Friday, October 31, 2025

Chappie


Chappie

Hooks - Single salmon

Thread - Orange

Tail - Grizzly hackle tips tiedon edge in a V with concave sides out

Body - Dubbed with orange lamb's wool

Wings - Grizzly neck hackle tied on edge in a V over the body with concave sides out

Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back

Author's Note

C. L. Franklin of Los Angeles, California, originated this pattern about 1945. During the later 1940s and early 1950s there were a number of articles written about this fly, suggesting it was an international predator of fish. Those articles that touted it as a "real killer" on the Klamath River for steelhead and salmon were overstated. At best, this fly never achieved any acceptance other than as a mediocre summer-run fly when tied in a size 8. It is a good crappie and bass fly and it probably should be treated as such.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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


Burlap

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Coastal blacktail deer hair tied heavy

Body - Lead wire wrapped as an underbody, then strands of natural burlap wrapped to form a full, fat body. Body should be picked out and made shaggy

Hackle - Grizzly tied on as a collar and tied back

Author's Note

Arnold Arana of Dunsmuir, California, originated this pattern about1942.

Wayne "Buz" Buszek did a lot in the way of popularizing this pattern.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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

Father Charles

Hook - Single Salmon

Thread - Chartreuse

Body - Gold Bill's body braid

Throat - White calf or bucktail

Underwing - Yellow/Chartreuse calf or bucktail

Overwing - Fluorescent Red/Red calf or bucktail

Faulk


Faulk

Hook - Single salnon

Thread - Red

Tail - Red hackle fibers

Ribbing - Oval gold tinsel

Bbody - Orange dubbing

Throat - Red hackle fibers

Wing - White bucktail

Fish Flies Volume Two - Terry Hellekson

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


Brenda's Delight

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tip - Oval silver tinsel

Tail - Golden pheasant crest

Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel

Body - Flat silver tinsel

Wing - Sparse Black calf tail

Hackle - Red tied on as a collar

Fish Flies Volume Two - Terry Hellekson

Brass Hat


Brass Hat

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Dyed yellow calf tail

Body - Brass colored wire

Mid wing - White bucktail

Front Wing - Dyed black over dyed yellow bucktail


Copper wire is an acceptable substitute for brass wire. I used Hot Yellow ultra wire above

Author's Note

Peter J. Schwab originated this and similar patterns between the mid-1920s and mid-1940s 1940s while he was residing in Yreka, California. The wings should be cocked upward 40-50°. The original pattern used brass wire.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

Brad's Brat

Brad's Brat

Hook - Sinble salmon

Thread - Red or black

Tag - Flat gold tinsel

Tail - Orange hackle fibers with white over (bucktail can also be used

Rib - Oval gold tinsel

Body - Rear 1/2 orange dubbing, front 1/2 red dubbing

Hackle - Dark brown

Wing - Orange over white bucktail or polar bear

Cheeks - Jungle Cock (Optional)

Author's Note

Enos Bradner of Seattle, Washington, originated this pattern more than sixty years ago. 
It still remains popular for both summer and winter runs.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

Boxcar


Boxcar

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tag - Flat silver tinsel

Tail - Red hackle fibers

Body - Peacock herl

Wing - White calf tail

Hackle - Brown

Authors Note

Wes Drain of Seattle, Washington, originated this pattern.

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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


Bosquito

Hook - Single salmon
Thread - White
Tail - Red hackle fibers
Ribbing - Flat gold tinsel
Body - Yellow wool or uni yarn
Hackle - Black hen hackle
Wing - White polar bear or calf tail

The Book of Fly Patterns - Eric Leiser

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


Blue Max

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tag - Oval copper tinsel

Ribbing - Oval copper tinsel

Body - 1/2 burnt orange floss & 1/2 black chenille

Hackle - Silver doctor blue hen

Wing - Approximately 3/4 Black over 1/4 orange calf tail

The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Flies - Chris Mann

Dolamite


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


Black Spook

Tail - Golden pheasant crest

Ribbing - Flat gold tinsel

Body - Red yarn

Hackle - Black

Wing - White bucktail

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

Wing - Black bucktail

Fish Flies: The Encyclopedia of the Fly Tier's Art - Terry Hellekson

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


Dean River Lantern, Orange 

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

Dean River Lantern

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Matching

Tail - Black squirrel tail, long

Under body - Flat silver tinsel

Body - Fluorescent chartreuse, red, orange, yellow or green Edge Brite overlapped

Hackle - Matching hackle

UV Resin coated head

Author's Note

May also be tied with a wing matching the tail material.

The Dean River Lantern series was developed by Art Cohen for the Dean and other rivers of British Columbia. It has proven effective on a number of fish, including Steelhead, Sockeye, Silver, and King Salmon.

The Complete Illustrated Directory of Salmon Flies - Chriss Mann