Killer Bug

Cranefly Larva are an underrated food source for trout. They offer a large easy meal and they are found in just about every stream across the country. Frank Sawyer originated this pattern back in the 1960's fishing England's chalk streams. The original pattern calls for Chadwick's 477 wool which was discontinued well over 50 years ago, and if you can even find it, you will pay upwards of $200 for just a couple yards of the stuff. A close substitute is Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift Wool in a color called "Oyster." While the original 477 is supposed to have mythical properties I can attest that this as tied catches plenty of fish. I think this pattern looks killer tied on a Mustad 37160 as opposed to the standard straight shanked nymph hook. 

Hook:    #12 Mustad 37160
Thread:  6/0 Red
Weight: 12 wraps of .020 lead free wire
Body:    Oyster Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift Yarn
Head:    Make a pronounced head with tying thread

Killer Bug

Red Headed Step Child

Rock Creek was always one of the top spots for me to fish each spring during the salmonfly hatch. The surrounding willows come alive with the giant stonefly and the trout gorge themselves. The hatch also coincides with runoff and the water is churning. I started tying very heavily weighted stones to get down deep in the turbulent water along the brush and current seams. I went through several variations of upscaled Prince Nymps, but for some reason this one with the read bead just stuck. This thing sinks like a stone with a heavy tungsten bead up front and about 16 wraps of .020 lead free under the body. I would often fish this pattern in sizes 4-8 and back here in Michigan its a great stonefly nymph for Salmon, Steelhead and resident trout.

Hook:    TMC 200R #4-12
Bead:    Red Tungsten
Weight: Optional, .020 lead free wire
Tail:       Black Round Rubber
Body:    Peacock Herl
Rib:       Red Ultra Wire
Hackle: Brown Saddle swept back
Antena: White Round Rubber
Colar:   Peacock Herl

Hannah Montana

Make no mistake this is a junk fly, and it is very...very pink. I first ran into this pattern while I was living in Missoula Montana several years ago. The Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop had a bin full of these colorful pink and purple worms with a hand written name tag that read "Hannah Montana." I tied up a few in preparation for runoff and it proved a great fly on the Bitterroot and Rock Creek. This fly is not going to win any beauty contests but it will catch fish!

Hook:     #8 Daiichi 2571
Thread:  6/0 Hot Pink
Bead:     3.8mm Purple
Body:     Hot Pink Vernille
Colar:     Purple UV Ice Dub

Hannah Montana

Mr. Wiggles

Hex nymphs are one of my favorite fall patterns on the PM where I do most of my steelhead fishing. This buggy little number is super effective and an easy tie. Steelhead and the resident browns seem to love the wiggly rubber legs on this guy.  I always have a few in my box in both light yellow and tan variations.


Hook:     #8 Mustad R73-9671 or Similar
Thread:  6/0 Black
Eyes:      Large Black Mono
Tail:        Three Pheasant Tail Fibers
Gills:      Tan Antron
Body:     Pale Yellow Ice Dub
Shell:     Tan Antron
Rib:        Clear Mono
Legs:     Orange Barred Rubber

Mr. Wiggles

McAlevin

Until recently I have not given alevin patterns much thought. I always caught steelhead on the normal egg, caddis, hex and stonefly patterns that everyone else was throwing. However, one of the benefits of tying your own flies is that you don't have to fish the patterns that most people are using. Alevin patterns have been a creative outlet for me in recent months, and to no surprise they work! 

Like most of my flies this pattern is simple and quick to tie. Essentially, a sparse layered "wing" that when wet gives the pattern a nice translucency with subtle flash and barring to imitate a recently hatched alevin.

Hook:             #10 TMC 105
Thread:          6/0 White
Under Wing:  Grey Senyo's Laser Dub
Flash:            Silver and Pearl Ice Dub
Over Wing:    Mallard Flank
Egg Sack:      Golden McFly Foam
Eyes:             Red, Medium, Stick on

McAlevin

Marabou Hex

Hex Nymphs have always been a go-to nymph for Salmon, Trout and Steelhead but they can be complex and a pain to tie. I have always been fond of simple, smaller more compact hex type patterns that are a breeze to tie. These types of pattern fill my Hex box and I don't mind loosing them to the many snags in the rivers I fish. This simple pattern is made up of only two materials, Barred Marabou and Hen Saddle making it a snap to tie. The dubbed marabou body makes this pattern comes alive and breath in the water and has become my go-to hex nymph.

Hook:     #8 Gamakatsu SL45
Thread:  6/0 Red
Eyes:     Black Mono
Tail:       Sand colored Barred Marabou
Body:    Dubbed Marabou, The same Barred Marabou as the tail used as a dubbing
Legs:     Hen Saddle
Head:    Dubbed Marabou

Marabou Hex

Two Bit Hooker

I started fishing the Two Bit Hooker several years ago.  A #8 Peach/Tan Chubby with a #14 Yellow Two Bit Hooker was my go to hopper dropper rig when I lived in Montana. I tie it in several variations and the one below is the one that I keep well stocked in my steelhead general nymph box. Other colors that have produced for me include blue, red, black, yellow and tan along with different combinations of bead colors.

Hook:    #10 Allen W501BL
Thread: 6/0 Purple
Bead:    3.8mm Orange
Tail:       Hen Saddle Fibers
Body:    Tying Thread
Rib:       Fl Pink Tying Thread
Thorax:  3.2mm Bead covered with Electric Grape Fusion Dub
Legs:     Hen Saddle Fibers
Shell:     Purple Flash covered with UV Resin

Two Bit Hooker

Steelhead Warrior

Let me start by saying that I don't like to name my flies. Im not clever enough for one, but frankly I don't really care to. This pattern is based off an upsized Rainbow Warrior with some of the brighter colors that the steelhead I run into seem to love. So... Steelhead Warrior it is... I guess...

This pattern was good to me last season especially on those spookier highly pressured fish. I think that its is something different for them to look at besides the countless glo bugs, caddis, hex and stonefly nymphs they see on a daily basis.

Im picky so I make my own "rainbow" dubbing for this pattern. I take a full package of white Senyo's Laser Dub and blend in a pinch of "eat a peach", "electric grape", "pink lady" and "lizard" Senyo's Fusion dubbing. It is a bit brighter and less drab than the normal "rainbow" pre blended dubbing out there, but in a pinch I'm sure those would work too.

Hook:     #10 Orvis 1P0R Tactical Barbless Czech Nymph or similar
Thread:  6/0 Red
Bead:     3.8mm Pink, orange or chartreuse
Tail:        Pheasant Tail
Body:     Opal tinsel wrapped over top of a red thread base
Rib:        XS red Ultra Wire
Thorax:  Rainbow dubbing
Shell:     Opal Tinsel

Steelhead Warrior

PM Hex Nymph

This pattern has been around for a long...long time, and I have been fishing this pattern or  similar variants for years. Its a quick simple tie that I don't  mind loosing to snags, and it just plain watched fish. I keep a stock of tan as well as yellows and creams in my steelhead box at all times.

For spring fishing I also will substitute the tan dubbing for white and the sand colored barred marabou for grizzly for a nice alevin pattern.

Hook:     #8, Dai-Riki #075 or similar 2X strong 1X short
Thread:  6/0 Black
Tail:        Sand Barred Marabou
Body:     Tan Senyo's Laser Dub
Shell:     Sand Barred Marabou folded back over to form the shell back
Eyes:     XL Black Mono

PM Hex Nymph