Steelhead flies?

[osprey]

What is your most productive fly for Erie steelhead? I'd have to say so far mine is a gold ribbed hares ear or a very small wooly bugger.

 

[bowmandjk]

this year with the water so low and clear im using with good results a gold hares ear with a beadhead and rubber legs tyed madam x style at the head in 16# and 14#

 

[osprey]

Bowmandjk....that sounds pretty close to the same , when i first started going north for the big uns , about 10 years ago , i allowed myself to be intimidated , the rhetoric like "Big fly big fish" and the egg patterns and the "Steelhead Flies" the salmon style ones , lots of color and tied on big hooks , but it seems to me , the truth is , if you can catch trout anywhere else with a certain degree of confidence you can catch those Erie steelhead using the same flies , in the same sizes , and with basically the same techniques and tackle. The only place I really needed to change anything much was in the tackle area and by that i mean a little heavier terminal tackle , rod , line , leader. The same flies that work anywhere......HOLD ON , STAND BACK , DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!!!

 

[ryguyfi]

There's a nice big thread that was discussed a month or so ago on this. It's got some great info and even some pics and recipies.

http://www.paflyfish.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=8899&forum=5

 

[boss_steb]

I have to say this year and last year...my most productive two fly rig is a size 14 or 16 elk creek caddis in cream and a loose egg with orange center size 16.

I have never been blanked since switching to this combination.

Boss

A loose egg is tied very sparce and fluffy, not tight like you see most egg patterns. When the water fills it, it looks like a real egg with the orange dot...

 

[ryguyfi]

is that the "scrambled egg" pattern that is the big rage this year?

Tied kind of like a SS.. Only 3 loops, the center being the blood dot color but wider loops than a SS.

 

[sandfly]

They are called blood dots after Jeff Blood who came up with the idea...

 

[boss_steb]

Ry, no it is actually a very loosely tied egg, sort of fluffy. I will take a picture and attach it both dry and wet. Actually the worse you tie this egg...the better...

If you take egg yarn, pull it apart and use about 1/3 to 1/4 of the amount from on strand. So it is very sparse. I use Spirit River dubbing in orange with some flash in it, roll a thin thread like amount..maybe the size of pencil lead....and tie it all down as one would for a normal egg pattern. Pull it up...whack it off and fluff it out.

Boss

 

[flipnfly]

i got a question the fly ricks rat that fly fisherman j tied for the swap how is it supposed to be fished? as a streamer or drifted ? anyone know?

 

[boss_steb]

Rich Zoog from the old Orchard View Anglers turned me on to this pattern...super easy to tie...you can loose a hundred and not feel bad...great for beginners and best of all it catches fish...these pictures are not the best...they are more fluffy than they look. If anyone wants a few, let me know and I can probably drop a few in the mail to guys and gals...watch I will get swarmed...chances you take I guess...

 

[jayL]

sandfly wrote:
They are called blood dots after Jeff Blood who came up with the idea...

When I was a kid, I had my little sister convinced that Lighthouse McCraig invented the lighthouse.

 

[tztrout]

Was lucky enough to meet Jeff on the Salmon River a few weeks ago- excellent fly tyer and fisherman. Check out this article on his egg concepts http://www.digitalpublisherpro.com/Magazine.php?member_id=2&pub_id=103&issue_id=336

 

[flipnfly]

how are they tied boss

 

[ryguyfi]

found a recipe. I think I've seen it tied with just one bump at either end of the dot rather than 2 on each side. But here's the link none the less. I think the key is to tie the main color very sparse and spread out the yarn. I'm going to attempt to tie some of these up today.

http://www.questoutdoors.net/skills/ftying/patterns/eggs/blood_dot/

 

[boss_steb]

Huevos are in the mail...Have a great weekend...

Boss

 

[AnW]

I grew up in Erie and moved to SE PA about 2 years ago. Really jonesin for steel about now, but hopefully I'll get out a day or 2 in conjunction with a hunting trip back home.

I always had better luck with my normal trout flies than with eggs, crysal meths, etc. There were countless days fishing 16 mile at the first falls during a weekday when I would have to quit fishing because my arm hurt from fighting fish when I would use nothing but GRHEs and PTs with a Green Weenie thrown in on high water days.

 

[ezpickins]

On my last two trips, this past spring in early March and this fall in mid-October, the two flies that produced for me were light blue eggs with a black dot and black and yellow eggs (with a pink marabou "tail")

I TRIED TO USE FLIES OTHER THAN EGGS, HONESTLY, BUT WITHOUT ANY LUCK - eggs are all that ever work for me. Sometimes it feels a little cheesy tossing those egg patterns - but oh well...

Maybe someday I'll catch one on something else - sound like I'll need to try a hare's ear.

 

[osprey]

AnW could you give us a recipe for that crystal meth fly , i saw them and the look good but i've never tried em yet. I know all the stores carry them and i saw an old guy catch em all day on that pattern. THANKS

 

[jaybo41]

Osprey, think Sucker Spawn, but with sparkle braid. Some guys like them with Flash of some sorts on the tail too.

Check THIS out.

 

[boss_steb]

Flip N,

Great pic earlier on the jam pics part...this is tied just like you would normally tie an egg pattern...but very sparse and almost wispy...drop me a pm or email to boss_steb@yahoo.com with your address and I will send you a half dozen or so....

Instead of using one full or two or three pieces of egg yarn...I use about a third or one piece of egg yarn...and then put a small clump of orange spirit river dubbing on top...pull it up just like a normal egg...whack it off with sharp sissors....

And done...