NO IMAGE Frog -- This favorite for both largemouth and smallmouth bass, like the rest of the flies in this section, works extremely well for very large trout during daylight and evening hours. Flipping these onto the bank and easing them into the water can offer action in meadow streams and along lake and pond banks.

Mouse-- Big brown trout love mice!   Flip one on a meadow bank and plop it off to slowly move it back to you. Snag the hook -- that's hard to do on purpose because of the weed guard -- onto a stick or pinecone and drift the mouse downstream.  Then flip the mouse off the cone and slowly work the mouse back.  Jim Bashline, in his wonderful book, "Nightfishing for Trout" mentions mice with considerable approval.

Rat -- Voles, baby muskrats and other critters fall into streams and lakes.  Our rats run darker than our mice with attractive light eyes and a slightly different shape.  The tail's shorter too. However, if one works the other should too so you don't really need both.   Good for lakes, decent in stream pools and a very good fly to hop off docks and such.  

Tip: If you go to the tropics peacock bass and a host of brackish and freshwater species eat these. Better take a bunch as rats get "ratty" fast.

Slider, Natural -- Sliders ease through thick weeds and offer less wind resistance on the cast than most other hair bugs. While aimed at bass they also suit pike -- bring spares! -- landlocked striped bass and most larger trout.While floating, sliders can be even more effective is sunk with a split shot so they dive when you hand-twist them in, and then float up on the pause.  Varying the speed of each part of this retrieve can make a big difference. 

Slider, White -- Okay, it's really cream, but the light hue suits dark water and lighter colored baitfish as well.  Don't overlook the dropper option.  A small streamer or foam bug takes bluegills and other panfish that, unlike bass, often improve their fishery by their removal. 

Crayfish/Ghost Shrimp -- While aimed at saltwater, this splendid fly does a very good job as a crayfish imitation as well.  A slow hand-twist retrieve along the bottom with occasional sudden darts works best.