Black_Ghost
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Western GLs
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http://www.freep.com/sports/outdoors/sbook18_20040318.htm
MS is right on for that the GL nymphs and natural looking wets or speys rule. Also egg flys. Don't get me wrong I have fished the traditional PNW patterns and caught some fish but if you want to increase your odds in the GL go nymphs and natural looking wets and speys.
If you have the MS book Steelhead Dreams I don't think this new book add much new information at least for me. I checked it out in the book store last week.
Hey Jerry natural speys like those Wynooche Dark Speys. LOL
Can't wait to show you one with it in its mouth from the GL.
BG
-------------------- "The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."
Jane Wagner
Edited by Black_Ghost (03/18/04 01:35 PM)
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Fishingjunky15
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dual red striper
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Posts: 474
Loc: Puyallup, WA
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Nymphs work great over here for summmer runs. Often they will out fish other flies. Infact, for summer runs you want to go natural in color because the traditional winter steelhead flies are just too much for the low clear water of summer runs. I think that's why GL and PNW flies/tactics are so different. Over here during the winter the rivers usually have a less than 3 foot visability so big, lively, flashy flies are in order while GL rivers usually are clear (or so I hear).
Oh and I've been meaning to ask you this. Could you send me the recipie for the Rusty Claret Squirrel Hair Wings that you tied for a swap on WFF? The pics and recipie for the swap in the gallery have dissapeared. Mostly I just want to know what hackle(s)and ribbing you used (guinea dyed dark red and something else possibly?) I caught my first steelhead on the fly with it and would like to have more than one. Thanks for the pattern!
-------------------- They say that the man that gets a Ph.D. is the smart one. But I think that the man that learns how to get paid to fish is the smarter one.
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 07/17/03
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Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Yeah - but when the rivers are tne color of coffee or mud, BLACK RULES!
BobK 
"All fishermen are born honest... but they soon get ovet it"
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Black_Ghost
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Western GLs
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Black always rules. Our rivers in Michigan are hardly ever coffee and mud usually very clear. Thats why smaller natural nymphs and speys are effective most of the time along with eggs.
Hey Bob, I see MS has done a lot more research on the eastern Gls ohio, ny, and Pa fisheries has more detail in this new book on where to fish access points etc, expect more company like me. Also all this Fly Fish TV shows the last couple of years on NY steelhead and salmon has not been good for you. I am personally glad they are off of my home waters now with those TV shows and national FF mag articles although MS will always keep us there !
Fishing Junky sure here is the web link to that picture of the Rusty Claret Squirrel hair wings I tyed for that swap.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/90182673/90354340vKFqsl
Hmm will post the recipe also. I know I posted that over on WFF though.
Here is the recipe:
Hook: standard salmon/steelhead wet fly hook. Sizes 2-8
Tag: gold holographic tinsel
Tail: golden pheasant tippets
body: red chennille dubbing or wool
Rib: same as tag
Under Wing: rusty orange tied squirrel tail
Over Wing optional: black squirrel tail or equivalent
Collar: claret mallard wound full
Thread/Head: black unicord 6/0
The version you had and in the picture did not have that black over wing. Actually this is similar to a Red Ant pattern tye I did for the SW Oregon board I did this winter with Gus.
If you want me to tye you some more let me know cause I need to tye some more for myself. Will shoot you out a few to commenorate your first steelie on the fly. No charge of course to you, I may be a capitalist but I know what ones first steelhead on the fly means to fly fishers also. There on me. See Bobk and Old Man I am a softee at heart.
LOL
BG
-------------------- "The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."
Jane Wagner
Edited by Black_Ghost (03/20/04 03:42 PM)
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Fishingjunky15
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dual red striper
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Loc: Puyallup, WA
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Well if you insist I gusse I'll just have to take some free flies! Thanks for the recipe too, I just couldn't figure out the hackle.
Sent you a pm.
-------------------- They say that the man that gets a Ph.D. is the smart one. But I think that the man that learns how to get paid to fish is the smarter one.
Edited by Fishingjunky15 (03/20/04 07:29 PM)
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Steelheader69
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Nooch Diver and Camp Cook
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Loc: South Prairie, WA
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Yeah, bit different from east to west when it comes to fisheries. I will partially agree with FJ15. Nymphs work, but most sparse flies that are any "natural" will catch fish. Have caught as many, if not more, on crawfish patterns for summeruns then nymphs. And I've almost exclusively fished the fly for summerruns since I was 17. But, no bright colors and no bulky looking flies. But, last few years I've been using speys. Smaller, more natural colored speys. They worked great for me this summer (Wynoochee dark all the way baby). In fact, I even used that fly originally in standard hairwing for years until I went into tying speys. Much nicer action from hairwings to speys. Like featherwings better for movement. Sparse is the key, and natural to boot.
-------------------- TEAM JACKSON BALDWIN
Project Healing Waters
CampChef Prostaffer
   
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Steelies LOVE shrimp, when it is in their normal environment. West-coast anglers use shrimp patterns a lot, because the fish use them as feed.
GL steelies have to be happy with "mysis shrimp", a tiny fresh-water shrimp. Also, they feed on scuds, minnows such as alewives and the rare rainbow smelt, etc. make up the main part of their food, however. But the food chain in the GL is dramatically different than the Pacific, so you'd better give 'em what they are used to.
Just my 2 cents.
BobK
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Black_Ghost
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Western GLs
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Just saw a technical report in the last couple of months that the Mysis shrimp are on the decline in the GLs. Not good get your Goby patterns ready though. I think my Madonnas will imitate well.
They eat a lot of bugs in the lake michigan scum line in addition to the smelt I think thats why naturalistic nymphs and small wets also work well. In addition the rivers here are filled with stone, caddis, hex nymphs and the steelhead and salmone remember what they have fed on. I've caught king salmon that were just about dead that took a natural hex nymph in the mouth just due to their natural feeding instinct that triggered their take.
Oh and for the record I have not caught a steelhead on a shrimp fly thats because I have no confidence in them and thus do not fish them much. But the hex nymph fly colors I fish actually imitate both a mysis shrimp and a hex nymph so I probably have caught them on shrimp imitation. Bobk you have that pattern BTW.
BG
BG

BG
-------------------- "The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."
Jane Wagner
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romspey
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egg
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Reged: 10/08/08
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I am looking to buy some spey flies, good quality! money is not an issue. quality is what I am loking for. I need them for this winter season for steelhead fishing on Salmon river, NY. Any ideeas? Thanks, romspey
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fredaevans
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Thick Tail
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Reged: 06/12/03
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Loc: Upper Rogue River- Oregon
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Odd as heck; neither of the links above is working this AM. Too true her on the Rogue; as the river drops (upper river is only running at a tad over 1,000 cfs at this point) you have to go smaller, and smaller in hook size.
All three of the fish I hooked Wednesday were on size 12 hooks; above that ... zip. Yesterday, (only one + trout), ditto.
-------------------- Fred A. Evans
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BobK
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Upstate NY, Lake Ontario Tribs
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Fred, as I wrote in another post, I tie up some bead-head flashback gold ribbed hare's ear in sizes 14 and 16 for those occasions - they are deadly in late Feb.and Mar., especially on larger steelies! I know it is heresy, but it works!
BobK
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fredaevans
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Thick Tail
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Loc: Upper Rogue River- Oregon
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Would you like to send me a few so I can give them a try?
-------------------- Fred A. Evans
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stupervisor
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steelie
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Reged: 10/23/05
Posts: 153
Loc: great lakes
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Quote:
Black_Ghost said: Black always rules. Our rivers in Michigan are hardly ever coffee and mud usually very clear. Thats why smaller natural nymphs and speys are effective most of the time along with eggs.
Hey Bob, I see MS has done a lot more research on the eastern Gls ohio, ny, and Pa fisheries has more detail in this new book on where to fish access points etc, expect more company like me. Also all this Fly Fish TV shows the last couple of years on NY steelhead and salmon has not been good for you. I am personally glad they are off of my home waters now with those TV shows and national FF mag articles although MS will always keep us there !
Fishing Junky sure here is the web link to that picture of the Rusty Claret Squirrel hair wings I tyed for that swap.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/90182673/90354340vKFqsl
Hmm will post the recipe also. I know I posted that over on WFF though.
Here is the recipe:
Hook: standard salmon/steelhead wet fly hook. Sizes 2-8 Tag: gold holographic tinsel Tail: golden pheasant tippets body: red chennille dubbing or wool Rib: same as tag Under Wing: rusty orange tied squirrel tail Over Wing optional: black squirrel tail or equivalent Collar: claret mallard wound full Thread/Head: black unicord 6/0
The version you had and in the picture did not have that black over wing. Actually this is similar to a Red Ant pattern tye I did for the SW Oregon board I did this winter with Gus.
If you want me to tye you some more let me know cause I need to tye some more for myself. Will shoot you out a few to commenorate your first steelie on the fly. No charge of course to you, I may be a capitalist but I know what ones first steelhead on the fly means to fly fishers also. There on me. See Bobk and Old Man I am a softee at heart.
LOL
BG
dude you are way off base, ever see feenstra's flys????
bfu's all the way, bigger the better, all that micro mini stuff is for the pm and chuck nd ducking not swinging. swing a bfu near some steel and see what happens.
-------------------- great lakes chrome interceptor
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