Fly Types > Trout Dry Flies Trout Dry FliesNewly hatched mayflies, floating on the surface to dry their wings before their first flight, the female mayfly returning to the water to shed its eggs is known as a spinner; after laying its eggs and lying with wings outstretched in the surface film, it is referred to as a spent spinner or spent gnat. There are flies that emulate these two stages in the mayfly's life. Caddis or sedge flies with their roof-like wings, and stoneflies, one of the most primitive of aquatic insect forms, are also copied by the fly-dresser. Apart from aquatic insects, many insects end up in or on the water by accident rather than design - they may be blown by the wind or fall off overhanging vegetation. They are known as 'terrestrials' and form an important element of the trout diet. Beetles, grasshoppers, flies such as the black gnat and even ants, are all trout fodder and receive attention at the fly-tying vice. Some dry flies are created with no particular insect in mind and are termed 'fancy' or attractor flies, such as Wickham's Fancy. Some dry flies have been employed for over a hundred years and are tied with traditional materials; others are more modern, utilizing man-made fibres and modern ingenuity. Some dry flies have been employed for over a hundred years and are tied with traditional materials; others are more modern, utilizing man-made fibres and modern ingenuity. | 
