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Winter has finally arrived in the north-east. If your like me your fishing time has decreased and your fly tying has increased. So, I have decided to bulk up my collection of steelhead flies. Below are listed some of the flies I have been tying. If anyone wants to add there favorites please feel free to do so. Would love to see them.

Royal Coachman

This fly is a transplant from the east coast were it has been used for trout for as long as anyone can remember. When easterners moved west and started fishing for steelhead they took this fly with them and it has been a staple ever since. When tying this fly I like to rib it with some type of heavy wire, as the body with its floss and peacock herl can be fragile.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Golden pheasant tippet in strands.
Body: In 3 segments, peacock herl followed by red floss followed by peacock herl.
Collar: Brown hackle.
Wing: White deer hair, polar bear, hackle tips or wing quill segments.



Winter’s Hope

The Originator of this fly is Bill McMillan of Washougal Washington. He developed the fly in 1969 and 1970 and it has since become one of the better-known steelhead flies in existence. The fly is usually tied on a large hook and is designed to agitate and aggravate steelhead into striking. In recent years this fly has been becoming popular on the Gaspe peninsula for Atlantic Salmon.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Body: Flat silver tinsel
Collar: Blue hackle with purple hackle in front.
Wing: Two yellow hackle tips back to back between two orange hackle tips.
Topping: Golden-olive calf tail (sometimes a golden pheasant crest is substituted).
Head: Claret



Springer Green

The inventor of this fly is Walt Johnson, originally from Arlington, Washington. The fly was invented in the 1970’s for spring fishing on tributaries of the Columbia..

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel and fluorescent green floss.
Tail: Toucan orange hackle barbs
Rib: Flat silver tinsel
Body: Rear half, greenish yellow yarn, front half, green yarn.
Collar: Toucan orange hackle.
Throat Barred wood duck.
Wing: White fox or rabbit hair.
Cheeks: Hackle tips dyed grass green.
Head: White



Spade

This simple fly may not look like much but aside from being a great fish getter it is one of the more influential flies to come out of the northwest. Popular outdoor writer Bob Arnold of Seattle, Washington invented it in the early 1960’s as a low water fly. Since that time there have been many variations of this fly created for steelhead fishing.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Deer body hair.
Body: Black wool yarn.
Collar: Grizzly hackle.
Head: Black



Thor

This fly is was named after Walt Thorsen who, according to the story, took five fish on it the first day he used it in the Eel river. Also, according to the story, all the fish put together did not weigh over six pounds. Jim Pray of Eureka, California invented the fly in 1936. It is said that Pray was looking for a fly that had the same color scheme as the Royal Coachman and this is what he came up with.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Orange hackle barbs.
Body: Red chenille.
Collar: Brown hackle.
Wing: White deer hair or polar bear.

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[Glista]

Wahlflower

This fly, tied by Ralph Wahl of Bellingham Washington in 1965 has a good reputation as a low water and summer run fly. Wahl was the author of a book called “One Man’s Steelhead Shangri-La”, one of my personal favorites, as well as several other books. He was also well known for his great outdoor photography.

Hook: Gold.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel and yellow floss dressed long.
Tail: Golden pheasant crest.
Body: Lacquered fluorescent green floss.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Throat: Golden pheasant crest.
Wing: Dyed yellow squirrel tail.
Head: Black



Skagit Special

Developed by Bob Aid in the early 1980’s, this fly is one of a series. This fly is successful as a high water fly in just about any season but it is primarily thought of as a winter and early spring fly. Bob was the manager of Kaufmann’s Streamborn is Seattle.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic salmon hook
Body: Flat silver tinsel on back half and orange seal fur over front half of the body.
Wing: Orange marabou in front of yellow marabou wound around the hook.
Collar: Teal.
Head: Red.



Black Heron

This dark fly is another one from the late great Syd Glasso, a schoolteacher on Washington’s Olympic peninsula. Another version of this fly is the Silver Heron. It has gray wings instead of the black.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Rear 1/2: flat silver tinsel, front 1/2: black goat dubbing.
Body hackle: Black heron substitute over black portion of body.
Collar: Guinea hen.
Wing: Black goose shoulder tented over the top of the hook.
Head: Black.



Signal Light

This fly is another one from series of flies invented by Randall Kaufmann of Portland, Oregon. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, a very well know fly shop in Portland. This fly is considered by many to be the most popular in the series. It was named after a railroad signal light on the Deschutes river

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Purple hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: ¼ Fluorescent orange yarn, ¼ Fluorescent yellow yarn, ½ black chenille.
Collar: Purple hackle.
Wing: Purple, blue and lime crystal flash and black marabou.
Head: Black



Showgirl

Developed by Alaskan guide George Cook in the early 1980’s, this fly is one of a series of flies he calls the Alaskabou series. The origin of this fly came out of necessity. Supposedly, Cook was running out of fly tying supplies and used what he had left over (marabou) to make this fly. This fly has proved to be a very successful winter run fly and is still extensively used on most winter steelhead rivers.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic salmon hook
Body: None.
Wing: Cerise marabou surrounding the hook.
Topping: Purple flashabou
Collar: Purple marabou.
Head: Fluorescent red.

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Rose Petal

Steve Gobin of Marysville, Washington, invented this unique spey style fly. Gobin, a member of the Tulalip Tribe and one of Washington’s best-known fly tiers, recently gave up fly tying to make bamboo fly rods.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel & pink floss ribbed with fine silver tinsel.
Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet dyed claret.
Rib: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Claret seal dubbing or substitute.
Body Hackle: Spey type hackle dyed claret.
Wing: White polar bear hair.
Collar: Guinea hen.
Head: Claret.



Rick’s Revenge

The Originators of this fly are Rick Wren and John Shewey. It was invented for fishing the Deschutes river in Oregon. I don’t know much about Rick Wren but John Shewey is a well-known fly tier and author who has many productive fly patterns to his credit.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel
Tail: Fluorescent pink floss.
Body: Rear ½: Fluorescent pink floss veiled on top with the same. Front ½ Purple dubbing .
Hackle: Badger palmered over the body with a few extra turns at the head.
Collar (1): Purple hackle.
Wing: White under purple hair.
Collar (2): Purple guinea.
Cheek: Jungle cock
Head: Red



Red/Blue Spey

The Originator of this fly, Bob Borden from Monroe Oregon, is also a supplier of fly tying materials. He is the owner of Hareline products. He has invented some other popular fly patters among them is the Krystal Bullet. Although this fly is not a true spey fly it is simple to tie and affective.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Red seal type dubbing.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel Blue dyed guinea fowl palmered through front half.
Hackle: Blue dyed guinea fowl palmered through front half.
Collar: Red dyed guinea fowl.
Head: Red.



Skykomish Sunrise

This is another great fly from the father and son team of Ken and George McLeod of Seattle Washington. This one was invented some time in the 1940’s for fishing; you guessed it, the Skykomish River. Its use has spread since that time and it is now used in just about any rivers where steelhead are found even in some of my home waters in the Great Lakes.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Silver tinsel (optional).
Tail: Mixed red ad yellow hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: Red chenille.
Hackle: Red ad yellow hackle mixed.
Wing: White hair.
Head: Red



Payoff

Another fly developed by Alaskan guide George Cook in the early 1980’s, this fly is one of a series of flies he calls the Alaskabou series. Cook says this fly is a winter run fly but I have used it to advantage on aggressive spring fish.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic salmon hook
Body: None.
Wing: Deep purple marabou surrounding the hook with some red crystal flash and purple flashabou mixed in.
Collar: Red marabou.
Head: Fire orange.

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Purple Peril

Many people credit the McLeod’s, father Ken and son George, with introducing the color purple to steelhead fisherman. And this is the fly that they did it with. Now it is one of the dominant colors in the sport. The fly was made from some purple materials they received in error (they had ordered claret) from Herter’s. The fly is still used today in various forms from the rivers of the west and the great lakes.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Purple hackle fibers.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Purple chenille.
Hackle: Purple hen hackle.
Wing: Brown bucktail.
Head: Red.



Purple Sundowner

This is actually the most popular color combination of a series of flies. They are also tied in pink, red, orange and black. The Originator of the series, Bob Wagoner from Lewiston Idaho, tied the flies in the mid 1980’s. They are used primarily on the Clearwater and Grande Ronde Rivers. It is also unique in that it has a synthetic wing. One of the first of a new generation of steelhead flies.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Purple hackle barbs.
Body: Rear 1/3: flat silver tinsel, Front 2/3: fluorescent orange yarn.
Hackle: Purple palmered over the orange yarn.
Wing: Pearl crystal flash.
Collar: Purple hackle
Head: Black



Quilceda

The Originator of this fly, Karen Gobin, created it in 1985. It is named after a small stream that runs north of Seattle. This simple but elegant fly has proved itself as a good summer run fly.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel, short.
Rib: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Rear ¼ gray seal dubbing or substitute, front ¾ fiery brown seal dubbing or substitute.
Hackle: Spey type hackle dyed dark red.
Head: Red



Mahoney

This is a newer fly invented by Dec Hogan, a firefighter from Salt Lake City, Utah. Dec was a guide in Washington State for 15 years and still teaches and writes about steelhead fishing. He has recently released a great book called "A Passion for Steelhead". The fly is named for his friend Jerry Mahoney and is used as a winter and spring fly.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Rib: Flat pearl myler and oval silver tinsel.
Body: Rear 1/3: red floss; front 2/3: hot red seal dubbing.
Body hackle: Black schlappen, one side stripped.
Throat: Hot red schlappen and red guinea.
Wing: Four hot red hackle tips.
Head: Red.



Deep Purple Spey

The inventor of this fly is Walt Johnson, originally from Arlington, Washington. Johnson credits Ken McLeod with introducing the color purple to steelhead fly fishing and he credits Syd Glasso with inspiring this fly. But Johnson is a tremendously respected steelhead fly tying innovator in his own right and has come up with many flies that are know north west standards.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel, short
Rib: Flat silver tinsel
Body: Purple seal type dubbing .
Body Hackle: Pheasant rump palmerd over front of body.
Hackle: Purple hackle.
Wing: Two red golden Pheasant body feathers back to back.
Head: Black

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Sol Duc Spey

Syd Glasso is considered by many to be the father of the steelhead spey fly. His flies were beautiful and elegant yet simple in there construction. This one he created for fishing, of course, the Sul Duc River.

While this is a relatively simple fly to tie, the wing can be a bit tricky. The hackle tips used in its construction should be tented over the body. Flattening the stems of the hackles at the tie in point, and slightly twisting them with a pair of flat nosed pliers or tweezers before tying them in can achieve this.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Rear 2/3: hot orange floss; front 1/3: hot orange goat dubbing.
Body hackle: Yellow saddle hackle, long and webby.
Throat: Black heron substitute.
Wing: Four hot orange hackle tips.
Head: Red.



Purple Brat

Since last weeks fly seemed to be so well received, I decided to follow up with this variation of the fly that Beau Purvis mentioned. As he said, Dave McNeese invented the fly, and many other good flies that have become northwest standards. McNeese owned a fly shop in Salem, Oregon and is considered one of the more influential tiers in recent times.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat gold tinsel and fluorescent orange floss.
Tail: Golden pheasant crest dyed orange.
Rib: Flat gold tinsel.
Body: Rear two-fifths: orange seal fur, Front three-fifths: Purple seal fur.
Collar: Purple hackle
Wing: White over purple hair.
Cheeks: Jungle cock.



Polar Shrimp

This fly is probably one of the first steelhead flies I ever tied and being that it is a simple fly to tie I think many steelhead tiers started out with this fly. This one was invented some time in the 1930’s for fishing the Eel River in California and is still an effective fly.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs.
Body: Orange chenille.
Collar: Orange hackle.
Wing: White deer hair or polar bear.



Mover

The Originator of this fly, Tim Coleman of Linwood, Washington, created it in 1986. This is actually one of a series of flies he came up with. I was unable to find any of the other patterns in the series that he came up with. It is supposed to be effective on summer fish that are holed up in the fall.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Oval gold tinsel.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel.
Body: Claret floss.
Wing: Red Squirrel tail.
Hackle: Woodduck flank under shorter claret guinea fowl.
Head: Claret.



Midnight Sun

The Originator of this fly is Trey Combs of Port Townsend, Washington. He developed the fly for winter and off-colored water fishing situations. Combs is also the author of “Steelhead Fly Fishing”, a book that many of us consider the bible for steelhead fishermen.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel.
Tail: Orange Hackle fibers
Rib: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Fluorescent orange floss.
Wing: Long white marabou under shorter white marabou under shorter orange and yellow marabou mixed together.
Throat: Orange and yellow marabou mixed together.
Collar: Red Hackle.
Head: Fluorescent red.

[Glista]

McLeod Ugly

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think this fly proves that adage. The Originator’s of this fly are the father and son team of Ken and George McLeod of Seattle Washington. They are also responsible for some other very affective patterns. They invented the fly in 1962 for fishing rivers in Washington and British Columbia. According to the McLeod’s this fly should be tied on a heavy wire hook and waited.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red Hackle barbs, the fluffy ones at the base of the hackle.
Under body: Lead wire.
Body: Black chenille.
Hackle: Grizzly palmered over the body with a few extra turns at the head.
Wing: Black bucktail.
Head: Black



Maxwell’s purple matuka

This fly was invented by Forrest Maxwell of Salem Oregon back in the Mid 1970’s and has been a popular steelhead fly ever since. Because of it’s bait fish like shape it is now becoming more and more popular in the tributaries of the Great Lakes.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic Salmon hook
Tag: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Black seal dubbing or substitute, picked out.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Wing: 2 Purple neck hackles bound to the body matuka style, using the oval silver tinsel rib.
Hackle: Purple wound as a collar.
Head: Gray



Max Canyon

The Originator of this fly is Doug Stewart from Gresham Oregon. He made it in 1972 for fishing the Mack’s Canyon section of the Deschutes River. The name was intentionally misspelled in an attempt to keep people away from that very popular section of the river.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Orange and white calf tail mixed.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel
Body: Rear 1/3: Orange wool, Front2/3: Black wool.
Hackle: Black.
Wing: Orange over white calf tail.
Head: Black



Kalama Special

The Originator of this fly, Mooch Abrams from Portland Oregon, tied the fly for sea run cutthroat. It then became popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s as a summer run steelhead fly especially during the late summer. Abrams is also credited with introducing the double-haul cast.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red Hackle barbs.
Body: Yellow or fluorescent yellow chenille or yarn.
Hackle: Badger palmered over the body with a few extra turns at the head.
Wing: White bucktail.
Head: Black



Jacob’s Coat

If you’re like me you probably have a large amount of left over scraps of fly tying materials on your bench that you just can’t bare to part with. Who knows? You just might find a use for them at some point. Alec Jackson, of Kenmore, Washington invented this fly with just those scraps in mind. He took all the left over pieces of herl he had on his bench and used them to create this fly. It is considered to be a good summer and early fall greased line fly.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic salmon hook
Tail: Fine deer body hair.
Body: Mix of peacock herl and different colored ostrich herls twisted together with fine oval gold tinsel.
Collar: Mixed red and Yellow cock.
Head: Fluorescent red.

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Grease Liner

The Originator of this fly, Harry Lemire created it in 1962. And since that time it has been considered a very important dry fly in the Pacific Northwest not only for its fish catching ability but also as a development in fly tying. The clipped deer hair head has been used on many other flies since its introduction. Among them is Al Troth’s elk hair cadis, probably the most popular cadis imitation ever made.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Fine deer body hair.
Body: Dark grayish tan to black fur.
Throat: A sparse beard of Grizzly hackle.
Wing: Dark deer body hair extending only to the end of the dubbing, clipped to leave a tuft of butt ends.



Gladiator

The Originator of this fly is Nick Gayeski from Washington State. He made it in 1960s for fishing the Klickitat and Kispiox. It is a very obscure pattern but has gained a reputation as a good fly with those who know about it.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs.
Rib: Peacock herl
Body: Green floss.
Hackle: Grizzly.
Wing: Grey Squirrel tail.
Head: Black



Golden Edge Orange

The Originator of this fly, Harry Lemire of Black Diamond, Washington, created it in 1971. Lemire says that this is one of his favorite wet flies. He fishes it with a greased line presentation in the summer using small sized flies and he fishes it in large sizes on a sinking line in the winter. A variation of this fly is the Golden Edge Yellow; witch simply has a yellow body instead of orange.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel.
Tail: Golden pheasant crest.
Rib: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Orange seal dubbing or substitute.
Hackle: Guinea hen tied in as a beard.
Under wing: Gray squirrel tail
Wing: Brown mallard.
Topping: Golden pheasant crest.
Head: Red.



Dean River Lantern

Dr. Arthur Cohen of San Francisco, California invented this fly for fishing the Dean River of course. He has also been credited with discovering Edge-Brite as a fly tying material. The original Dean River Lantern was tied with mono fishing line wound over a base of brightly colored floss. Bob Wagoner, a professional fly tier from Lewiston, Idaho is credited with making this fly popular. Although it is not called for in the original recipe, I have also seen this fly dressed in green.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Black Squirrel tail.
Body: Red, Orange or Yellow Edge-Brite over silver tinsel.
Collar: Soft hackle, color to match body.
Head: Color to match body.



Coal Car

This is one of a series of flies invented by Randall Kaufmann of Portland, Oregon. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, a very well know fly shop in Portland. The fly has a good reputation as a dark day fly, with just enough color to attract the fishes attention.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Black hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: ¼ Fluorescent orange yarn, ¼ Fluorescent red yarn, ½ black chenille.
Collar: Black hackle.
Wing: Black crystal flash and black squirrel tail.
Head: Black

[Glista]

Brad’s Brat

Enos Bradner invented this classic western steelhead pattern around 1937 for fishing the Stillaguamish in Washington. Bradner is the author of “Northwest Angling” and was the outdoor editor of the Seattle Times. His pattern continues to be a very popular steelhead pattern out west as well as in the Great Lakes.

Hook: Up eye salmon.
Tag: Flat gold tinsel.
Tail: White and orange hair.
Rib: Flat gold tinsel.
Body: rear 1/2 orange wool, front 1/2 red wool.
Throat: Brown hackle.
Wing: 2/3rd’s White under 1/3rd orange hair.
Head: Black.



Black Gordon

This oldie but goodie was first tied in the mid 1930s by Clarence Gordon for fishing the North Umpqua. Gordon was a guide and lodge manager on the North Umpqua. It is still fished in many rivers on the west coast and the great lakes.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Butt: Oval gold tinsel.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel.
Body: Rear 1/3: red yarn; front 2/3; black chenille or yarn.
Hackle: Black hackle.
Wing: Black bucktail.
Head: Black



Claret Guinea Spade

This fly was invented by Alec Jackson, also the designer of the Alec Jackson spey hook, in the early 1980’s. This fly is actually a variation of Bob Arnold’s early 1960’s creation the Spade. Arnold is one of Washington’s most well known steelhead authors.

Hook: Up eye Atlantic Salmon hook
Tail: Fine deer body hair, dark brown mink or fitch tail.
Butt: Fluorescent red yarn or ostrich herl dyed red.
Body: Black chenille or black ostrich herl twisted with fine oval silver tinsel.
Collar: Grizzly cock hackle followed by a longer, claret dyed guinea fowl.
Head: Fluorescent red.



Brindle Bug

Professional fly tier Lloyd Silvius created this California pattern in the early 60’s. It is considered a good summer and fall pattern on the rivers of northern California, especially the Klamath. This fly is sometimes classified as a nymph pattern.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: two brown hackle points.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel
Body: Variegated chenille, black and yellow.
Hackle: Brown.
Wing: two brown hackle points.
Head: Black



Black Prince

This is an old pattern, thought to have been originated in the late 1800’s for fishing on the North Umpqua. The originator seems to be unknown. And after 100 years it is still a popular pattern.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs.
Rib: Medium Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Rear 1/3: yellow wool; front 2/3; black chenille or wool.
Hackle: Black hackle.
Wing: Black bucktail.



Deer Creek

This is a winter fly meant to be fished deep and slow on a sinking line. The inventor is Bob Arnold, noted steelhead author from Washington state.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Flat silver tinsel.
Wing: Purple marabou.
Throat: Purple marabou.
Collar: Silver doctor blue hen hackle.
Head: Black

[Glista]

Astra

This simple pattern was developed for steelhead fishing in Alaska by Scott Bryner. It has been used mostly on the rivers on Prince of Wales Island and is good in high, clearing rivers.

Hook: Up eye salmon dry fly hook
Tip: Oval silver tinsel
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: Black sparkle yarn.
Hackle: Black spey type hackle.
Wing: Peacock sword fibers
Head: Black



Steelhead Bee

This pattern comes from the late Roderick Haig-Brown of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Haig-Brown wrote many popular books on fly-fishing the northwest. And his books are still in high demand today.

This fly, one of the first dry flies designed specifically for steelhead, is usually tied with a fairly soft hackle so it sits in the surface film. It is probably Haig-Browns most popular patterns, and he did invent more than a few, and is still a popular fly.

Hook: Up eye salmon dry fly hook
Tail: Red Squirrel tail
Body: Alternating bands of brown, yellow and brown dubbing.
Wing: Red Squirrel tail, upright, divided, and slanted foreword
Hackle: Soft brown cock hackle
Head: Black



Purple Flash

Joe Howell developed this simple pattern. Howell is considered to be one of the great innovators in steelhead fly tying. When a new material comes on the market he is often one of the first to incorporate it into a steelhead fly.

Hook: Up eye salmon dry fly hook
Tag: flat gold tinsel
Tail: Red hackle fibers
Body: Purple braided Mylar type body material.
Hackle: Soft purple.
Wing: Red squirrel tail.
Cheeks: Jungle cock
Head: Black



Surgeon General

I’m not sure who invented this fly. One story says it was invented by a doctor, another says it was named after a surgeon. Either way it is an extremely popular pattern in both the Pacific Northwest and the great lakes.

Another almost identical pattern is the Del Cooper invented by Mike Kennedy of Oregon. Kennedy ties his with a wool body and a flat silver tag. This fly is especially popular on the Willamette River.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle fibers.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Purple chenille.
Hackle: Red hackle.
Wing: White Hair.
Head: Black



Umpqua Perly-Bou

This is a winter fly meant to be fished in the deep fast waters of the North Umpqua. The inventor is Joe Howell, of the Blue Heron fly shop.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook very large 1/0 to 5/0.
Tail: Red hackle barbs
Body: Pearl mylar tubing or braid.
Wing: White marabou and pearl crystal flash.
Collar: Large Fluorescent orange hen hackle.
Head: Fluorescent orange or red

[Glista]

Iceberg

The inventor of this fly, Keith Stonebreaker, created it for fishing the Deschutes River. Blue flies do not seem to be very common for steelhead. From what I understand this fly has been becoming popular in Idaho.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Pearl crystal chenille.
Collar: Blue hen hackle.
Wing: Dyed blue gray Squirrel tail.
Head: Black



Deschutes Special

The inventor is Mike Kennedy, Mike has invented several other popular steelhead flies. This is on eof his few flies that is light in color.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Red hackle barbs
Rib: Oval silver tinsel.
Body: Fluorescent green floss.
Collar: Gray/blue dun hen hackle.
Wing: Gray Squirrel.
Cheeks: Jungle cock.
Head: Fluorescent orange



Cummings Special

As word has it this fly was developed in the 1930’s by Ward Cummings and Clarence Gordon in Oregon. Cummings was long time guide for author Ray Bergman.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel.
Body: Back 1/3 yellow floss, front 2/3 claret wool.
Wing: Brown Bucktail.
Collar: Claret hen hackle.
Head: Black



Black Diamond

The Originator of this fly, Harry Lemire of Black Diamond, Washington, created it in 1973. You can probably guess were the name came from. He fishes it with a greased line presentation in the summer and fall mostly in shallow tailouts and other low water situations.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Flat silver tinsel.
Rib: Flat silver tinsel.
Body: Black seal dubbing or substitute.
Hackle: Guinea hen tied in as a beard.
Under wing: Peacock sword fibers
Wing: Mixed gray squirrel and guinea fibers.
Cheeks: Jungle cock.
Head: Black.




Ferry Canyon

This is one of a series of flies invented by Randall Kaufmann of Portland, Oregon. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, a very well know fly shop in Portland. The fly has a good reputation as an early season fly that works good in poor visibility.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Purple hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: 1/3 Fluorescent orange yarn, 2/3 purple chenille.
Collar: Purple hackle.
Wing: Red, blue, wine and pearl crystal flash under Purple marabou.
Head: Black

[Glista]

Flat Car

This is one of a series of flies invented by Randall Kaufmann of Portland, Oregon. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, a very well know fly shop in Portland. The fly is supposed to be good at dusk.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Black hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel over chenille only
Body: 1/3 Fluorescent orange yarn, 2/3 Black chenille.
Collar: Black hackle.
Wing: Black and pearl crystal flash under black marabou.
Head: Black



Krystal Flash Freight Train

This is one of a series of flies invented by Randall Kaufmann of Portland, Oregon. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann’s Streamborn, a very well know fly shop in Portland. This fly is Kaufmann’s best seller.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Purple hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: ¼ Fluorescent orange yarn, ¼ Fluorescent red yarn, ½ black chenille.
Collar: Purple hackle.
Wing: Blue crystal flash under pearl crystal flash.
Head: Black



Night Owl

Originated in the 1930’s by Lloyd Silvius of Eureka, California, for the Eel river.

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tail: Yellow hackle barbs.
Tag: Red chenille
Body: Oval silver tinsel.
Collar: Orange hen hackle.
Wing: White hair.
Head: Black



Inland Spade

This version of Bob Arnold’s Spade fly was created by Alec Jackson in the late 1970’s for late season fishing.

Hook: Up eye dry fly salmon hook.
Tail: Deer body hair.
Body: Black ostrich twisted with fine oval silver tinsel..
Collar: Grizzly hackle.
Head: Fluorescent red.



Burlap

This fly was invented by Arnold Arana of Dunsmuir, California in 1945 for fishing the Klamath river. It is a very good fly for low water conditions and also works well in the great lakes.

Hook: Up eye dry fly salmon hook.
Tail: Deer body hair.
Body: Burlap fibers.
Collar: Grizzly hackle.
Head: Black.



Stillaguamish Sunrise

This one is a variation of the Skykomish Sunrise adapted for fishing the Stillaguamish river. Since it was invented it has found its way successfully on to other pacific-northwest rivers. Use fluorescent materials for this fly if you are going to fish it in high water

Hook: Up eye salmon hook.
Tag: Silver tinsel (optional).
Tail: Mixed orange and yellow hackle barbs.
Rib: Oval silver tinsel
Body: Yellow chenille.
Hackle: Orange hackle.
Wing: White hair topped with red crystal flash.
Head: Black

[BigCliff]

Sweet jesus man, those are gorgeous! They all your ties?

That black heron is especially sexy.