Trout Flies from New Signature Tyer Ollie Bassett (Outside of US)
Published: 23rd January 2026 | Author: Fulling Mill
About Ollie Bassett
Signature Tyer Ollie Bassett is located in Tauranga, New Zealand, and is the current national fly fishing champion. Ollie has fished in five world fly fishing championships as a member of the New Zealand fly fishing team, finishing in the top ten individually in 2024 & 2025. Outside of competition, Ollie is most at home on New Zealand’s backcountry rivers, targeting trophy trout in crystal clear water. As a signature fly designer, Ollie’s trout flies are simple and effective, inspired by competitions around the world and sight fishing for big New Zealand trout. Ollie offers fly fishing tuition and guiding, and teaches regular fly fishing classes, aiming to help others improve their time on the water. Interested in booking with Ollie? You can find more information on his website here!
Ollie’s Signature Trout Flies
Ollie’s flies have been shaped by his extensive fishing experience in New Zealand for wild brown and rainbow trout in a variety of water types. During his time on the New Zealand Fly Fishing Team, he has refined his patterns and taken inspiration from productive trout flies in the world fly fishing circuit. His patterns are unapologetically simple and buggy, and tied thoughtfully so as to save time, so that he can spend more time on the water perfecting his craft.
The following nymph patterns are some of Ollie’s go-to fly choices in a range of different scenarios. Whether he’s sight fishing to large backcountry brown trout in his home country with dry flies or picking apart a beat with euro nymphs, you can be sure to find these flies in his fly boxes. Click on the flies below to check out Ollie’s patterns in our 2026 catalogue!
Ollie Bassett’s Dry Flies
Bassett’s Simple CDC Caddis – A simple yet highly effective CDC caddis pattern that closely imitates many types of caddis found around the world. In smaller sizes, it is very effective for actively rising trout, and in bigger versions as an attractor for aggressive takes in faster water.
Bassett’s X Terrestrial – This is by far my most effective dry fly in New Zealand throughout the summer months, particularly when sight fishing in backcountry rivers for huge brown trout. In large sizes, it imitates cicadas and draws aggressive takes when slapped onto the water. Smaller versions are suggestive of beetles, blowflies, ants, and even caddis. Ollie usually fishes it as a single dry for active fish, or with a backcountry pheasant tail below in deeper water.
Nymphs From Signature Tyer Ollie Bassett
Ollie is an incredible angler and is well versed in a variety of techniques to catch trout, grayling, and other fun specie son the fly. Wherever he goes, one thing holds true. Having good nymphing skills is a must if you want to catch trout and grayling around the world.
Bassett’s Stonefly Exponent & Double Beaded Exponent
An excellent fly for sight fishing in the New Zealand backcountry, particularly early and late in the season when fish will often move meters to eat it. The single-beaded version is great for sight nymphing or fishing under a larger dry fly in shallower riffles and runs. The double-beaded version is great for searching deeper runs and pools, and catches many large trout hidden under faster currents. It is very effective when Euro nymphing in waters with stoneflies, or as a larger attractor fly to get a smaller nymph to depth.
Tactical Jig Nymphs
Not only are tactical jig nymphs great for euro nymphing, but you can fish them just as effectively under the bung/indicator. Moreover, these flies are tied with efficiency in mind. From their slender profile and tungsten bead designed to sink quickly, to their barbless hook-point-up position to eliminate snags and maximize hook-up ratios. Offered in various bead sizes/weight to match the demands of the water in front of you. Check out our bead size chart to better understand the sizing below!
Bassett’s Backcountry PT – This simple and dull pheasant tail variation has accounted for more large New Zealand backcountry trout than any other fly Ollie has tried. It closely imitates many species of mayfly nymphs, and just looks like something a trout should eat. It’s also a very useful fly when Euro nymphing, particularly for educated fish and clear rivers. Ollie often turns to it in the last sessions of a competition in tricky situations when nothing else works.
Bassett’s French Hare’s Ear – This fly was very effective on the Têt, Aude, and Vicdessos rivers during my time in France competing at the World Fly Fishing Championships in 2024. Since Ollie returned to New Zealand, it has become a staple for him when Euro nymphing, or as a dropper nymph under a dry fly.
Bassett’s Violet PT – A simple pheasant tail variation that Ollie usually puts on the top dropper in many New Zealand freestone rivers when Euro nymphing. During a mayfly hatch, animating the nymph and giving it life in faster riffles and runs can be extremely effective. It’s a fly that’s worked well for Ollie all around the world, and he fishes it with confidence in any new river.
Bassett’s Orange Tag – This simple orange tag variation with a pheasant tail body is one of the most effective nymphs Ollie ever tried for large rainbow trout. This is a fly he uses with confidence when Euro nymphing anywhere in the world. It imitates nothing and everything at the same time and just catches fish. Ollie normally fishes it on the point in heavier sizes, and as a dropper fly in lighter versions when Euro nymphing.
Bassett’s Chenille Worms
These are a great fly for trout and grayling, and have good movement as an attractor pattern. They work particularly well in off coloured water, but can be surprisingly effective at times in spring creeks and the New Zealand backcountry. Offered in both pink and red, sizes 14e,16c, and 16d.
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