Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Warrington Special


Warrington Special

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tag - UNI Axxel 6 Silver Black

Butt - UNI-Stretch Green

Tail - Golden pheasant crest

Body - UNI Axxel 6 Silver Black

Wing - Black bear or skunk

Collar - 2 turns of chartreuse hen neck

Add 2 strand's of UNI Axxel 6 Peacock on each side of the wing

The Warrington Special can fish all types of water.

https://www.uniproducts.com/624-4

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Prism


Prism

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Olive

Tag - Copper wire

Tail - Golden pheasant tippets

Ribbing - Copper wire

Body - Peacock herl

Hackle collar - Grizzly

Wing - Red fox squirrel tail

The Prism was first tied by Mark Bachmann in the early eighties.  He designed it to be an unobtrusive pattern for low, clear water.  However, during the time period mentioned here, the water was medium level with visibility that averaged four to six feet. This is normal October conditions for the Deschutes during good years.  In October, many summer steelhead have been away from the Ocean feeding-grounds for several months.  They start to forget about the brightly colored marine organisms that nurtured them there and begin to turn "trouty" in their behavior, looking for things with more freshwater coloration. The Prism turned the trick. Several very large steelhead have been taken on this pattern.  It has proven itself very useful as a come-back fly, after steelhead have risen to, but have refused a brighter colored fly.

Monday, December 22, 2025

Queen Bess


Queen Bess
(Silver Wire Body)

Hook - Salmon/steelhead style
Thread - Black
Tail - Gray squirrel tail
Body - Silver or copper wire
Throat - Golden pheasant tippets
Wing - Gray squirrel tail over yellow bucktail


Queen Bess
(Copper Wire Body)

Hook - Salmon/steelhead style
Thread - Black
Tail - Gray squirrel tail
Body - Silver or copper wire
Throat - Golden pheasant tippets
Wing - Gray squirrel tail over yellow bucktail

Reference - Fishing Flies & Fly Tying - William F Blades



Queen Bess
(Flat Silver Tinsel Body)

Hook - Salmon/steelhead style
Thread - Black
Tail - Gray squirrel tail
Body - Flat silver tinsel
Wing - Gray squirrel tail over yellow bucktail

Reference - Steelhead Fly Fishing & Flies - Trey Combs

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Goshawk Hairwing

Goshawk Hairwing

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tag - Oval gold tinsel

Tail - Golden pheasant crest over red hackle fibers 

Rib - Oval or fine flat gold or silver tinsel (gold more common)

Body - Black seal's sur or floss

Hackle - Claret with optional blue jay or dyed-blue guinea at throat

Wing - Yellow bucktail

Author's Note

This pattern came from the fine book by Peter O'Reilly, Trout & Salmon Flies of Ireland. He writes that this is an old River Moy fly, but is effective there and elsewhere. It's good all season in any water, clear or colored. Other variations are the Blue Goshawk, Orange Goshawk, and Black Goshawk.

https://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/fly271.html

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Misty Mountain


Misty Mountain

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Hot red

Tag - Flat silver tinsel

Tail - Hot red hackle fibers

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel

Body - Hot red fur dubbing

Throat - Hot red hackle

Wing - White polar bear

https://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/fly103.html

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Idaho Sunset



Idaho Sunset

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Fluorescent orange

ribbing - Silver tinsel

Body - Red tinsel

Throat - Fluorescent red marabou or hackle

Wing - Fluorescent orange bucktail or marabou

Collar - Fluorescent yellow marabou (optional) or hackle

Author's Note

The pattern for this fly, came from the fine book by Bruce Ferguson, Les Johnson, and Pat Trotter, Fly Fishing For Pacific Salmon. They write that this fly, originated by Don Hathaway was developed for the Salmon River, Idaho runs.

https://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/fly245.html

Pink Lady


Pink Lady

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Red bucktail

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel

Body - Fluorescent pink chenille

Hackle - Fluorescent red tied down as a beard

Wing - Red bucktail

Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies - Trey Combs

Monday, December 15, 2025

Umpqua Red Brat

Umpqua Red Brat

Hook - Single salmon

Thread - Black

Tail - Thick bunch of speckled mallard side

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel

Body - Red or claret chenille

Throat - Speckled mallard side

Wing - Red or claret polar bear (or substitute)

https://www.angelfire.com/wa/salmonid/fly59.html