Fly Design

Steelhead Fly Design
Im a firm believer that the specific pattern matters little to a steelhead. Or most fish for that matter. Since its winter steelhead season, and im obsessive, steelhead flies are what we will discuss here. There are several factors that I do think matter and are often missed in many steelhead flys. Some may look great in the vise but be missing something in the water. Others may look pretty simple and boring in the vise but come alive in the water.

Profile
Often overlooked in lots of winter steelhead steelhead flies I see.I like a fly the has a good full profile in a tear dropped shape when it is under tension in the current. That means that flies with soft materials such as marabou, ostrich, rhea, artic fox, etc. must have something as an underbody that is going to keep that soft material from flattening on the hook or tube when it gets wet. For example, the famous intruder. The original Ed Ward version had a deer hair or bucktail collar that kept the rhea/ostrich from collapsing. This is a great fly to mimic, but many I see these days lack that stiff under material. They may look similar in a vise, but in the water there is no comparison.
How much material?
Very simply put, less is more. Less material, especially stuff like marabou will move better, give the fly a lifelike translucent look, sink better, and casts easier. Basically if you think your flies might be overdressed, they probably are. I would tie the next one with half the material and take a look at it in the water.
Weight or no weight?
Tough question. Im not a big fan of heavily weighted flies. To me they are just no fun to cast and fish. And if its heavy enough to cast with a spinning rod? Well, might as well. That being said, a little weight is probably a good thing most of the time. Just enough to get the fly under the surface currents, your sink tip will do the rest. This could be a heavy hook shank, a conehead, or a small pair of dumbbell eyes. Again the less materials in the fly, the less weight is necessary, the easier to cast, the more fun. Oh and I will always carry some with no weight for the super soft boulder gardens.
Flash:
Less is usually more. Although I have some flies with a lot as well. Mix it up. See what looks best in the water on a given day and go for it.
Fly Size:
I’d estimate 80% of the flies in my winter steelhead arsenal are 3-4 inches in length. The rest are split between bigger and smaller. I’d say the vast majority of the flies I see these days are, in my opinion, unnecessarily large. A whole different topic could be on this and the resulting dominance of Skagit lines.
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on fly design, as for a specific pattern, I’d say add your own touches to an old standby to start. The million dollar question, if I had to pick one fly for winter steelhead, I think Id have to say Egg Sucking Leech, pink egg, black or purple body. Fitting the above criteria. I’m really glad I don’t actually have to only have one, that just wouldn’t be any fun.