What's your top 3 steelhead flies that AREN'T eggs

[wbranch]

#8 White Death, Emerald shiner, #10 - #16 Hares Ear, #12 - #14 Flashback PT.

 

[CLSports]

Can anyone honestly tell me a subsurface fly pattern that does not work for steelhead?

 

[JG63]

I don’t have a name for it ,but, bright chenille wrapped on a hook with mallard flank or pheasant rump as hackle. Yellow,green,fuchsia,white,etc.
sizes 8,10,&12.
Also doc sprately,pass lakes etc

Photo please?

 

[rustbeltwilds]

Can anyone honestly tell me a subsurface fly pattern that does not work for steelhead?

Lol lol i agree. To prove a point i once tore off a peice of a white plastic bag i had in my vest trimmed it into a 3 inch cigar shape...tied it to a size 10 hook with dental floss and in short order float went under and fish on lol true story...at elk creek some years ago...steelhead when fresh in or not being constantly cast over are very willing to hit about anything. They are training wheels for the basics of drift fishing

 

[JG63]

Can anyone honestly tell me a subsurface fly pattern that does not work for steelhead?

I’ve never heard of anyone praising crayfish patterns for Steelies …. yet 😏

 

[Zipper]

Can anyone honestly tell me a subsurface fly pattern that does not work for steelhead?

All the ones that I use. 🙂

 

[pheasant tail 2]

Not sure about crayfish fly patterns, but back in the early to mid 80's when I chased steelies often, a time, when the crowds were not nearly as intense, there were a handful of regulars that I encountered in my travels from time to time. One fellow fished a Rebel crayfish and/or a flatfish in black or brown and did very well.

 

[shakey]

Photo please?

Sure! Just very simple soft hackles that can be tyed in less than a minute.
I remember that Bikerfish tested these and caught steel with them .
It’s always smart to have a better angler than you try your flies 😂

 

[shakey]

Do they take it as an egg with a veil ? Maybe. But I would call it a soft hackles rather than an egg fly

 

[dano]

I’ve never heard of anyone praising crayfish patterns for Steelies …. yet 😏

Many years ago, while fishing upper 20, I caught three on a crayfish pattern. Sight fishing and all 3 picked up the fly while it sat on the bottom of the stream bed.
My friend Steve took one on a crab pattern similar to this:

 

[poopdeck]

steelhead when fresh in or not being constantly cast over are very willing to hit about anything. They are training wheels for the basics of drift fishing

Pretty much applies to all trout fishing. It’s amazing to me how we managed to over complicate trout fishing over the last 50 plus years.

 

[dudemanspecial]

Pretty much applies to all trout fishing. It’s amazing to me how we managed to over complicate trout fishing over the last 50 plus years.

The complication has always been there in regards to pressured fisheries. Reading books by Marinaro, Fox, Humphreys, Koch clearly shows that, many of those written 50+ years ago.

 

[wbranch]

Can anyone honestly tell me a subsurface fly pattern that does not work for steelhead?

Very good point. The steelhead I'm most acquainted with are the PA & OH strains. They are either just plain stupid or gluttonous. They will eat virtually anything drifted in front of their face.

 

[wbranch]

Not sure about crayfish fly patterns, but back in the early to mid 80's when I chased steelies often, a time, when the crowds were not nearly as intense, there were a handful of regulars that I encountered in my travels from time to time. One fellow fished a Rebel crayfish and/or a flatfish in black or brown and did very well.

Today drift boat guides on the Salmon River still back row with clients hanging J plugs in the current. Basically a Flatfish with a different name. I think the rapid side to side action of the plug excites the steelhead to attack it.

 

[JG63]

Many years ago, while fishing upper 20, I caught three on a crayfish pattern. Sight fishing and all 3 picked up the fly while it sat on the bottom of the stream bed.
My friend Steve took one on a crab pattern similar to this:
View attachment 1641246448

Guess I gotta catch one on a popper then 😁 - dying Emerald Shiner FTW (?)

 

[JG63]

Sure! Just very simple soft hackles that can be tyed in less than a minute.
I remember that Bikerfish tested these and caught steel with them .
It’s always smart to have a better angler than you try your flies 😂

Thanks for sharing! I like easy, effective patterns all day long 😎