Flys for steelhead.

[Smitty Fish]

Hey all u steel headers , what kind of fly's do u like 2 use for fall-winter steelheading?
I've been using burlaps & soft hackles lately. Soon 2 change over to leach style & sculpins.

[Frank Alessio]

Smitty...Can post a picture of your Burlap Fly? Thanks Frank

[Smitty Fish]

I sure will Frank, as soon as I get home tonight.

[Frank Alessio]

Cool... Thank You

[Norman B]

Green butt skunk
Green butt silver hilton
Bead headed brindle bug

[Jed Peters]

I'm an intruder/big fly guy. As the saying goes, big flies catch big fish. Im a huge fan of weighted, black and blue flies.

Also, love a lot of Jason Hartwicks patterns. They are available through Kienes, distributed and tied by Aqua Flies now.

[hwchubb]

I've started tying and fishing far more traditional Spey and Spey-ish patterns the last 2 years. Are they as effective as a big, ugly leech or intruder? Maybe not, but they catch fish, are far easier and more pleasant to cast and fish, and look a damn sight better in the box and the water. On the Valley rivers at typical flows, a heavy fly is rarely necessary anyhoo.

[Mark Kranhold]

Soft hackles, Sculpin, leach rabbit strip patterns ( got to love the rabbit!) ,intruder style , the kran-daddy. In traditional bugs I like the skunks, comets, peril and some Spey fly patterns. Size & color of bugs vary on rivers and water conditions. On the American most of my leach patterns are only 1 1/2" to 2" long ,from the Trinity farther north I will go bigger.

[Smitty Fish]

7992 here u go Frank.

[Frank Alessio]

Smitty....Very nicely done...Arnold Arana would be impressed.... Thank You Frank

[John Sv]

Hi What size do you run that burlap in for the A?
Hwchubb, what size speys are you tying?

I think I always put on too big a fly...

[Smitty Fish]

Hi John sv, I tie the burlap in a size 8. Tmc7999 hook. With the water low and clear, deff something small

[Morgan]

I like to use a huge treble hook w/ a piece of yarn ;)

[EricO]

I like to use a huge treble hook w/ a piece of yarn ;)

Just one treble hook Gangster??? :o)~

[Morgan]

Just one treble hook Gangster??? :o)~


Of course not...a 3 hook rig ;)
ahahha!

[Terry Thomas]

American: Willy Nelson
Winter swinging: Flash Tacos
All around swinging: HohBo Spey in different colors
T.

[hwchubb]

JohnSV,
Most of what I fish on the American for the winter fish is on Alec Jackson size 1.5 and 3, the April-May fish size 6-10 Tiemco 7999. I just got back from the Trinity and nothing happened until I got down to the size 10's and smaller (a size 16 nymph was the best swung fly of the trip), so I'm going to downsize a little this winter. Don't know if I helped or confused things...