Best Winter Trout Flies

What are the best winter trout flies you ask?  Luckily its pretty easy in the winter and only a few patterns are absolutely needed and then there are a few extras that don't hurt to have either. The Zebra Midge is probably the number one winter trout fly that replicates the nymphal state of the Midge. Midges are very active in the winter months and on warmer winter days will even hatch!  Yes, you can have amazing dry fly fishing in January or February.  A size 18 black zebra midge will work or any variation of that like red, olive, purple etc.  A fly called the ice cream cone also works very well in the winter.  See photos. Scuds are another must have in the winter. Scuds are active all year but in the winter they are much higher up on the food chain for trout as there is less of the summer types of food available.  Use grey, pink, orange or green scuds.  Later in winter we start seeing little black stoneflies which are the tiny version of stoneflies out west.  A size 16 black copper john works great as the nymph version of this bug. Other bugs to have would be a size 18 pheasant tail, midge adults (dry fly) or any other tiny type of nymph.