Down Stream Steelhead on a Dry Line

Dry Line Steelheading is both fun and effective. I fish dry line, down stream as shown below, up and across at a 45 degree, and straight upstream. On the downstream approach with a 9' Fluorocarbon Leader 0X  your fly will sink 12" to 18".   Let's talk gear before we get started on approach. Best Steelheading is in late fall through spring. Weather cold wet and windy!  Two items that are a must are the Snowbee Nivalis Down Jacket it's wind resistant and water proof. The other item is the SFT Neoprene Gloves, warm, waterproof and you can safely release a fish back into the wild.

I like to start with structure 2 first, casting just to the right with enough slack in the line for the current to dead drift the fly naturally into the fish, Hanging in the slack water on the edge of the rock.  You do this with a slack line reach cast to the right side of the structure. 

 

 

 

Dry Line Steelhead Fly Patterns

 

Green Butt Skunk Spey Fly

Hook: Alec Jackson Spey #3 Silver

Thread: Red Uni 6/0

Tag: Chartreuse Floss, Coat of Loon UV Clear 

Rib: Silver Oval Tinsel small

Body: Black Dubbing

Hackle: Whiting Farms Bird Fur Dyed Black

Wing: Whiting Farms American Hackle Dyed Yellow Chartreuse

Cheeks: Jungle Cock 

 

 Hair Wing Purple Spey Fly

Hook: Alec Jackson #3

Thread: 6/0 Uni Red

Tail: Gray Squirrel Dyed Red

Rib: Oval Silver Tinsel Fine

Body: Holographic Purple Dubbing

Hackle: Whiting Farms Bird Fur Dyed Purple

Wing: Artic Fox 

Cheeks: Jungle Cock

 

 

For the best in Fluorocarbon Leaders and Fly Lines Snowbee USA.

 

 

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