Dry FlybeginnerMidwest & Driftless
Griffith's Gnat
$2.95
Available Sizes#16 - #22
Color Variations
Peacock/Grizzly
George Griffith founded Trout Unlimited and then tied this fly, which was arguably the more lasting contribution. When trout are sipping at the surface and you cannot see a single insect, they are eating midges. This pattern imitates a cluster of those near-invisible insects, and it works with the quiet reliability of a well-kept secret. Peacock herl and grizzly hackle. Nothing fancy. Everything effective.
Quick Facts
TypeDry Fly
Difficultybeginner
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Target SpeciesBrown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout
Sizes#16 - #22
Best LocationsTimber Coulee Creek, WI; Bennett Spring, MO; Roaring River, MO
Where to Fish It
Timber Coulee Creek
WI · Spring Creek
Bennett Spring
MO · Spring Creek
Roaring River
MO · Spring Creek
Map unavailable. Locations for Griffith's Gnat: Timber Coulee Creek, WI; Bennett Spring, MO; Roaring River, MO
Related Reading
region guide
Driftless Area: Spring Creek Paradise
Tucked into the unglaciated hills of southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and northeastern Iowa lies the Driftless Area — a landscape of cold spring creeks, limestone bluffs, and wild trout that rivals any destination in the country. This is the complete guide to fishing the Driftless.
hatch guide
The Hex Hatch: After Dark on the Great Lakes
The Hex hatch is the defining event of Great Lakes fly fishing — a massive emergence of North America's largest mayfly that happens after dark and brings the biggest brown trout of the year to the surface. This is how to prepare for, find, and fish the most anticipated hatch in the Midwest.
hatch guide
Midge Fishing: The Tiny Flies That Save the Day
When every other hatch has shut down, midges keep trout feeding. From winter tailwaters to high-altitude stillwaters, Chironomidae are the most abundant insects in freshwater ecosystems. Learning to fish these tiny patterns unlocks twelve months of dry-fly and nymphing opportunities.
technique
Fly Selection: A Decision Tree for Every Situation
Most anglers open their fly box and stare at it like a menu in a foreign language. But fly selection isn't mystical — it's a decision tree. Start with what the fish are eating, narrow by presentation depth, match the profile and size, and you'll arrive at the right fly in under sixty seconds. Here's the system.
seasonal playbook
The Winter Guide: Cold Water, Warm Hands, Willing Fish
Winter separates the dedicated from the fair-weather crowd. The rivers are empty, the hatches are tiny, and the fish feed in slow motion. But they do feed — they have to. And the angler who understands cold-water metabolism, midge biology, and the art of slowing down will find winter fishing not just productive but deeply rewarding.
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