Winter Steelhead Flies

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		Topics Winter Steelhead Flies Pictorial Fly Directory Nothing Beats Maxima Winter Steelhead Leaders Sharper Hooks
Featured Customer	Free Fly Tying Party	All pictures are Mouse-over.

Winter Steelhead Flies, Spring, Summer & Fall Steelhead Flies Too... Flies for catching the Pacific Northwest's most beloved fish!

Winter Steelhead Fly Directory A pictorial navigation page - a visual adventure at the source!	Steelhead Guide's Flies Proven by the Pacific Northwest's most accomplished steelhead guides.
Our Steelhead Fly Selection Offers Several Layers of Navigation Two layers are offered above. The Winter Steelhead Fly Directory is on this same page. It allows you to easily choose your fly by singular item. The Steelhead Guide's Flies directory are listed by the guide's name and picture, so that you can choose from the creations of your favorite guide. The directory below list families of steelhead flies by category (because there are hundreds of sizes and kinds of steelhead flies offered in this web site and to offer navigation on one page would be a page yards long)...so the links below will take you to other directories. We know of one guy from Washington that followed all of the links in the Steelhead Fly section of our site and it took up week of good fishing time...then there's the guy from Sweden who has been in there for the last month... If you get lost, try our Search engine, and if that doesn't get it done, call: 1-800-266-3971.
Agitators Alaskabou Flies Articulated Leech Bombers Bulkley Mouse Deep Eyed Wog Deschutes Steelhead Flies Egg Flies Egg Sucking Leach Egg Sucking Sculpin Exasperator Favorite Winter Steelhead Flies Fly du Jour Foxee Prawn General Practitioner GP Spey Guide Intruder Grease Liner Hobbit Spey Hoh Bo Spey Jumbo Critter Low Water Tube Flies Larimer Loop Leech Pick 'Yer Pocket	Marabou Tube Flies Metal Detectors Moose Turd Musician Series Skagit Minnow Spey Flies Steelhead Caddis Steelhead Muddlers Steelhead Wet Flies Shrimp Flies Signature Intruder Stinger Prawn String Leeches Summer Steelhead Fly Selection Tail Gunner Flies Tandem Tube Flies Top Spot Skater Traditional Wet Flies Tube Flies Tube Snakes Waking Flies Waller Waker Wombat Winter Spey Flies

Winter Steelhead Fly Directory This may be the most complete selection of winter steelhead flies ever assembled on one page. All pictures are mouse-over for fly names. Click flies for more information.
Pick 'Yer Pocket, Black	Pick 'Yer Pocket, Orange	Pick 'Yer Pocket, Pink	Pick 'Yer Pocket, Purple
Cone Head Leech, Black	Cone Head Leech, Olive	Cone Head Leech, Purple	Cone Head Leech, Chartreuse
Cone Head Leech, Hot Pink	Cone Head Leech, Red	MarabouTube Fly, Blue	Marabou Tube Fly, Red
Marabou Tube Fly, Purple	MarabouTube Fly, Candy	Metal Detector, Blue	Metal Detector, Chartreuse
Metal Detector, Red	Alaskabou, Volcano	Alaskabou, Blue Moon	Alaskabou, Popsicle
Agitator, Black & Red	Agitator, Purple & Flame	Agitator, Sandy Candy	Deep Eyed Wog
Articulated Leech, Black	Articulated Leech, Purple	Big Black	Big Purple
Big Red	Egg Leech, Black	Egg Leech, Purple	Egg Sucking Sculpin, Black
Egg Sucking Sculpin, Olive	Exasperator, Black/Blue	Exasperator, Black/Purple	General Practitioner, Black
General Practitioner, Orange	General Practitioner, Purple	Super Prawn, Orange	Sand Shrimp
Hoh Bo Spey, Black/Blue	Hoh Bo Spey, Green Butt	Hoh Bo Spey, Orange Butt	Hoh Bo Spey, Orange/Purple
Hoh Bo Spey, Wine	Hobbit Spey, Black	Hobbit Spey, Orange	Hobbit Spey, Purple
Green Butt Spey	Jack O'Lantern Spey	Sun Kissed Spey	Expression Spey
Tandem Tube, Black/Blue	Tandem Tube, Egg Sucker	Tandem Tube, Fleshy Red	Tandem Tube, Orange/Pink
Tandem Tube, Purple	Tandem Tube, Red & Orange	Foxee Prawn, Purple	Foxee Prawn, Orange
Foxee Prawn, Black	Foxee Prawn, Popsicle	Sig Intruder, Red/Black	Sig Intruder, Purple
Sig Intruder, Pink/Orange	Sig Intruder, Olive	Sig Intruder, Black/Orange	Sig Intruder, Black/Blue
Sig Intruder, Green Butt	Sig Intruder, White	Guide Intruder, Black	Guide Intruder, Chartreuse
Guide Intruder, Pink	Sandy Spider	Eyed Shrimp	Loop Leech, Black/Chartreuse
Loop Leech, Black	Loop Leech, Pink	Loop Leech, Red	Loop Leech, Purple
Jumbo Critter, Black	Jumbo Critter, Black/Blue	Jumbo Critter, Black/Red	Jumbo Critter, Chartreuse
Jumbo Critter, Pink & Orange	Jumbo Critter, Purple	Steelhead Mojo	Starlight Leech, Pink
Tube Snake, Black & Blue	Tube Snake, Purple	Tube Snake, Orange	Tube Snake, Pink
Tube Snake, Red	Al Green	Miles Davis	Willie Nelson
Skagit Minnow, Black	Skagit Minnow, Chart/White	Skagit Minnow, Pink/Orange	Skagit Minnow, Purple/Blue
Stinger Prawn, Black	Stinger Prawn, Chartreuse	Stinger Prawn, Purple	GP Spey, Black
GP Spey, Orange	GP Spey, Purple	Wombat Fly, Orange	Wombat Fly, Blackbird

Steelhead Flies Are An Obsession !!!
	Flies are constantly evolving as our understanding of game fish and their prey deepens. The sport of fly fishing really is a search for knowledge of the natural world around us, especially the aquatic components. The evolution of this knowledge can be traced in the history of fly tying skills and the progression of fly patterns over the past 500 years. The rise of industrial technology has played a role. Most modern flies still contain natural materials that were available in the beginning. But, many key components used in the latest winter steelhead flies have only been
available in the last few years. On the average, winter steelhead flies are getting larger. This is not only because we are learning how to tie larger flies, but more importantly we are developing the tackle and skills to fish larger flies more comfortably. Certain strains of steelhead prefer large flies. Many of them return to our rivers during the winter months. The development of the most important new patterns, is most naturally by the hardest working professional fly fishing guides. If you are a guide, your career is dependent on your ability to be able to get your clients hooked up. It stands to reason if you spend 100-200 days a year fishing for steelhead, you are going to learn a lot about how to catch them. Pictured above is a selection of flies that is on the cutting edge of winter steelhead fly development. These patterns were developed and proven by the area's best winter steelhead guides: Mark Bachmann, Josh Linn, Brian Silvey, Mike Kinney, Marty Sheppard, Tom Larimer, Brian Kite, Scott Howell and Charles St. Pierre. Troy Bachmann, Jon Covich and George Cook past guides and long time steelheaders, have added their expertise to the mix. Our company roots are in winter steelhead fly fishing. We have the most complete selection of winter steelhead fly fishing gear in the region, if not the world. Our aim is to remain the leader and bring you the best winter steelhead fly fishing tackle available, and this includes the best selection of winter steelhead flies. We also intend to make this collection the most convenient to access on the internet and at the best prices and most streamlined delivery possible.

Nothing Beats MAXIMA for winter steelhead fishing!!!

Maxima Chameleon

Maxima Clear

Maxima Ultra Green

Leader Formulas

Maxima Tippet Material. Many anglers believe that there is no stronger more durable leader material than Maxima. Period. It has gained a fanatical following of the most renowned trout, bass, steelhead, salmon and saltwater anglers. This is because of its 100% constancy and total reliability. Maxima has a high durability finish that avoids nicks and abrasions. This finish also helps to control knot slippage, which is a major factor in knot breakage.
Nothing beats Maxima

Maxima Chameleon
Maxima Chameleon is a very hard and abrasion resistant tippet material. Its dark brown color is infrared sensitive to blend with the surroundings when submerged. It is best when fishing deep. For those reasons it has become the most popular salmon and steelhead tippet.

Stock No.	Pound Test	Diameter	Length	Price	To top
MAXCH02 Chameleon	2 lb.	.005	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH04 Chameleon	4 lb.	.007	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH06 Chameleon	6 lb.	.009	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH08 Chameleon	8 lb.	.010	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH10 Chameleon	10 lb.	.012	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH12 Chameleon	12 lb.	.013	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH15 Chameleon	15 lb.	.015	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH20 Chameleon	20 lb.	.017	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH25 Chameleon	25 lb.	.020	27 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH30 Chameleon	30 lb.	.022	17 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCH40 Chameleon	40 lb.	.024	17 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

Maxima Clear
Maxima Clear has the same properties as Chameleon except it doesn't contain the infrared sensitive dye. It has a non-reflective finish that makes it nearly invisible under most light and water conditions. Clear is a good choice for all situations where a dark colored tippet is not appropriate such as surface steelhead or saltwater flats fishing.

Stock No.	Pound Test	Diameter	Length	Price	To top
MAXCL02 Clear	2 lb.	.005	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL04 Clear	4 lb.	.007	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL06 Clear	6 lb.	.009	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL08 Clear	8 lb.	.010	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL10 Clear	10 lb.	.012	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL12 Clear	12 lb.	.013	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL15 Clear	15 lb.	.015	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL20 Clear	20 lb.	.017	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL25 Clear	25 lb.	.020	27 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL30 Clear	30 lb.	.022	17 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXCL40 Clear	40 lb.	.024	17 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

Maxima Ultra Green
Maxima Ultra Green is supple and softer than either Chameleon or Clear. It is nearly invisible in most river and lake water. It has good knot strength and is very popular for fishing nymphs or dry flies for trout.

Stock No.	Pound Test	Diameter	Length	Price	To top
MAXUG02 Ultra Green	2 lb.	.005	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG04 Ultra Green	4 lb.	.007	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG06 Ultra Green	6 lb.	.009	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG08 Ultra Green	8 lb.	.010	27 yd.	$2.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG10 Ultra Green	10 lb.	.012	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG12 Ultra Green	12 lb.	.013	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG15 Ultra Green	15 lb.	.015	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG20 Ultra Green	20 lb.	.017	27 yd.	$3.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
MAXUG25 Ultra Green	25 lb.	.020	27 yd.	$3.50	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

Building Your Own Tapered Leaders
All competent anglers pay special attention to their leader. Nothing shows up a rookie quicker than a frayed and wind knotted leader. A poorly maintained leader denotes poor fishing skills and a lack focus. You don't have to build your own hand tied leaders to be a competent angler. There are several brands of reliable knotless, factory made leaders available. However, for some applications hand tied leaders will give the best presentation and are much less expensive.

Having an understanding of leader material and a practiced knowledge of reliable fishing knots is as important to the angler as knowing how to cast. The leader is the most fragile link between you and your fish. Frayed leader material, tangles, wind knots or a badly tied knot can release your trophy prematurely. Nothing lasts forever. Any leader is subjected to tremendous dynamic stress as it is cast through the air. Contact with stream bank vegetation, underwater obstructions and fish teeth can badly scar leader material. Your leader must be checked constantly while fishing. Any problem areas should be repaired as soon as they are noticed. For this reason you should carry a "leader repair kit" even if you use factory made knotless tapered leaders.

A properly designed fly leader enables the angler to deliver the fly with precision. The leader should also provide a strong, nearly invisible link between the fly line and the fly.

A correctly designed fly leader transfers energy from the fly line to the fly in a predictable manner. The leader butt attaches directly to the fly line and must be of a diameter similar to the end of the fly line to transfer energy from the fly line to the rest of the leader smoothly. The graduated mid-section transfers the energy from the butt section to the leader's tippet. The butt and mid-section are designed as a delivery system for the tippet and fly. The tippet is the leader's single most important component. The tippet size and type are determined by the fish size and fishing conditions. You will be a more successful angler with a working knowledge of leader design and application. With a knowledge of proper knots, a store of the proper materials and a blue print to work from, you can build your own fly leaders to any configuration needed to catch any fish.
          Fly leaders can be very specific to the angling quarry and situation.
      Here is a very simple hand-tied leader that works perfectly for winter steelhead.

This leader is specifically designed for catching steelhead with a sinking tip lines. It is made from three sections of hard, abrasion resistant nylon such as Maxima. The sections graduate from where the leader

will be attached to the fly line down to where the fly will be attached. Each section is a different diameter and will serve a specific purpose. The formula
for this leader is at right:

5' Leader for Steelhead
25 lb. Maxima = 15"
15 lb. Maxima = 15"
10 lb. Maxima = 30"

The length of this leader was chosen to give the fly maximum action and a practical amount of stealth to the angler. A five foot long leader will hide the fly line tip from most bottom hugging steelhead in water which has 4'-5' visibility. The leader is short enough so that a heavy sinking tip line can hold a very lightweight fly close to the bottom. Normally a leader of this short length will turn over a heavily weighted fly for all but the poorest casters. So, you ask, why not just tie on a piece of ten pound tippet material to the end of the fly line?

A straight small diameter mono tied directly to the end of fly line could transfer enough energy to turn over the fly, but not as well as a graduated one. And you need a very strong attachment from the leader to the fly line. This is facilitated by attaching 15" of large diameter monofilament to the tip of the fly line. Leaders of less than .020 diameter have proven unreliable when nail knotted to a fly line and fished for anadromous fish. The 30" tippet section has been proven strong enough for most steelhead and pliable enough to allow medium size flies to move naturally in the water. The 15" mid section facilitates attachment of the tippet and butt sections by providing an intermediate diameter which will allow very strong knots to be tied easily.

This simple tapered leader is practical and inexpensive for the winter steelhead angler to make. You will need to carry several pre-tied leaders and a roll of tippet material while fishing. As leaders get longer their design can become more complex.

Steelhead/Salmon Tapered Leader Formulas For: Maxima Leader
					04X	02X	01X	1X
	.024	.022	.020	.017	.015	.013	.012	.010
	40 lb.	30 lb.	25 lb.	20 lb.	15 lb.	12 lb.	10 lb.	8 lb.
4' 01X			12"		12"		24"
5' 01X			15"		15"		30"
6' 01X			24"		18"		30"
10' 02X	38"	20"	14"	12'	12'	24"
10' 01X		40"	32"	8"	8"	8"	24"
10' 1X		40"	32"	6"	6"	6"	6"	24"
12' 02X	48"	22"	16"	15"	14"	29"
12' 01X		46"	40"	10"	10"	9"	29"
12' 1X		46	40'	7"	7"	7"	7"	30"
15' 02X	50"	32"	26"	18"	18"	36"
15' 01X	50"	32"	26"	12"	12"	12"	36"

Hook Sharpener made from Diamonds.
	These hook sharpeners are made from diamond grit embedded in stainless steel. They need no maintenance and seem impervious to salt water. They sharpen by removing metal and work equally well when stroked in any direction. An easily accessible hook sharpener is one of the
most important tools in your arsenal. Sharp hooks land a higher percentage of fish than dull ones. A hook point is a cutting edge. All cutting edges become dull with use. Anglers who regularly inspect and maintain their hook points land more fish. As a matter of efficiency, the sharpening tool must be easy and quick to use. It must also be able to perform a variety of tasks and be able to reach all surfaces of the hook point. These Diamond Hones are the best hook sharpening tools we have found. Each size has flat and grooved abrasive surfaces and a different texture on each side. The 4" Sharpener has fine and medium grit and the 6" Sharpener has medium and heavy grit. The 4" Sharpener is best suited for sharpening hook sizes #20 to #1. The 6" Sharpener is best suited for sharpening hook sizes #4 to #10/0. These diamond hones will also sharpen knives and scissors and perform many other useful tasks.

Item	Description	Price	To Top
DRSHOK-4	Dr. Slick 4 inch Diamond Hook Sharpener	$10.95	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

DRSHOK-6

Dr. Slick 6 inch Diamond Hook Sharpener

$18.95

Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

Featured Customer: Eddie Shannagher Eddie Shannagher AKA: "The Crazy Irishman" fishes mostly Loughs (lakes to us) in Ireland. You can tell from the pictures that Ireland has some great lake fishing for brown trout. Lately Eddie is getting more interested in salt water fly fishing. Ireland has a long coast line, much of which is fly fisher friendly. When Eddie is not busy fly fishing he plays a good bit of the Irish national sport - HURLING. Our understanding is that Eddie is a top level player. Beyond that, he brews a mean Blackberry Vodka that will keep you warm and toasty in the well known Irish rain and wind.



Eddie was one of our first internet customers and used to phone in orders from Ireland before our web site had a shopping cart. Thanks Eddie, we appreciate your business and your friendship!

Free Fly Tying Party
January 11 - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Sunday Afternoon.
"Tying Tube Flies For Winter Steelhead"
Learn to tie: steelhead flies that really work!
Group Leaders:
Mark Bachmann: Simple Tube Flies
Josh Linn: Scandinavian Tube Flies
Brian Silvey: Tandem Tube Flies & Tube Snakes
This program is for new tiers and experienced tiers alike.
Instructional demonstrations with big-screen TV are free,
and all tying materials & hooks will be available at low cost.
A custom made fly tying room with perfect lighting
and special teaching aides are provided.
Learn to tie all the latest steelhead tube flies!
Refreshments will be served. Bring snacks if you want to.
Everyone is welcome!

The Fly Fishing Shop, Welches, OR

1(800) 266-3971

To Top

www.flyfishUSA.com

Fish long & prosper,
Mark & Patty