Species
The fish fly anglers chase in fresh and salt water, from trout and bass to bonefish, permit and tarpon. Where they live and what it takes to catch them.
43 terms in 6 groups
Flats species (6)
- Bonefishalso bone, bonesA bonefish is a fast, silvery flats fish that feeds by tailing and rooting for shrimp, crabs, and small baitfish in shallow saltwater.
- Giant trevallyalso GT, Caranx ignobilisA giant trevally (GT) is a large, powerful jack found on tropical reefs and flats. It is a top predator that eats baitfish and other marine life in very shallow water and along drop-offs.
- Grand slamalso flats grand slam, saltwater grand slam, fly fishing grand slamA grand slam is a catch list, usually three flats species landed in one day, as defined by a specific fishery, lodge, or tournament.
- MilkfishMilkfish are large, silvery tropical fish that graze on algae and other fine food. They are a fly target on flats and off reef edges, known for long, fast runs on fly tackle.
- Permitalso Trachinotus falcatusPermit are powerful flats fish in the jack family that feed heavily on crabs and shrimp. They are known for being selective and for demanding accurate presentations in shallow water.
- Tarponalso Silver kingA tarpon is a large, air-breathing saltwater fish found in warm coastal waters and on flats. It is famous for long runs and jumps after the hook set.
Grayling & whitefish (2)
- Arctic graylingalso Thymallus arcticus, graylingA freshwater salmonid known for its tall, sail-like dorsal fin and soft, delicate mouth. Grayling live in cold northern waters and feed heavily on drifting insects.
- Whitefishalso Mountain whitefish, Round whitefishWhitefish are freshwater fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae) that feed heavily on insects and small invertebrates. They are often caught on nymphs while targeting trout.
Inshore & coastal (9)
- BonitoBonito are small tuna relatives that hunt baitfish in fast-moving schools along coasts and offshore structure. On the fly they are a speed-and-distance target, known for long runs and quick direction changes.
- Cobiaalso Ling, LemonfishA cobia is a powerful coastal saltwater fish that cruises near structure and often follows rays, sharks, or boats. Fly anglers target them by sight-casting baitfish and crab patterns.
- False albacorealso Albie, Albies, Little tunny, False albacore tunaA fast, schooling tuna relative that feeds in blitzes near the surface along coasts. On the fly, it is targeted with small baitfish streamers and quick retrieves.
- Jack crevallealso crevalle jack, jack, common jackA jack crevalle is a hard-fighting coastal jack that travels in schools and feeds aggressively on baitfish in bays, passes, and nearshore surf.
- Mahi-mahialso Dolphinfish, DoradoMahi-mahi is a fast-growing, open-ocean game fish, also called dolphinfish. Fly anglers target it around floating structure like weed lines, debris, and buoys.
- Redfishalso Red drum, Red, Channel bassRedfish are inshore saltwater gamefish, also called red drum, that feed on shrimp, crabs, and baitfish across flats, marshes, and shorelines.
- Roosterfishalso RoosterA roosterfish is a hard-fighting inshore gamefish known for the tall “comb” of dorsal spines it raises when excited or feeding.
- Snookalso Common snook, RobaloSnook are warmwater inshore gamefish that live around mangroves, docks, beaches, and tidal rivers in the western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific.
- Striped bassalso Striper, RockfishA striped bass is a large, migratory fish that lives mostly in saltwater, feeds heavily on baitfish, and is a major target for fly anglers along the Atlantic coast.
Salmon & steelhead (7)
- Atlantic salmonalso Salmo salarA migratory salmon native to the North Atlantic that hatches in rivers, grows in the ocean, then returns to freshwater to spawn.
- Chinook salmonalso King salmon, KingChinook salmon are the largest Pacific salmon species. They are anadromous, they hatch in freshwater, grow in the ocean, then return to rivers to spawn.
- Chum salmonalso Dog salmon, Chum, Dogs, Oncorhynchus ketaChum salmon are an anadromous Pacific salmon species, Oncorhynchus keta, known for strong runs and aggressive behavior in freshwater during the spawn.
- Coho salmonalso Silver salmon, SilversCoho salmon are Pacific salmon that hatch in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, then return to rivers to spawn. They are also called silver salmon and are a common target on Alaska and Pacific Northwest trips.
- Pink salmonalso Humpy, Humpies, Oncorhynchus gorbuschaPink salmon are Pacific salmon that return to freshwater to spawn, then die. They are the smallest and most abundant Pacific salmon in many runs, and are often called “humpies.”
- Sockeye salmonalso Red salmon, SockeyeSockeye salmon are Pacific salmon that hatch in freshwater, spend most of their adult life in the ocean, then return to freshwater to spawn. They are known for strong runs and bright red spawning color.
- Steelheadalso Sea-run rainbow trout, Sea-run rainbow, Great Lakes steelheadA steelhead is a rainbow trout that migrates to the ocean and later returns to freshwater to spawn. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead can survive spawning and may repeat the cycle.
Trout & char (10)
- Arctic charalso Salvelinus alpinus, charA coldwater char (Salvelinus alpinus) that lives in Arctic and subarctic lakes and rivers, and sometimes in the ocean. It can look like a trout, but it is in the char group with brook trout and Dolly Varden.
- Brook troutalso Brookie, Speckled trout, Brook charBrook trout are a char, not a true trout. They are coldwater fish known for bright colors and pale “worm-like” markings on the back.
- Brown troutalso Salmo trutta, German brown, European brown troutA brown trout is a trout species (Salmo trutta) known for a golden-brown body with dark spots, often with some red or orange spots. It is native to Europe, northern Africa and western Asia and widely introduced around the world.
- Bull troutalso bull charA bull trout is a native char of northwestern North America that lives in very cold, clean water and often eats fish.
- Cutthroat troutalso cutty, cutthroatCutthroat trout are native trout of the western U.S. and Canada, named for the orange to red “cut” mark under the jaw. Many populations are distinct subspecies tied to specific river basins.
- Dolly Vardenalso Dolly, Dolly Varden charA Dolly Varden is a char in the genus Salvelinus, closely related to bull trout and Arctic char. It lives in cold northern waters, with both resident and sea-run forms in some regions.
- Golden troutalso California golden troutGolden trout are a brightly colored trout native to California’s southern Sierra Nevada. They live in cold, high-elevation streams and lakes and are also found in some introduced waters.
- Lake troutalso laker, mackinawA lake trout is a large char that lives in cold lakes and deep reservoirs and often feeds on fish. It’s also called laker or mackinaw.
- Rainbow troutalso rainbow, Oncorhynchus mykissA rainbow trout is a coldwater trout known for a pink-to-red stripe along its side and heavy spotting. It is one of the most common trout species anglers catch in rivers and lakes.
- Sea troutalso Sea-run troutIn this glossary, a sea trout is an anadromous salmonid trout that feeds in saltwater and returns to freshwater to spawn. In much of Europe the term usually means anadromous brown trout, but it can mean other sea-run trout depending on the region.
Warmwater & exotic freshwater (9)
- Arapaimaalso pirarucu, paicheArapaima are giant, air-breathing Amazon basin fish that live in warm, low-oxygen freshwater and eat other fish. They are targeted with heavy tackle and large flies in some managed fisheries.
- Carpalso Common carp, Grass carpCarp are large, hardy freshwater fish that feed by rooting and sipping. In fly fishing they are a primary sight-fishing target, often approached like a flats species.
- Golden doradoalso Dorado, Salminus brasiliensisA golden dorado is a hard-fighting South American freshwater predator, Salminus brasiliensis, known for explosive strikes and long runs.
- Largemouth bassalso LMB, bucketmouth, Micropterus salmoidesA largemouth bass is a warmwater freshwater predator known for its wide mouth, heavy body, and ambush style of feeding around cover.
- Northern pikealso pike, Esox luciusNorthern pike are large, toothy freshwater predators that hunt by ambush along weeds, reeds, and drop-offs. They are a common fly-rod target across much of the northern U.S. and Canada.
- Payaraalso Vampire fishA payara is a South American predatory characin known for two long, fang-like lower-jaw teeth and a violent, head-shaking fight.
- Peacock bassalso CichlaPeacock bass are aggressive, tropical cichlids from South America that are targeted with flies for their hard strikes and fast, close-range fights.
- Smallmouth bassalso Bronzeback, SmallieA smallmouth bass is a freshwater black bass (Micropterus dolomieu) known for living in current and rocky habitat and eating crayfish, minnows, and insects.
- Taimenalso Siberian taimen, Mongolian taimen, Hucho taimenTaimen are the largest member of the salmon family, a predatory salmonid native to cold, clear waters in parts of Russia and Mongolia.