The Fly Library: Salmon & Steelhead Flies

By Aaron Leckie

A great searching pattern for winter Steelhead and Bull Trout!

Materials

Hooks: 1 Mustad 36890 #8 and 1 Mustad 34007 #6 Stainless Steel
Thread: 6/0 Red Uni-thread
Tail:Hot Pink Rabbit Strip
Body: Red Strung Marabou, Pink Strung Marabou, Silver Flashabou and Hot Pink
Rabbit Strip
Eyes: Painted Dunbell Eyes

Steps

1. Start off by using a pair of pliers and cutting off below the bend of the #8 36890 hook, so there is no more hook point.

2. Place the hook in the tying vice and tie in your red tying thread to the bend of the hook.

3. Take a 4" piece of 40+lbs braided line and form a loop so both ends are lined up. Place one end of the line through the eye on the hook and form a knot. There should still be about 1-2" of line behind the hook in a loop.

4. Now place the tying thread over th braided line making it secure.

5. A thin coat of Loc-Tite super glue should then be applied over top.

6. Cut a 2-3" piece of your pink rabbit strip and tie in where the thread is located.

7. Now take a plume of red marabou and tie it in by the tips, wrap the marabou around the hook shank stroking the fibers towards the tail.

8. Take another piece of the pink rabbit strips and tie in.

9. Start wrapping it towards the eye of the hook and tie off.

10. Repeat step #7.

11. Now take 2 or 3 strands of silver or red flashabou and tie in so they extend just past the bend of the hook.

12. Lastly tie on the dunbell eyes

13. Move the thread behind the dunbell eyes and whip finish.

14. Apply a thin layer of the super glue again on the head of the fly and dunbell eyes to make sure they are secure.

15. Remove the hook from the tying vice.

16. Take the looped braided line and place it into the eye of the Mustad 34007. Once through let it flip over from the other side on the 34007 and pull to tighten.

Don't forget to pinch your barb and conserve your catch!