Favourite winter steelhead flies

[navairum]

Hey folks,
Just wondering what some of your favourite flies are for winter steelhead? I'm always a fan of a big egg sucking leech, but lets hear what you like

 

[Madriverfisher]

I will fish anything that works dont really have a favorite fly although I was talking to rob from Wilson's a couple weekends ago about tube flies I ended up buying some hopeing to try them out this weekend

 

[grubman]

Awesome timing on the thread Nav.

I've been reading up on what flies to tie for steel. And I just tied up a Pheasant Tail Peacock Nymph, reputed to be a hot fly (I'll try to include a pic). Another is the Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear nymph. There are so many but I have yet to get one on the fly, I'm still a noob at steel........lol. It could be my tying or my presentation or both.......lol. What size ESL and color are you using?

Hey Mad

Which Wilson's you go to? I'll be at Queen for the fly tying course. Good luck this weekend.

 

[[email protected]]

egg patterns and streamers for me in the winter months

grub: nymphs are very good come spring, bead heads, hares ear, deers hair, prince nymph among the top, also can;t go wrong probably the easiest fly in the world to tie, a san juan worm

 

[Madriverfisher]

I go mostly to the one in fergus I like the drive and it's right on the banks of the grand although every time I go I'm in there for hours and walk out broke I like the store in t.o as well

 

[Klik]

size 12 black wooly bugger for me always catches fish with in 3 casts. these are very small and rarely found. average wooly bugger is size 8. egg sucking leech is a bit bigger.

 

[grubman]

I'm in there for hours and walk out broke

Now I'm scared, the same is going to happen to me..........lol.

 

[navairum]

egg patterns and streamers for me in the winter months

grub: nymphs are very good come spring, bead heads, hares ear, deers hair, prince nymph among the top, also can;t go wrong probably the easiest fly in the world to tie, a san juan worm

That makes a lot of sense, I was confused becuase I've always been told 'prince/hares ear are crack for steelies' but then every time I see someone in the winter they seem to be throwing the big ass marabou streamers. What size streamers are you guys using? I always feel like the streamers I use are too big - but I think I'm wrong lol

 

[RobH]

I don't tend to put too much emphasis on any one pattern but more on the size of the pattern. For high stick nymphing, here is a simple rule of thumb; the lower and clearer the water, the smaller and more subtle the fly (pheasant tails, stones, hares ears and light colored eggs). In these conditions, the fish get a good look at your presentation. With more stain and flow, go larger and more animated, (Buggers, ESL, or big, leggie stones). I'll even go to bright, thumb sizes balls of steelhead yarn in a bait holder loop if the water is really off colored. Here you need something that will grab their attention for brief period of time.

This rule holds true for the swung fly as well.

 

[jshannon]

In my opinion, any fly, woolies, intruders, stones etc. work well as long as they are presented to meet the conditions. In cold water fish become lethargic and fishing presentation becomes slower.

tightlines

 

[rocheleauc]

bead head buggers

 

[AKnook]

My friends and I have had good success on large leggy stone flys. This fly has been chased a couple feet down river a couple times. Awesome! I use a lot of ESL as well. The ESL and stone flys worked the best for me. My buddy couldn't keep them off of glo bugs this spring. He tied one on saying he bought a bunch and they never worked for him. He caught all but one on that fly on our spring trip. lol. I don't know how well they will work in the winter but it killed in the spring.

 

[fishermandan420]

. winter i like purple or at least purple hackle ESLs. try a chart. head instead of pink or orange.

 

[weemalky]

That makes a lot of sense, I was confused becuase I've always been told 'prince/hares ear are crack for steelies' but then every time I see someone in the winter they seem to be throwing the big ass marabou streamers. What size streamers are you guys using? I always feel like the streamers I use are too big - but I think I'm wrong lol

My 2 cents,big streamer = bigger fish. Predators eat other fish, to me if they can grab a large meal they will.

 

[Porkpie]

I'm not a fly fisherman, so take this for what it's worth. I tie my own large wooly buggers, egg sucking leaches and nymphs. I seldom use small flys, but the bigger the better with lots of marabou! Works for me. Typically just use buggers and ESL under a float in winter. Purple, purple/black, black/white black/chartreuse and solid white have all done the deed for me on a regular basis!