Friday, October 31, 2025
Chappie
Carter's Dixie
Carter's Dixie
Hooks - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Yellow calf tail
Body - Oval gold tinsel
Hackle - Scarlet red tied on as a collar and tied back and down.
Wing - White bucktail tied over the body
Author's Note
Jim Pray of Eureka, California, originated nated this pattern in 1934 and later named it after Harley Carter, a client and friend from Berkeley, California.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Carter Fly
Carter Fly
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Golden pheasant crest feather
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Red chenille
Hackle - Scarlet red tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing - Black bucktail tied over the body
Author's Note
This fly is of unknown origin, but Harley Carter of Berkley, California, is responsible for popularizing it.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Carson
Carson
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Golden pheasant tippet barbs
Body - Peacock herl with a red floss center band
Hackle - Brown tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing - White bucktail tied over the body, with an over wing of a small bunch of red bucktail
Cheeks - Jungle cock
Author's Note
Sumner Carson of Eureka, California, originated this pattern around 1900. His original flies had wings of married red and white duck quill sections. About 1935 this was changed to hair wings. This was a period strongly influenced by Jim Pray, when a number of patterns made the transition.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Caldwell
Caldwell
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Fluorescent red
Tip - Flat silver tinsel
Tail - Fluorescent red hackle barbs
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - Dubbed with florescent hot pink lamb's wool
Hackle - Fluorescent red
Wing - White over red bucktail
Author's Note
Louie Caldwell originated this pattern.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Valdum
Valdum
Tag - Silver tinsel and red floss
Tail - Red hackle fibers
Butt - Black ostrich herl
Ribbing - Black floss
Body - Silver tinsel
Throat - Black hackle fibers
Wing - Black goose quill segments
Cheeks - Jungle fowl
The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Flies - Chris Mann
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Bug Bee
Bug Bee
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - White under body, black head
Ribbing - Black floss
Body - Orange floss
Hackle - Grizzly
Steelhead Fly Tying Manual - Light & Humphrey
Burlap
Shadows
Black Shadow
Hook- Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Oval gold tinsel & fluorescent orange floss
Tail - Golden pheasant crest
Butt - Black ostrich herl
Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel
Body - Rear 3/4 black floss, Front 1/4 Orange krystal flash
Wing - Black squirrel tail over strands of green krystal flash
Cheeks - Jungle fowl
Hackle - Black wound as a collar
Blue Shadow
Hook- Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Oval gold tinsel & fluorescent blue floss
Tail - Golden pheasant crest
Butt - Black ostrich herl
Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel
Body - Rear 3/4 black floss, Front 1/4 blue krystal flash
Wing - Black squirrel tail over strands of purple krystal flash
Cheeks - Jungle fowl
Hackle - Black wound as a collar
Golden Shadow
Hook- Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Oval gold tinsel & fluorescent orange floss
Tail - Golden pheasant crest
Butt - Black ostrich herl
Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel
Body - Rear 1/2 flat gold tinsel, Middle 1/4 peacock herl, Front 1/4 orange krystal flash
Wing - Black squirrel tail over strands of green krystal flash
Cheeks - Jungle fowl
Hackle - Black wound as a collar
Silver Shadow
Hook- Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Oval silver tinsel & fluorescent orange floss
Tail - Golden pheasant crest
Butt - Black ostrich herl
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Rear 1/2 flat silver tinsel, Middle 1/4 peacock herl, Front 1/4 orange krystal flash
Wing - Black squirrel tail over strands of green krystal flash
Cheeks - Jungle fowl
Hackle - Black wound as a collar
The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Flies - Chris Mann
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Father Charles
Faulk
Monday, October 27, 2025
Brown Drake
Brown Drake
Hooks - Singlr salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Barred teal barb
Ribbing - Heavy black thread
Body - Dubbed with light olive lamb's wool
Hackle - Furnace tied on as a collar and tied back and down
Wing: Barred teal barbs tied over the body, with a sparse overwing of natural brown bucktail
Author's Note
This fly has long been recognized as a dependable one for summer runs.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekso
Bright Delight
Bright Delight
Hook - Single salmon
Thread- White
Eyes - Silver bead chain
Tail - White calf tail tied long with strands of purple Flashabou Accent tied on top
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - White chenille with a full, fat taper
Hackle - White tied on as a collar and tied back, then purple tied on as a collar and tied back
Author's Note
Herman Hellekson originated this pattern and used it almost exclusively on Oregon's Rogue River for more than twenty years. This fly is also known as the "Guide's Fly."
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Brenda's Delight
Brass Hat
Brad's Brat
Brad's Brat
Boxcar
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Boss
Boss
Tail - Black bucktail about as long as the hook shank
Body - Black yarn or chenille
Ribbing - Silver tinsel flat or oval
Hackle - Orange
Eyes - Silver bead chain
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Bosquito
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Blue Thunder
Blue Thunder
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Hook - Single Salmon
Thread - Black
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Flat silver tinsel
Wing - White bucktail tied over the body, with an over wing of a small bunch of purple flashabou accent (krystal flash)
Author's Note
Ian James of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, originated this pattern
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Blue Muther
Blue Muther
Hook - Single Salmon
Thread - Red
Body - Pearl Bills body braid
Wing - Blue calf tail
Collar - Purple hackle
Flies for Steelhead - Dick Stewart & Farrow Allen
Blue Max
Dolamite
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Flat silver tinsel
Tail - Black krystal flash
Body - Purple ice chenille
Wing - Black krystal flash over white polar bear
Hackle - Purple
https://oakorchardflies.proboards.com/thread/988/dolamite
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Black Spook
Steelhead Fly Fishing & Flies - Trey Combs
Black Prince
Black Prince
Hook – Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Amherst pheasant crest feather or red hackle fibers
Body - 1/3 Yellow wool or chenille, 2/3 black wool or chenille
Rib - Oval silver tinsel
Hackle - Black
Deschutes Madness
Deschutes Madness
Hooks - Single salmon
Thread - Fluorescent red
Tip - Flat gold tinsel
Tag - Strand of fluorescent red floss
Butt - Fluorescent red floss
Ribbing - Purple crystal chenille
Body - Fluorescent red floss
Hackle - Purple
Wing - Purple calf tail tied over the body
Authors Note
There were apparently many fly tiers who had a hand in developing this pattern and, after much trial and error, this is what was decided upon.
Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Reippu
Reippu
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tag - Oval gold tinsel and fluorescent yellow floss
Tail - Giolden pheasant crest
Butt - Red floss
Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel
Body - Claret floss
Throat - Guinea hen
Wing - Gray squirrel tail dyed green
Author's Note
Reippu is a Finnish fly from Matti Huitila
The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Flies - Chris Mann
Dean River Lantern
Dean River Lantern, Green
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Fluorescent green
Tail - Dyed black squirrel tail
Body - Dyed chartreuse monofilament over an underbody of fluorescent green floss*
Hackle - Black tied on as a collar and tied back
Head - Fluorescent green
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Fluorescent fire orange
Tail - Dyed black squirrel tail
Body - Dyed orange monofilament over an underbody of fluorescent orange floss*
Hackle - Dyed fluorescent fire orange grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back**
Dean River Lantern, Purple
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Black
Tail - Dyed black squirrel tail
Body - Dyed purple monofilament over underbody of fluorescent blue floss*
Hackle - Dyed purple grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back**
Dean River Lantern, Red
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Fluorescent red
Tail - Dyed black squirrel tail
Body - Dyed red monofilament over an underbody of fluorescent red floss*
Hackle - Fluorescent red tied on as a collar and tied back
Dean River Lantern, Yellow
Hook - Single salmon
Thread - Yellow
Tail - Dyed yellow gray squirrel tail
Body - Dyed yellow monofilament over an underbody of fluorescent yellow floss*
Hackle - Dyed fluorescent yellow grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back**
*I used Magic Stretch beading cord as a substitute for the dyed monofilament
**I do not have any dyed grizzly, so I used a solid color hackle
Author's Note
Dr. Arthur Cohen of San Francisco, California, created the Dean River Lanterns. Since that time there have been a number of variations developed. There was also an orange pattern that used orange bowstring for the body.
Terry Hellekson. Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson