Searching and Attractor Flies for Wisconsin Spring Creeks

I don't know that there is a technical definition to differentiate between attractor and searching flies. I would define searching flies as flies that imitate an insect or stream organism that is consistently available to trout. For example, an Adams is used to imitate a general upwing mayfly and an Elk Hair Caddis is used to imitate downwinged caddis. Both of these flies represent an insect type that is consistently available to trout and they may be moved to strike these flies when the insect in not hatching or is hatching in limited numbers. I would also add flies that imitate crustaceans like scuds and sowbugs which are always available to trout in the drift of southwestern spring creeks. Many might consider all nymphs to be searching patterns seeing the are always available. Terrestrials are one of my most used searching patterns. Casting to likely looking holding areas will often draw strikes when fish are not otherwise rising.

Attractors are flies which may have a resemblance to an insect type but generally have unnatural coloration. I can't explain why a trout may strike a Royal Coachman because it's coloration doesn't resemble any streamborn insect but they do catch fish. These flies are often effective to draw surface strikes when nothing is hatching, during sparse hatches when fish are not selective, and at times, during heavy hatches when they simply stand out from the natural and grab a fish's attention.

Searching Flies

Adams - A pattern developed in Michigan used to imitate a variety of mayflies. Useful during many hatches and during non-hatch periods. They can be tied in either the traditional style, parachute, in a hair-wing. One of the world's most used flies.
Elk Hair Caddis - Used to imitate caddis hatches but is also effective during non-hatch periods because the caddis silhouette is familiar to trout.
Stimulators - Used to imitate stoneflies but also makes an adequate caddis, cricket, or grasshopper imitation. I've had good luck with them on heavy water, particularly early mornings.
Griffith's Gnat - Used to imitate midges though it is also useful to mimic small beetles. Often a good prospecting fly when fish are rising intermittently.
Scuds - A fly you can't be without on spring creeks across the U.S. These crustaceans are abundant in the fertile spring creeks of southwest Wisconsin. Tie in sizes from #12-20 and in a variety of colors from tans to olives.
Woolly Buggers - Are used to imitate everything from nymphs to leeches to crayfish. Always a good fly to search large amounts of water or deep pool.

Attractor Patterns

Pass Lake - A Wisconsin original with a black chenille body and a white calf tail wing making in visible though it floats low in the water, which is likely the key to this fly. They can be tied or fished to be wet or dry or even in a streamer pattern. Try fishing it dead drift as a dry then at the end of the drift swing it in the wet fly style into likely holding areas.
Zug Bug - This peacock herl nymph doesn't really look like many naturals but fish seem to have a real affinity for it. Useful in all types of water but particularly in the areas where a riffle dumps into a pool.
Trudes - Have a downwing like caddis or stoneflies but the colorations are generally gaudy. The white calf tail wing makes it highly visible.
Wulffs - A classic upwing pattern for heavy waters. A good searching pattern before or after a large mayfly hatch.