rod game fish. Red Band Steelhead are renowned for their propensity for rising to flies presented on or near the surface of the river. Anglers commonly use full floating fly lines to catch these fish.  This takes less physical exertion than the sinking tip lines used for steelhead returning to rivers west of the Cascades.  To make things even easier, the flies that Redband Steelhead prefer are size #2, #4 or #6.  These flies average 1" to 1 3/4" long, counting head, body and tail.  They are often dressed fairly sparse.  They are easy to cast.  Today's traditional fly patterns for Redband Steelhead have evolved with the incremental change of millions of man days on the water.  Offered here is a new collection of tube flies that we believe you will find unique in both character and utility.  There are nine fly patterns in this collection.  They are in three sets:  
The first (4) flies are a "Low Water Series".  The next (2) flies are in the "Waking Tube Fly Series".  The last (3) flies are in the "Traditional Proportion Series".  
The "Low Water Series" are on small brass tubes and are dressed sparsely with floss & tinsel bodies. Each has a low dressed wing of fine hair and long, supple, flowing, flash.  The hackle is wispy. The proportions of these flies mimic classic low water configurations proven in the book Greased Line Fishing by Jock Scott.  Each fly can be further tuned by changing sizes and styles of hooks.  A longer shank hook might turn the game against short strikers.  A shorter hook has lighter weight. Hooks with smaller gapes have less water drag than do hooks with  

larger gapes.  A smooth take-off of the fly from the water enables a smoother cast. A small hook will land a large steelhead.  In certain windy conditions a smaller hook might be an advantage in casting and personal safety.

Sport Fish Of The Mexican Pacific Shoreline
While glamour species like billfish, dorado and tuna get most of the press, there are many other hard fighting game fish that inhabit Mexican coastal waters.  We have found some that make excellent targets for the serious saltwater fly rodder.

Pargo
There are many kinds of snappers the live along the rocky outcrops of the Latin American Pacific coast.  The term Pargo is loosely applied to several of them, but  most often refers to the Cubera Snapper which can attain weights of nearly 100-pounds.  Most Pargos caught by fly anglers weigh less than 20-pounds.  Most larger ones have the power to get down in the rocks and break the leader.  Most of the Pargos that we have caught have been with sinking lines and deep sunk sardine patterns.  Reportedly pargos do take poppers as well.

Blue Fin Trevally
You better get up early in the morning if you want to catch some of these scrappy shore line feeders.  They are most active in the low light light.  Sometimes call "Blue Star", they are one of the most beautiful to be encountered in coastal waters.  The fight is a strong, steady darting pull.  Most of the time they run for open water.  Seem to mostly feed on smaller fish.  Have done best with a 400gr. sinking tip line and a sardine pattern fly, working water 10'-20' deep.  These guys seem to like the surge areas around big rocks.

Jack Crevelle
Called Toro (bull) in much of Mexico, it is one of the most common shoreline species.  Can be found seasonally  in all Mexican coastal waters.  They are not sought after for food fish so they are available in large numbers for catch and release.  Crevelle are hard fighting, interesting fish to catch and can fill in dog days for more glamorous species.  They inhabit a wide variety of water types from shallow flats to raging surf.  They also travel into brackish and have brief encounter with freshwater.  Sinking lines and streamers is the common approach to catching them.  

Green Jacks
Seem to be more common during the winter months.  Usually found in small schools  in the slicks on the down-tide of big offshore rocks.  We have also seen Green Jacks schooled up with a mixture of Jack Crevelle and Pacific Yellowtail.  The Greenies that we have caught average 3-6 pounds and are great sport fish on 7/8 weight gear.  More Green Jacks seem to be available during the winter months.  Green Jacks often feed on very small fish and small flies are required..

Cabrilla
These are a kind of grouper that love the areas around steep cliffs and the rubble that erodes off of them.  Remember when Billy Bob won the bass tournament by pulling a five pounder from under the stump with a short, stout rod and 20-pound test.  Fishing Cabrilla is a similar game, except that many of these fish weight over 20-pounds and have been eating steroids and pumping iron.  When one broke my 30-pound tippet, the guide replied in discust, "too small" and grabbed the 50-pound butt section. "Use