So, we’re coming up to the family’s cabins near Swell Bay the 3rd week in July and plan on fly fishing a bit that week. I like to scout in advance and get an idea of the type of patterns that work (or are working at that time) in advance so I can tie some here (Houston) before I head up that way.
Can anyone advise on the best fly patterns for Rainy? We’ll be chasing smallies primarily. Thanks in advance!
Howdy and welcome to IDO! Always happy to see another fly fisherman here.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on Rainy, but I make a few trips a year up to that area so I’ll tell you what’s worked for me. I really enjoy topwater and Smallies are great for that. If you like to spin deer hair, I’ve had a lot of luck with smaller Dahlberg Divers. Especially white with a red head for some reason. The trail of bubbles a diver leaves when you pop it under the surface really seems to atract attention. Simple foam poppers will work well too. For subsurface stuff I’ve had my best luck with #2 or #4 Wooly Buggers (Black, Olive, White), Bucktails streamers, and Zonkers.
Sounds like a fun trip! Good luck.
Rootski
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Howdy and welcome to IDO! Always happy to see another fly fisherman here.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on Rainy, but I make a few trips a year up to that area so I’ll tell you what’s worked for me. I really enjoy topwater and Smallies are great for that. If you like to spin deer hair, I’ve had a lot of luck with smaller Dahlberg Divers. Especially white with a red head for some reason. The trail of bubbles a diver leaves when you pop it under the surface really seems to atract attention. Simple foam poppers will work well too. For subsurface stuff I’ve had my best luck with #2 or #4 Wooly Buggers (Black, Olive, White), Bucktails streamers, and Zonkers.
Sounds like a fun trip! Good luck.
Rootski
Welcome to IDO!! Rootski has some darn good information there!! Let us know how you do!! 
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Howdy and welcome to IDO! Always happy to see another fly fisherman here.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on Rainy, but I make a few trips a year up to that area so I’ll tell you what’s worked for me. I really enjoy topwater and Smallies are great for that. If you like to spin deer hair, I’ve had a lot of luck with smaller Dahlberg Divers. Especially white with a red head for some reason. The trail of bubbles a diver leaves when you pop it under the surface really seems to atract attention. Simple foam poppers will work well too. For subsurface stuff I’ve had my best luck with #2 or #4 Wooly Buggers (Black, Olive, White), Bucktails streamers, and Zonkers.
Sounds like a fun trip! Good luck.
Rootski
Rootski is right on – a few others are a crawfish pattern and a pattern called a sneaky pete – a foam body with rubbber legs – it is not a popper but more or a surface fly that you strip back to you
Enjoy
You will LOVE Rainy Lake
Dog 
x2 on the welcome to ido! I’ve only been here a short while and everyone has been great.
Yes, please let us know how you do. I have a cousin that moved to Denver a few years back. Long story short he quit corporate America and bought the oldest fly shop there. He’s been after me to get hooked(pun intended) on the fly. There would be no better place than Rainy 
Hope you do well!
Thanks everyone. I got by our local Orvis store to get some of these patterns and can now spend some time trying to tie them before I get up there. Unlike Minnesota, we spend a lot of time indoors in the summer and outdoors in the winter here in Houston.
Looking forward to getting up there and hooking into some good fish!
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Thanks everyone. I got by our local Orvis store to get some of these patterns and can now spend some time trying to tie them before I get up there. Unlike Minnesota, we spend a lot of time indoors in the summer and outdoors in the winter here in Houston.
Looking forward to getting up there and hooking into some good fish!
Good luck Adam….I think a Mayfly pattern might be good right now.
You think we’ll still be having a Mayfly hatch the 3rd week in July? If so, I need to start tying now!
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You think we’ll still be having a Mayfly hatch the 3rd week in July? If so, I need to start tying now!
Last year we had a 3 week hatch. That was the longest I’ve seen it drag on. I suspect we’ll be over it shortly.
Thanks, Chris. I’ll be on the lake by Saturday afternoon. For everyone: any other patterns or hatches to look for this weekend? Can’t wait to get up there!
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