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A GUIDE TO SALMON & STEELHEAD FLIES
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WHAT FLY TO USE?

What fly do you choose? It is generally helpful to use a color of fly that matches the overall color of the riverbed. Some rivers are generally brown like weak coffee without the milk and these conditions call for a dark brown or black fly such as the Munro killer, Thunder and lightening or Stoats tail.

Other rivers that flow off bare rock or limestone are often crystal clear. They may have a blue or green/yellow tinge so choose flies with the same coloring like Yellow Torrish or the Green Highlander. During early spring and late autumn when the rivers are in full flow after a recent storm try some of the brighter flies. Use garish yellow and orange flies for cold days like Ally's Shrimp, General Practitioner, Dunkeld, Garry Dog, Adrian's Deer Hair Prawn, Adrian's Orange Shrimp and Silver Doctor. On less cold days use more inconspicuous flies.

It still makes sense to go by the old "Bright day-bright fly, dark day-dark fly" but don't get locked into it. Experiment with patterns and sizes. After missing a strike, I like to change to a smaller version of the same pattern. If that doesn't bring a hit, I go to a fly that's completely opposite of the original.

Experiment with the speed of the retrieve past a known salmon lie. An attack can often be provoked if you stir the hunting instinct of this great tasting, large predatory. A sudden quick retrieve can suggest the rapid escape movement of a startled small fish that has seen it’s biggest nightmare

Generally migratory salmon and steelhead trout cease feeding as they return to freshwater to spawn. They can be tempted or provoked into taking a general brightly colored attractor pattern (some fishermen call them a 'piss-em-off' pattern) like and orange Woolly Bugger, Fritz or Nobbler flies. They may also eat out of habit something that they were feeding upon in open ocean. Flies that represent shrimp, prawns and bait fish are ideal. 

In North America and in other parts of the world, salmon are commonly caught on dry flies  like hoppers (grasshoppers), daddy-long-legs (craineflies) and the Wulff or Bomber series of dry flies. This is rarely tried in Europe. If you live in Europe, discard tradition and give it a try.

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TRADITIONAL FLIES

MUNRO KILLER SALMON FLY

The Munro Killer is in a strong position of winning the title 'Best Scottish Salmon Fly'. It is regarded as a good summer and late season pattern, but I have had good results in the spring. A great fly which many would regard as indispensable. It is a modern variation on the traditional Thunder and Lightning. Look for our Munro Killer Single Hook Salmon fly, Munro Killer Double Hook Salmon fly, Munro Killer Treble Hook Salmon Fly , Munro Killer Salmon Alloy Tube fly

BLUE CHARM SALMON FLY

The Blue Charm is one of the old classic salmon flies that has retained its popularity because it gets results. Now tired using modern materials it is widely used as a summer fly pattern on all rivers. Theoretically, blue flies appear more attractive in the blue light of the early morning. Originally it was strongly associated with the river Dee in Scotland. It also has a good record as a sea trout fly. Try our version of this great fly. You will find our Blue Charm Salmon Fly as fly.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING SALMON FLY

Of all the old classic salmon flies it is probably the one which is most used today in its modern form. The Color combination of black, orange, brown and gold has proved effective on salmon rivers all over the world. Try our versions of the classic Thunder and Lightning Salmon fly, Thunder and Lightning Double Hook Salmon fly, Thunder and Lightning Treble Hook Salmon fly.

SILVER DOCTOR SALMON FLY

The Silver Doctor is one of the fully dressed patterns much loved by salmon anglers of the 19th century and early 20th century. The dressings of these patterns were extremely complicated and included many exotic plumages from endangered birds. Modern substitute materials have enabled the Silver Doctor still to be fished. It is one of the flies that the British took to Norway and Canada at an early date with great effect. James Wright was its designer back in 1850. The silver body, red and blue coloring make this fly distinctive. Try our versions of the classic Silver Doctor Salmon fly, and Silver Doctor Double Hook Salmon fly. 

STOAT'S TAIL SALMON FLY (BLACK BEAR=USA)

This fly derived its name from the fact that it was first winged with the black tip of the stoats tail. It is also very similar to the North American Black Bear fly. Nowadays it is given a dyed bucktail or black squirrel wing. The salmon do not appear to notice the difference as it is still a very productive salmon fly. This black fly can be irresistible to salmon and sea trout in difficult summer conditions of high water temperature and low levels. It is also very popular in big clear water rivers. This fly will take both 'stale' and 'fresh' fish in all hook sizes and weather conditions. It is a good all-round fly. Look for the Stoats Tail Single Hook Fly, Stoats Tail Double Hooked Fly and Stoats Tail Alloy tube Fly.

DUNKELD SALMON FLY

This is one of the very old early 19^th century salmon patterns that has undergone considerable change and development over the years. The Dunkeld should be fished during early summer mornings and late autumn/fall evenings when it has produced some great results. Sea trout fly fishermen always say never use a Dunkeld in late summer as it will always catch a salmon and not a sea trout. This is good news if you are hunting salmon. Our Dunkeld Single and Double Hook Salmon fly is listed as fly 

SILVER WILKINSON SALMON FLY

The original creator of the Silver Wilkinson is in dispute. In 1843 Mr William Henderson commissioned the salmon flytier James Wright to tie a fly of similar description. Canon William Greenwell of Greenwell's Glory fame also tied a similar fly but it is Mr P.S.Wilkinson whose name has been attached to this now popular modern salmon fly. Try our Silver Wilkinson Salmon fly, Silver Wilkinson Double Hook Salmon fly, and Silver Wilkinson Treble Hook Salmon fly..

HAIRY MARY SALMON FLY

This fly was one of the first hair-wing patterns. It is a much used fly in Scotland and the rest of the world. Try our Hairy Mary Single Hook Salmon fly and Hairy Mary Double Hook Salmon fly.

GARY DOG SALMON FLY

One of Scotland's most popular flies, the Garry dog is rated in all rivers but particularly those that carry a dark peat strain. Try our Garry Dog Single or Double Hook Salmon Fly and Gary Dog Tube Fly.

GREEN HIGHLANDER SALMON FLY

This pattern refuses to die because it still bring great results. The modern version of the famous fully dressed pattern uses hairwing. It mixes colors of bucktail to form the wing rather than the feathers of the endangered exotic birds of the original. This method is used to update and improve many of the old traditional patterns. The original was designed during the latter part of the 19th century by Mr Grant of Wester, Elchies. The older fly called the highlander is considered the forerunner of the Green Highlander. It is notable as it is one of the few green classic salmon flies. For some reason, apart from the Green Highlander, green flies never became popular in Great Britain in times past unlike today. Try our Green Highlander Single Hook Salmon Fly, Green Highlander Double Hook Salmon Fly and Green Highlander Treble Hook Salmon Fly 

JOCK SCOTT SALMON FLY

This classic salmon fly was created during the height of the Victorian fascination of constructing salmon flies with the most exotic and colorful feathers they could get their hands on. It is one of the most famous of classic salmon flies and arrived on the fly fishing scene around 1850. John Scott the creator, was better known as Jock. He was born in 1817 in Branxholme, Roxburgshire in Scotland. He started his working life at the tender age of 13 when he was employed as an assistant to Robert Kerss, the head game keeper of the Marquis of Lothian. It was Robert who first taught him to tie a fly. By chance two years latter Lord John Scott a renowned field sportsman, took a fancy to the young Jock Scott after finding out they had the same name. Jock stayed in his Lordships service for twenty-seven years until his master's death. He then became keeper for his masters friend the Earl of Haddington. His employers were the keenest of country sportsmen. Day and Night they would be out hunting and fishing. He created the fly in an effort to make a new and vibrant fly. He was so pleased with the results he had whilst fishing that he gave one to a fishing tackle maker called George Kelson. Whilst having a very bad days fishing where nothing was working Mr Kelson, clutching at straws, put on the fly Jock Scott had given him. It worked. It was a salmon killer. He named it after its curator and promoted in his business and fishing books. There are many versions of this classic. Modern materials are now substituted for the feathers of endangered birds. The fish do not seem to notice the change, as the new hair-winged Jock Scott is as much a Salmon taker as the Classic ever was. 

YELLOW TORRISH SALMON FLY

The Torrish is one of the old flies that grew popular all over the world due to the established fishing tackle company Hardy Brothers selling them throughout the British Empire and beyond. It received its name from a place in the Scottish countryside, Strath of Kildonan. It was designed to fish the river Helmsdale which runs through the area. 

GENERAL PRACTITIONER SALMON FLY

This was developed in the early 1950's by Esmond Drury as an imitation of a prawn. The original consisted of golden-pheasant body feathers and orange fur. It has a better record than most fished on a floating line at low levels in the summer. It has proved very effective on a wide range of waters from America, Canada, Britain and Iceland. A very popular and effective fly in brownish and murky rivers. Look for fly our General Practitioner Double Hook Fly and the salmon tube fly version.

SHRIMP SALMON FLIES

Some shrimps turn a brighter color during their summer mating seasons. Shrimps swim in energetic burst, surging up from the river bed and diving back down just as quick. This type of 'sink and draw' is easy to reproduce when you fish with a weighted shrimp on a floating line. Cast the fly and let it sink until you think it is at, or near, the bed of the river or lake. As you retrieve the line the shrimp fly will rise up towards the surface. Stop and the shrimp will dive back down to the bottom. A shrimp fished with six inch pulls followed by two second pauses can be very tantalizing to a trout. If you should fail to get results try longer pulls at greater intervals. Look for our double hook Adrian's Shrimp, Adrian's Orange Shrimp, Adrian's Orange Prawn, General Practitioner, General Practitioner Tube fly, Ally's Shrimp Triple Hook fly and Ally's Shrimp Waddington

ALLY'S SHRIMP SALMON FLY

Alistair Gowans created this pattern to simulate the translucent, shrimp like crustaceans he had observed in trawler catches. This little shrimp is one of the great patterns of all time. It is a river fly for all seasons. It is very successful for salmon on large rivers. Look for our Treble Hook Ally's Shrimp fly in size 12, 8 and the Waddington version.

 TUBE FLIES

Traditional Salmon and sea trout files were time consuming to tie. The hair-winged versions of these patterns are easier to tie and the fish seem no more reluctant to take them rather than the traditional dressed salmon fly. It was logical that this simplification idea was carried further using probably the most secure hooking device yet invented, the treble hook. The result was a range of tube flies which now account for as many if not more fish each season than do traditional single hook flies. During the early season when the water is cold, tube flies offer the fly fisherman a lure/streamer large enough to tempt what can be very dour fish.

Most salmon fishermen use a treble hook but the beauty of tube flies is that you can choose what ever hook you want.  Have a look at our Yellow Torrish, Silver Doctor, Stoats Tail, Green Highlander, Munro Killer and General practitioner salmon tube flies. They are also great for pike, steelhead and large trout fishing. I have even had good reports from saltwater fly fishermen. 

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PACIFIC SALMON & STEELHEAD FLIES

EGG SUCKING LEECH

This large dark pattern suggests the big black leeches that feed on the eggs of the Pacific salmon. I have also seen a stonefly drifting in the current with a salmon egg in its mouth, a steelhead slid in behind, took his time and ate the stonefly, egg and all. The weighted head and the pulsating body and tail of dyed black rabbit fur give this pattern a superb action that the fish find very attractive. They attack it with gusto. It is a good fall (Autumn) pattern, especially when the water has cooled and wild salmon are 'on their redds'. Also consider using one of our Gold bead head black, olive or bright orange Woolly bugger patterns. Fish it near the bottom on a dead drift or on a wet fly swing.

EGG FLY

This fly imitates fish roe. It is one of the simplest of all flies and is also known as the "Glo-Bug". When salmon spawn in the fall (Autumn), there are always steelhead and trout just downstream from them, waiting to scarf up loose eggs. It should be weighted and fished dead drift near the bottom during spawning seasons. If you see spawning salmon, cast so the fly lands just behind them and drifts down stream from the spawning pair. You can bet there are steelhead or trout waiting below the salmon for drifting eggs.. Many fly anglers won't use an egg fly because it looks too much like bait. I think that is a silly reason not to use a fly. Egg flies imitate a naturally-occurring food that wild trout, steelhead, and salmon eat with gusto. When salmon spawn in the fall (Autumn), there are always steelhead and trout just downstream from them, waiting to scarf up loose eggs. And whitefish spawn in winter, providing free meals to trout and an opportunity for fly anglers.

POLAR SHRIMP

This classic steelhead attractor pattern started with white polar bear hair. Now modern materials are used.

BABINE SPECIAL

This classic steelhead salmon egg pattern was originally used on the Babine River. It is meant to resembles drifting roe from spawning fish. The white wing mimics milt (sperm) that has covered the eggs. Weight the hook so the fly will travel near the bottom. If you see spawning fish, cast the fly so it will sink to the bottom downstream from the happy couple. Undoubtedly some other fish will be there waiting to make a meal of the drifting roe.

DRIFTING CARCASS

This is another classic steelhead pattern. When the migratory salmon have spawn for the final time they die. There bodies decompose and break up. bits of salmon flesh drift down river and is eaten by predatory steelheads. Just let this fly drift past.

BOMBER

The Bomber dry fly series of flies gained popularity on the Miramichi River in 1967. It is reported that they were first tied by Elmer Smith of Prince William in New Brunswick who originally designed them for Salmon Fishing.  They are tied from spun deer hair, packed tight. These dry flies are surface flies, and usually fished by pulling or "skating" them on the surface, creating a "wake" as they cut through the water. They are good general representations of terrestrials like mice, rats, voles or lemmings that have fallen in the river and drowned. They are a very popular North American fly that floats and will tempt the most cynical salmon or steelhead. Some fishermen call them "the locator" because even when finicky fish don't strike at it, they often come up to investigate the fly thus giving away their location to the angler. You can then, if they do not take the bomber, switch to something else to get them to hit.

STEELHEADS

Steelheads are simply migratory rainbow trout. (A Sea Trout is the migratory form of the brown trout). They spawn in freshwater rivers and lakes, remain there for about two years, then migrate to the open sea where they will stay for another two to three years before they begin returning to their native rivers.

Steelheads returning to their home rivers, will be fully mature and weigh between seven and ten pounds. Fish that have stayed in the ocean longer can reaching impressive sizes of 12 to 20 pounds or more. Unlike the migratory salmon, not all sea-run steelhead die immediately after spawning. About twenty percent of each steelhead generation that returns to freshwater to spawn make their way back down the rivers and into the sea again. Not many will be strong enough to make a second spawning run.

Steelheads in the sea look very much like river trout until they begin their migration when they change to a bright silver, their backs a darker grey. Anglers call these trout "chrome bright," or "chromers." After they have been in freshwater for a time, however, steelhead slowly begin to take on the color patterns of true rainbow trout, with various patterns of black spots sprinkled across their backs, complete with smears of red on the cheeks, with distinctive red stripes marking their flanks. These red stripes can range in color from soft coral pink to a deeper blood-red color. The males fish are more colorful.

Migrations continue throughout the year, although the most active steelhead months are December, January, and March for winter steelhead; and June through August for the summer runs. Most steelhead rivers have only a summer or a winter run; some have both, and some experience no spring or summer steelhead runs at all hosting an autumn/fall and winter-run trout. It is mostly the big rivers, that have steelhead runs year-round.

Winter-run steelhead become very single minded. It is the greatest run of trout in terms of numbers. All their energy is devoted to spawning. For the most part, when they do feed, or strike a fly, they seem to do so out of habit and instinct rather than true hunger. It is this instinct - the steelhead's curiosity that can work to the angler's advantage. They will still strike at a well-presented artificial fly. They are also exceptionally wary, nervous, and incredibly difficult to catch. Winter steelhead seem to be, by far, the spookiest of the migratory steelhead. In shallow, clear water. Even the hint of a shadow moving across the water startles them, sending them scurrying.

The spring and summer trout runs produce the highest quality of steelheads, in looks and sport. They are still sexually immature when they enter the rivers. They will spend more time in freshwater before they begin spawning. Most winter-run steelhead will spawn quickly and then return to the ocean, some do linger in the rivers throughout the winter and into the spring. Spring and summer-run trout will often remain in the rivers through the summer months. When these steelheads strike, they do so with a great deal more ferocity than winter-run trout. They fight like big saltwater fish and are one of the great game fish of the world.

FISHING FOR STEELHEADS

The best way to insure good future fishing is to leave the females alone. Any bright fish is probably a hen on her way upriver, and should be left alone, although exceptionally large ones are a tempting target. Watch for female steelheads that turn on their sides and pump their tails, to scoop a hollow where they will drop their eggs. The scent stream of pheromones is like a magnet to the males. Hooking or otherwise spooking the females, is almost a guarantee that any near-by males will depart, and then there are NO fish to target. Accurately casting to the edges of the gathering steelhead male pack will get hits from the males. Cast far enough upstream of the fish to allow the fly to sink to their level before it gets to them. Drift the fly into the fish's face, and lifting and swinging away when it gets within a few inches. This method brings out their predatory instincts. You should see the strike using sun glasses. Set the hook with a downstream sweep of the rod. Play him away from the pack, to avoid spooking the rest of the fish.

Some smaller males will be chased off by larger males, and will drift back. A careful river bed presentation may elicit hard strikes from these fish. Keep the fly deep. Burn that into your brain. The fish are intent on spawning, rarely feed. You must get down to their level.

It still makes sense to go by the old "Bright day-bright fly, dark day-dark fly" but don't get locked into it. Experiment with patterns and sizes. After missing a strike, I like to change to a smaller version of the same pattern. If that doesn't bring a hit, I go to a fly that's completely opposite of the original. A huge black egg sucking leech would replace a tiny Polar Shrimp.

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WULFF DRY FLIES

The Wulff series of fly patterns were developed by Lee Wulff. It presents a bushy, high floating fly, that remains visible into the evening twilight, and rides well in rough water. Practically every modern fly angler uses one or more of Lee Wulff's innovations. He designed and sold the first fly fishing vests, championed reeling with the left hand on fly reels (so the rod was in the stronger right hand), invented the first palming spool fly reels, introduced the fly-O casting practice rigs, popularized the "riffling hitch" for salmon fishing and designed the popular triangle taper lines. However, Lee Wulff's best-known innovations were in his flies.

Wulff patterns were the first flies to use hair for fly wings and tails. Almost all dry flies available in the winter of 1929/30 were, according to Wulff, anemic and too delicate, which he ascribed to their British tradition. The reason for very slim flies was that if a fly was too bulky the feather materials did not have the buoyancy to hold it up. A very popular pattern, for example, was the Fanwing Coachman that not only twisted the leader but also sunk at the tail due to the golden pheasant tail fibers used. Wulff also noted that dry flies with wings and tails of feathers get slimed up and are not very durable. To Wulff, the solution was obvious use bucktail for tails and wings.

The first Wulff flies were tied to imitate the Isonychia (Grey Drake) and Green Drake hatches in the Catskills. Wulff first fished these patterns with his regular fishing companion, Dan Bailey, who was then a science teacher in Brooklyn. In those early trials with these new patterns, Lee's was not disappointed. He found that the fish seemed to prefer the bulkier flies that "looked more" like the naturals than the more anemic patterns then popular. With respect to durability, the hairwing flies also excelled. Wulff reports he caught 51 trout on one Grey Wulff fly in an early outing, needing only to "grease up the fly for every 5-6 fish". The first patterns included the Grey Wulff, White Wulff and Royal Wulff. Later several other Wulff patterns, including the Grizzly Wulff, Black Wulff, Brown Wulff and Blonde Wulff were developed. Lee Wulff stated that these flies were a general kind of fly, not a particular pattern. A Green Drake Wullf Fly has been added to our range for use as a mayfly dun immitation. When you first use Wulff flies treat with floatant and fish on the surface. Leave the fly to drift with the current. Occasionally accelerate it gently over short distances of a yard (meter) or more, or else twitch it to represent a struggling insect trapped in the surface film.

Look at our Gray Wulff dry fly #WD1, White Wulff dry fly #WD2, Green Drake Wulff dry fly, Royal Wulff dry fly #WD4, Grizzly Wulff dry fly #WD5, and Black Wulff dry fly #WD6

CRANEFLY (DADDY LONG LEGS) DRY FLIES FOR SALMON FISHING

Over 250 different species of cranefly populate all kinds of water. They are more commonly known as 'daddy-long-legs'. These are a familiar sight at the water side from June onwards. They are often blown onto the water surface where they struggle in their attempts to become air-borne once more. Such large insects presents a good mouthful to the trout, which respond quickly. . Daddies fished dry or dapped on the water can be used as an unconventional salmon fly. These flies are particularly important to the reservoir, lake or loch angler, because a large expanse of water is often too great a distance for these insects to fly across.

Cast the daddy long leg fly to an area where trout activity is obvious on the surface. (They fly will need to be dunked well in floatant), then just wait for a fish to find it. When a take does occur resist the temptation to strike, as the fish will often try to drown the fly first, before taking it in it's mouth. Wait until the line starts to run out, then lift the rod high to set the hook. Drag a daddy long legs through a heavy ripple, or waves and the trout will often respond with a positive take. Have a look at our range of 12 Craneflies.

OTHER FLIES TO CONSIDER

As already mentioned earlier generally migratory salmon and steelhead trout cease feeding as they return to freshwater to spawn. They can be tempted or provoked into taking a general brightly colored attractor pattern (some fishermen call them a 'piss-em-off' pattern) like and orange Woolly Bugger, Fritz or Nobbler flies. If some thing brightly colored swims in front of one of these aggressive fish and gets too close, it will be attacked