Category Archives: Steelhead

Hoh Bo Spey

Detailed instructions for tying a Hoh Bo Spey fly by Tim Flagler.

Materials list:
Shank: Waddington shank, 25 mm.
Thread: UTC 140 Denier, black.
Connection: Berkley FireLine, 30 lb test, color smoke.
Hook: Partridge Intruder, size 2.
Butt: UV Ice Dub, pink.
Rib & Support: Guinea hen feather, dyed pink.
Body: UV Ice Dub, purple.
Collar 1: Strung or Spey marabou, black.
Flash: Holographic Tinsel, fuchsia.
Collar 2: Lady Amherst fibers, dyed pink.

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September Spey by Rick Kustich


Rick Kustich is a fly fishing author, instructor, and guide. You can follow him on Instagram @rickkustich 

Rick recently posted his September Spey on his Instagram and it immediately caught my eye. It’s a lovely looking fly. Here is what Rick had to say about the design of the fly and he also sent me the recipe to post on FrankenFly. Enjoy!

Rick said, “I developed the September Spey many years ago for the low clear early season flows on Great Lakes rivers. The natural muted colors seem to work best under these conditions. While I don’t tie many steelhead flies on irons any longer, this pattern continues to produce in the early season and is still part of my rotation. And it’s almost September.”

Materials list:
Hook: Daiichi 2051
Thread: Black 8/0
Tag: Medium flat gold tinsel
Body: Medium olive SLF
Rib: Medium flat gold tinsel
Body hackle: Long olive schlappen
Front hackle: A few turns of blue-eared pheasant
Wing: Barred olive hackle tips

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Sol Duc Spey Fly Tying

From Waters West Fly Shop:
“Our friend and acclaimed fly tier Sean Dahlquist demonstrates how to tie Syd Glasso’s classic fly pattern the Sol Duc Spey.”

“Originally developed here on the Olympic Peninsula for winter steelhead, this pattern has seen use and success in all seasons.”

“Sean sticks close to the original design with a few of his own changes.”

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Filed under Classic, Salmon, Steelhead

Fish-Skull Micro Spey

Learn To Tie This Scaled-down Articulated Fly Pattern Modeled After the Classic Spey Flies Used to Target Salmon and Steelhead.

Materials list:
Shank: Fish-Skull Senyo’s Micro Shank, 23 mm
Hook: Kona Universal Scud/Shrimp/Pupa (USP), size #12
Dubbing Bump: Senyo’s Laser Dub
Rib: Holographic Flashabou
Underbody: Senyo’s Laser Dub
Collar: EP Tarantula Brush
Collar: Rooster Saddle
Head: Loon Hard Head, black

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Filed under Salmon, Steelhead

Matt Meahan’s Steelhead Shank Intruder

From Flymen Fishing Company:
Intruder style flies are designed to provoke aggressive strikes from steelhead.

As the name suggests, the idea is to “intrude” on the steelhead’s territory and trigger the “fight” response of fight or flight.

Meahan’s Intruder is approachable pattern for all fly tyers. So many Intruder fly patterns call for some exotic material, but with everyday materials Meahan’s Intruder is a good fly for beginning steelhead tyers, but also a quick, good-looking fly for veterans as well.

The small rear loop on the Fish-Skull Senyo’s Articulated Shank makes it easy to attach the rear Kona Big Game Hunter hook and allows the shank to be held straight in any vise, avoiding the need to tie the fly at strange angles. Not to mention, the splash of color added from the Senyo’s Articulated Shank and the different variations available give you nearly endless color combination options for this fly.

Materials list:

Hook Section
Hook: Kona Big Game Hunter (BGH) hook, size #1 (https://konafishingproducts.com/colle…)
Tag: Floss
Body: Sparkle Braid
Wing: Schlappen

Shank Section
Shank: Fish-Skull Senyo’s Articulated Shank for Steelhead and Salmon Flies, size 40mm
Tag: Floss
Body: Sparkle Braid
Hackle: Schlappen
Spreader: Deer Hair
Wing: Schlappen
Feelers: Ostrich Herl
Hot Spot Wing: Schlappen

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Filed under Steelhead, Streamers

Flies Around the Net – September 2021

So it has been a while since I posted the last Flies Around the Net. So I’ll try to get back on track with this one. The names below each image are the Instagram handles of each fly tyer. So go check them out and follow them if you are interested in seeing more of their work. Enjoy!

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Filed under Classic, Dry Fly, Foam, nymphs, Poppers, Steelhead, Streamers

Blue Jay Traditional Streamer with Fred Klein

A classic streamer, wet fly for brown trout, brook trout, steelhead and salmon.
Tied here by Fred Klein.

Blue Jay Traditional Streamer Materials list:

Dressing~
Hook: Partridge Size 8 4X Long
Tail: Gray Mallard
Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Ribbing: Oval Silver Tinsel
Belly: Cream Bucktail
Hackle: Grizzly
Wing: Blue Jay (gray duck or goose a great substitute for fishing)

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Filed under Classic, Salmon, Steelhead, Trout flies

Critter Sculpin


Fly Designer: Mike Brown
Instructions & Photos: Mike Brown
Mike Brown is a lifelong Alaskan and the owner of Mossy’s Fly Shop in Anchorage Alaska. He is passionate about all things fly fishing, fly tying and music.

From Deneki Outdoors:
“During the October and November months in Alaska, it is the ideal time to fish with two handed rods. The water is low, the scenery is majestic and with less pressure on the river, it is downright peaceful and serene. A swing fly every two hander junky needs to have in their fly box is a sculpin or leech pattern. They are a favorite because they are effective.”

“The Critter Sculpin, designed by Mike Brown is an off shoot of a Booyah with some material and tying differences. This pattern proved to be a big success, especially on the swing with some action added to it while fishing it.”

“You can tie this pattern in various colors and sizes. You can also tie it shallow style (no lead eyes) or with bigger eyes for deeper buckets and runs.”

Materials List:

Hook: Aqua Flies Talon Hook Sz 4 or 2
Shank: Aqua Flies 33mm Round Eye Shank
Stinger Thread: 30lb FireLine
Lead Eyes: Med Lead Eyes
Tail: Zonker Black Rabbit Strip
Body: UV Polar Chenille Copper
Collar: Black Marabou
Head: Cross Cut Black Rabbit
Thread: Veevus 140 Black

Step 1.  Start your thread and tie in your lead eyes, approximately 2 hook eye widths, back of the eye.  This gives you room for a few turns of rabbit to create a nice big sculpin head. Run your thread to the back.

Step 2.  Tie in your stinger thread and adjust to the desired length.  Tie down the tag ends to the back of the eyes and tie back over to where you started.

Step 3. Tie in your Zonker rabbit tail.  I cut the rabbit just past the end of the stinger thread, you want to be sure that the tail will not get hung up in the hook point if you are going to run hook up.

Step 4. Tie in your UV Polar Chenille and run your thread forward to with in 1-4 to 3/8 from the hook eyes.

Step 5.  Wrap the polar chenille forward approximately 5 to 6 turns and tie off.

Step 6.  Tie in the tip end of your marabou.  Select your marabou to cover over the polar chenille body but not too long to cover the tail.

Step 7.  Wrap your marabou 3 to 4 turns, this will make a nice big collar to create the back side of the sculpin head.

Step 8. Using cross cut rabbit cut off the hide, place in a dubbing loop and spin.

Step 9. Wrap your rabbit forward, making 2-3 turns behind the eyes, figure 8 over the eyes, and then 2-3 turns in front of the eyes.  Whip finish and glue.  This will create a nice big fat head.

Finished Fly, The Critter Sculpin

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Filed under Steelhead, Streamers