Ron's Trico Spinner
Fly of the Month 8.26 - Trico
The Tricorythodes, commonly known as Tricos, are mayflies that are particularly small, often
ranging from size 20 to 24. They are known for their three tails and distinct black-and-white
coloring in the spinner phase. Trico duns are a pale gray/olive color with light gray wings.
Tricos are a significant part of many nutrient rich
freestone streams, tailraces and spring creeks
containing trout. These mayflies offer some of
the best dry fly fishing opportunities during the
Trico hatch, which occurs in July, August, and
early September, providing a consistent food
source that trout will key into almost the entire
season.
Trico fly fishing causes anglers all sorts of frustration due to how picky trout become after
feeding on them. However, once anglers master Trico hatches, anglers will find themselves
successful with all sorts of different patterns.
Trico Spinner
There are a variety of Trico patterns anglers use for fly fishing, but the following five patterns
will drive feeding trout crazy.
Hi-Vis Trico Spinner
Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook
Size: 16, 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 black
Rear Hackle: Grizzly
Rear 3 rd Body: Peacock herl
Center 3 rd Body: Pearlescent tinsel
Wing: White Antron
Front 3rd Body: Peacock herl
Front Hackle: Grizzly
Note: Whether fishing cloudy or choppy water or fishing in the midst of a large hatch, the Hi-Vis
Trico Spinner with the orange and yellow wings are easy to see. The parachute design helps
accomplish that much needed drag free drift. Trico spinners are not always easy to tie, but the
Hi-Vis Spinner pattern is not the most challenging.
Quigley’s Midge Cluster
Hook: Standard dry fly hook
Size: 16, 18, 20
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 black
Rear Hackle: Grizzly
Center Body: Pearlescent tinsel
Rear 3rd Body: Peacock Herl
Photo
courtesy
Tackle
Village
E.
Tricorythode
Wing: White Antron
Front Hackle: Grizzly
Front 3rd Body: Peacock Herl
Note: A heavy Trico hatch can be difficult to fish because the flies begin to clump, and fish
become more picky. Quigley’s Midge Cluster imitates a bunched group of Trico flies. This is a
bit larger pattern, so it is somewhat easier to tie, and it will stick out well when fished.
Drowned Trico
Hook: 1xF, 1xS Curved shank hook
Size: 16, 18
Bead: Black nickel 5/64” or 3/32”
Thread: Black 12/0
Abdomen: Claret biot
Tail: Split light dun Microfibbets
Wing: Plastic wing sheeting
Thorax: Black dubbing
Note: If fishing with Tricos was not complicated enough, sometimes trout feeding behavior
changes enough that they want to feed right below the surface. Drowned Trico spinners sit right
below the surface and are great imitations of a sunken spinner or adult. These flies should drag
free drift naturally just under the surface.
Fly of the Month 8.26 Trico
Ron’s Female & Male Trico Spinner
Hook: Hends BL354
Size: 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 pale yellow (female)
Benecchi 12/0 black (male)
Abdomen: Bleached peacock quill (female)
Stripped peacock quill (male)
Wing: White EB Fibers spent
Tail: 3 White Microfibbets, split
Thorax: Peacock herl from the eye, length to the gape of the hook
Note: Ron’s Trico Spinner is perhaps the most famous Trico fly pattern in the world. This pattern
was created and perfected by anglers on the rivers near Missoula, Montana. Use this fly pattern
during the Trico spinner fall in the mornings or during the evening
hatches. The tame colors and materials do not spook fish. It is not
overly complicated to tie and many fly fishers will make this their first
pattern they use when fishing Tricos.
Female & Male Trico Comparadun
Hook: Standard dry fly hook
Size: 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 pale yellow (female)
Benecchi 12/0 black (male)
Wing: Bleached deer body hair
Abdomen: Cream Biot (female)
Black Biot (male)
Tail: Split Light dun hackle fibers
Thorax: Black dubbing
Note: Trout can become so picky that they start to only want to eat lighter female Tricos.
However, darker male duns should be inn the fly box for backup.
Directions:
1) Place the bead on the hook and insert the hook into the vise.
2)
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker
The Tricorythodes, commonly known as Tricos, are mayflies that are particularly small, often
ranging from size 20 to 24. They are known for their three tails and distinct black-and-white
coloring in the spinner phase. Trico duns are a pale gray/olive color with light gray wings.
Tricos are a significant part of many nutrient rich
freestone streams, tailraces and spring creeks
containing trout. These mayflies offer some of
the best dry fly fishing opportunities during the
Trico hatch, which occurs in July, August, and
early September, providing a consistent food
source that trout will key into almost the entire
season.
Trico fly fishing causes anglers all sorts of frustration due to how picky trout become after
feeding on them. However, once anglers master Trico hatches, anglers will find themselves
successful with all sorts of different patterns.
Trico Spinner
There are a variety of Trico patterns anglers use for fly fishing, but the following five patterns
will drive feeding trout crazy.
Hi-Vis Trico Spinner
Hook: Standard Dry Fly Hook
Size: 16, 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 black
Rear Hackle: Grizzly
Rear 3 rd Body: Peacock herl
Center 3 rd Body: Pearlescent tinsel
Wing: White Antron
Front 3rd Body: Peacock herl
Front Hackle: Grizzly
Note: Whether fishing cloudy or choppy water or fishing in the midst of a large hatch, the Hi-Vis
Trico Spinner with the orange and yellow wings are easy to see. The parachute design helps
accomplish that much needed drag free drift. Trico spinners are not always easy to tie, but the
Hi-Vis Spinner pattern is not the most challenging.
Quigley’s Midge Cluster
Hook: Standard dry fly hook
Size: 16, 18, 20
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 black
Rear Hackle: Grizzly
Center Body: Pearlescent tinsel
Rear 3rd Body: Peacock Herl
Photo
courtesy
Tackle
Village
E.
Tricorythode
Wing: White Antron
Front Hackle: Grizzly
Front 3rd Body: Peacock Herl
Note: A heavy Trico hatch can be difficult to fish because the flies begin to clump, and fish
become more picky. Quigley’s Midge Cluster imitates a bunched group of Trico flies. This is a
bit larger pattern, so it is somewhat easier to tie, and it will stick out well when fished.
Drowned Trico
Hook: 1xF, 1xS Curved shank hook
Size: 16, 18
Bead: Black nickel 5/64” or 3/32”
Thread: Black 12/0
Abdomen: Claret biot
Tail: Split light dun Microfibbets
Wing: Plastic wing sheeting
Thorax: Black dubbing
Note: If fishing with Tricos was not complicated enough, sometimes trout feeding behavior
changes enough that they want to feed right below the surface. Drowned Trico spinners sit right
below the surface and are great imitations of a sunken spinner or adult. These flies should drag
free drift naturally just under the surface.
Fly of the Month 8.26 Trico
Ron’s Female & Male Trico Spinner
Hook: Hends BL354
Size: 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 pale yellow (female)
Benecchi 12/0 black (male)
Abdomen: Bleached peacock quill (female)
Stripped peacock quill (male)
Wing: White EB Fibers spent
Tail: 3 White Microfibbets, split
Thorax: Peacock herl from the eye, length to the gape of the hook
Note: Ron’s Trico Spinner is perhaps the most famous Trico fly pattern in the world. This pattern
was created and perfected by anglers on the rivers near Missoula, Montana. Use this fly pattern
during the Trico spinner fall in the mornings or during the evening
hatches. The tame colors and materials do not spook fish. It is not
overly complicated to tie and many fly fishers will make this their first
pattern they use when fishing Tricos.
Female & Male Trico Comparadun
Hook: Standard dry fly hook
Size: 18, 20, 22
Thread: Benecchi 12/0 pale yellow (female)
Benecchi 12/0 black (male)
Wing: Bleached deer body hair
Abdomen: Cream Biot (female)
Black Biot (male)
Tail: Split Light dun hackle fibers
Thorax: Black dubbing
Note: Trout can become so picky that they start to only want to eat lighter female Tricos.
However, darker male duns should be inn the fly box for backup.
Directions:
1) Place the bead on the hook and insert the hook into the vise.
2)
- Tom Adams, Alen Baker