Steelhead Fly Patterns

BY: Justin Maxwell Stuart

The Steelhead is perhaps the most powerful and fastest of all the migratory fish species. Most fishing guides will insist that a Steelhead is a sea-run rainbow trout that has developed migratory instincts. However, they still defy strict classification and are regarded by many scientists as a variety of Pacific salmon. Endowed with legendary fighting ability, Steelhead are frequently wary taking a fly, often taking a good hard look at a fly when its first presented. Big, strong fish, they are found in waters that drain toward the Pacific Ocean. Steelhead can weigh in excess of 50 pounds and be more than a metre long. They migrate into freshwater streams and rivers to spawn and unlike the similar Salmon species, they spawn more than once a year. The Steelhead fly fishing season varies region by region but in most rivers across the country, there is steelhead run from November to May.

Winter steelhead fishing is very dependent on water level, temperature and clarity. During winter, these fish like deep pools with little current. At other times of the year, they are more likely to be found in fast, deep water. Single-hand rods are the most popular for steelhead fly fishing, usually a 9ft 6in to 10 ft long rod of #7 to #9 weight, matched to a strong reel having a smooth drag. When purchasing flies for steelhead fishing, choose a well-tied flies on premium-grade hooks. Steelhead fly patterns are as wide-ranging and diverse as Atlantic Salmon flies. In general terms Steelhead flies tend to be tied with brighter colours with purple being very successful. Spring and winter fishing will certainly require the bigger, bold and brassy Intruder or Marabou style patterns.

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Salmon Tube Flies

By: Justin Maxwell Stuart

Salmon tube flies are, as the name suggests, tied up on a tube instead of a standard hook shank. Tubes are thicker than a conventional salmon fly and therefore heavier, which is a feature that many steelhead and salmon fishermen find beneficial. Hook size and style can be optimised to match the location and circumstances in which you intend to fish. Some proponents of tube flies insist that there are also more successful hook-ups with tubes compared to the more traditional long-shanked salmon fly. Whilst new to many people, tube flies were first deployed some 65 years ago! A lady by the name of Winnie Morawski gets the credit for tying the first tube fly in 1945. A fly tier for Charles Playfair & Company of Aberdeen in Scotland, she conceived the idea while tidying up the turkey quills from her work bench. After trimming the tops and bottoms off, and scraping the insides from the quills, she then dressed the tube she had created.

A company client, Dr William Michie, liked the tube fly concept and suggested cut lengths of surgical tubing would be a more durable alternative. In the fishing world, word spreads like wildfire and before long, tube flies were being tied in Norway and Sweden as well as across the United Kingdom. Saltwater tube flies first appeared in the North American Pacific Northwest and were used in Washington State's Puget Sound way back in the late 1940’s! In recent years there has been a huge increase in the number of salmon fly patterns, largely based on the introduction of tubes. These can come in any number of different sizes, weights and styles. The use of tubes allows the hook; single, double or treble, barbed or barbless, to be changed when required or when damaged. This provides the angler with a very versatile and durable alternative to standard patterns tied on regular double or treble hooks. Tube material options can also be varied for different water depths and velocities.

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