Building a $500 Trout Fly Starter Order

A good trout assortment starts with familiar patterns that earn their space in a fly box. Copper Johns, Hare's Ears, Pheasant Tails, Adams, and Woolly Buggers give you a practical foundation without requiring a different fly for every possible situation.

This example uses a $500 merchandise budget to build a 38-dozen selection, or 456 flies. It is a useful starting point for a small shop, a lodge, a club, or an angler building a substantial reserve. It is not a promise that one assortment covers every trout water. Local hatches, seasons, regulations, and fishing conditions should guide your final choices.

The Starter Order at a Glance

The quantities below were checked against our catalog and available sizes when this guide was prepared. The example fits below $500 at those prices, before shipping and tax. Prices and availability can change, so sign in to confirm your total before ordering. This is a suggested shopping list, not a prepackaged bundle.

Nymphs - 20 Dozen

  • Bead Head Copper John: two dozen each in sizes 14, 16, and 18 - six dozen total.
  • Bead Head Hares Ear: two dozen each in sizes 14, 16, and 18 - six dozen total.
  • Bead Head American Pheasant Tail: two dozen each in sizes 14, 16, and 18 - six dozen total.
  • Tungsten Bead Head Copper John: one dozen each in sizes 14 and 16 - two dozen total.

This gives the assortment depth in three dependable subsurface patterns, plus a heavier Copper John option when additional weight is useful. The Hare's Ear offers a buggy profile, the Pheasant Tail a slimmer one, and the Copper John adds a compact wire-bodied choice. Adjust weight and presentation to the water rather than expecting the pattern alone to do the work.

Dry Flies - 12 Dozen

  • Adams Dry: two dozen each in sizes 14 and 16 - four dozen total.
  • Adams Parachute: two dozen each in sizes 14 and 16 - four dozen total.
  • Elk Hair Caddis Tan: one dozen each in sizes 14 and 16 - two dozen total.
  • Griffiths Gnat Midge Dry: one dozen each in sizes 18 and 20 - two dozen total.

The Adams patterns provide versatile mayfly-like profiles, while the tan Elk Hair Caddis adds a different silhouette for caddis activity. Griffiths Gnats give the selection a small dry-fly option when midges are relevant. If your local fishing calls for more caddis and fewer Adams, shift the quantities accordingly.

Streamers - Four Dozen

  • Crystal Woolly Bugger Dark Olive: one dozen each in sizes 4 and 8 - two dozen total.
  • Crystal Woolly Bugger Olive/Black: one dozen each in sizes 4 and 8 - two dozen total.

These two color combinations keep the streamer selection straightforward while offering a larger and smaller profile. Woolly Buggers are useful searching patterns in many trout settings, but choose your size, retrieve, and fishing depth for the conditions.

Seasonal Terrestrials - Two Dozen

  • Morrish Hopper Tan Foam Body: one dozen in size 10.
  • Fat Albert Tan Foam Hopper: one dozen in size 10.

These are warm-season additions, not year-round essentials. Where grasshoppers are unimportant, use this portion of the budget for locally useful ants, beetles, smaller nymphs, or additional proven patterns. Check the revised total when making substitutions.

Make the Selection Your Own

Before ordering, consider your local water and the anglers who will use the flies. A tailwater assortment may need more small subsurface patterns. A small-stream selection may favor different dry flies. Waters with barbless requirements call for appropriate hook choices.

Start with useful coverage, then let fishing experience or sales guide your reorders. For one angler, 456 flies is a substantial supply, so consider your actual needs rather than spending the full budget simply because it is available.

Simple Ordering, With Room to Plan Ahead

You can mix patterns in your order. Flies are sold by the dozen, with some larger flies sold by the half-dozen. Every item in this example is a dozen pack.

The minimum is $100 for your first order and every reorder. Choose from our large inventory for immediate shipment, or contact us about custom orders of your regional favorites with a three-month lead time.

Open your account - no application necessary. Register with your name and email to view wholesale pricing and put together an assortment suited to your trout waters.