft hackles.
Do I need to match the hatch when fishing in Dullstroom?
Matching the hatch is important, especially in clear water or during active feeding periods. Observing insect activity before choosing your fly will improve success.
What size flies should I use in Dullstroom?
Stillwaters usually require sizes 8–12 for streamers and nymphs. For river fishing and dry flies, sizes 14–18 are commonly used. Adjust based on water clarity and fish behavior.