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
This fly is great for Coho in the salt when they are staging in estuaries for their journey upstream. Use a slow-paced retrieve to probe the depths with a few quick pulls to imitate a darting motion. Also a good sea-run cutthroat fly.