Winter Steelhead Flies

Flies are constantly evolving as our understanding of game fish and the prey they eat, progresses. 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.
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 below 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, Brian Silvey, 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 most convenient to access on the internet.

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.

Ostrich Mini Spey Hackle is unique.  These ostrich body feathers tiny replicas of the giant tail plumes that are used to decorate hats, Intruders and Alec Jackson Ostrich Chenille fly bodies.  But, they average 3 1/2" - 4" in total length and have fluffy, water absorbent barbuals that average slightly over an inch long.  Barbuals have strong tapered shafts as do the feathers themselves.  Feather stems are strong and pliable and can be wound as collar hackle or palmered as spey type hackle.  Feathers can be wound from the tip or butt and can be wound whole or with one side stripped off.  Having this versatility gives tiers a wide range of applications for widely varied effects from densely packed to thin and wispy. Barbuals can be trimmed from the feather and applied like hair wings on standard size summer flies and the effect is like a cross between calf tail and marabou. Colors can be mixed for striking effects.  Colors are strong and vibrant.  Approximately eight feathers per package.

• True 360 degree rotation

• Adjustable rotary tension and lock

• Anticorrosion coated jaws

• Lever operated jaws

• Rotary actuator

• Material clip

• Adjustable bobbin cradle
  
  FOR HOOKS 28 TO 4/0

The Presentation 2000 is the latest addition to the Renzetti line. It won the Ka-Ching Award at the 2006 Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo.

The Presentation 2000 features the jaw assembly of a Presentation 4000 Vise and the patented hinged rotary head shaft of the Mater Vise.  This gives it extreme versatility.  It will hold hooks from size-28 to size-4/0. This covers 99% of most freshwater and saltwater fly tying applications.  Military spec anticorrosion finish protects the steel jaws. All aluminum parts are protected with non-glare industrial grade anodizing.  The Presentation 2000 comes with a standard heavy pedestal base or C-Clamp.  Like all true rotary Renzetti vises a bobbin cradle is included.  But, the Presentation also has features found only on their most expensive Master Vise, such as a ratchet rotary actuator and hinged head shaft.
I have owned and tied with a Master Vise for about 20-years.  It has tied thousands of flies, is all original and has functioned perfectly.  Current price on a Master Vise is $649.95.  Current suggested retail price for the Presentation 2000 is $279.95, less than half the cost of a Master.  I decided to try a Presentation 2000 and see if it was equal in delivering practical fly ting performance.
Visual comparison reveals that the Master Vise is much heavier built than the Presentation 2000.  It will accept hooks to size-10/0; a feature that is of interest only to tiers of massive blue-water flies. The Mater Vise does give the feeling of more rigidity, because it is constructed of larger parts, yet the 2000 Vise holds a hook just as securely.  As long as all the screws were tightened properly in the 2000, it seemed to be as good at holding a fly steady as the Master.  Rotary functions are exactly the same.  Will your new Presentation 2000 Vise be as functional over the next 20-years as my Master Vise has proven to be? Only time will tell.  If I needed a new vise, I might be temped to find out.

Made in the USA

Ron Lauzon is one of our areas best fly casting instructors.  He is especially gifted at teaching spey casting.  He schedules regular casting classes with The Fly Fishing Shop. He has generously contributed a free $25 gift certificate with every purchase of any Spey rod from The Fly Fishing Shop, between 12/04/07 and 12/25/07! 

AFS Turns Orange
Rio has added an orange hi-vis version along with its stealthy olive introductory series of their popular AFS Spey Shooting Head.  This will be the ticket for anglers who want to be able to see what their line is doing at long range, and is a super neat line for casting demonstrations, as well.