Traditional Steelhead Wet Fly Patterns

Larry Officer with a 32" Deschutes native that took a #6 Doc Spratley 10/16/02.

Webster's Dictionary defines tradition, "as a convention established by constant practice". Traditional flies are the ones that are used year after year. They are commonly known and used by many anglers. Listed within these pages under "Traditional". Are some of the most popular steelhead flies in the Pacific Northwest. Many of these flies are also used for Atlantic Salmon as well as Pacific Salmon. Traditional steelhead flies come in several forms. Most would be classed as bucktails or streamers. These flies

have a wing of hair or feathers over the back of the fly. The Cotton Candy is unique because the wing and tail are made from strands of Glo Bug yarn. The Comet and Boss patterns do not have wings, but instead have very long tails which are cocked up so that they don't tangle easily.

Blue Max This beautiful fly was originated by Mark Melody around 1985. It has been a popular Deschutes summer steelhead fly ever since.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20270-04	Blue Max	4	3 for $5.95

Boss This fly was first tied by Northern California tier, Grant King. It has become a standard steelhead fly from California to Alaska. I has also landed Chinooks and si very effective for Coho in lower Columbia River tributaries.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20275-04	Boss	4	3 for $5.95

Comet This is one of several comet flies originated for Northern California steelhead and salmon by Virgil Sullivan.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20280-02	Comet	2	3 for $5.95
20280-04	Comet	4	3 for $5.95

Conrad Dave Bretton was the first angler who showed us the Conrad in about 1984. He had used is successfully for Atlantic Salmon in Maine and Eastern Canada. He had also landed a 24 pound steelhead with it from the Kalama River is Southwest Washington. Dave often fishes the Conrad with a riffle hitch. It has been a very successful fly on the Deschutes River.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20290-04	Conrad	4	3 for $5.95

Copper Top This fly was originated by Brian Silvey in about 1987 for use on the Deschutes River. It has also been productive on the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers when the water is low and clear.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20300-06	Copper Top	6	3 for $5.95

Cotton Candy If you only have one fly to fish Alaska this might well be it. It is proven for all five salmon species, char and steelhead. Fish it deep and dead drift.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20325-04	Cotton Candy	4	3 for $5.95
20325-10	Cotton Candy	10	3 for $5.95

Dan's Favorite Invented by Dan Gracia in about 1984, this fly be came very popular for spring steelhead in the Sandy River basin.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20333-04	Dan's Favorite	4	3 for $5.95

Dark Mack's Canyon This popular Deschutes River pattern was introduced by Doug Stewart around 1988. It has proved to be a very effectiv fly for late evening.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20400-04	Dark Mack's Canyon	4	3 for $5.95
20400-06	Dark Mack's Canyon	6	3 for $5.95

Doc Spratley This fly was originally tied as a sedge pattern for fishing British Columbia lakes. It soon gained popularity as a steelhead fly. It will often move dour fish when nothing else will.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20450-04	Doc Spratley	4	3 for $5.95
20450-06	Doc Spratley	6	3 for $5.95

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Blue Max	Conrad	Dan's Favorite
Boss	Copper Top	Dark Mack's Canyon
Comet	Cotton Candy	Doc Spratley