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Steelhead Fly Pattern… Morlock’s Baby Salmon by Kevin Morlock

This fly is my evolution of the best spring into summer salmon fry pattern.  From April through June the Pere Marquette River and other Michigan streams become thick with young salmon in the 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch range.  They are an abundant and high protein food source that our resident trout and visiting steelhead focus on.

This is a must have pattern in my box for steelhead and trout swung behind an egg.  When I’m just focusing on trout we will use this fly to fish downstream around cover, riffles and drop-offs.  Or my latest favorite is to fish it behind a larger attractor streamer… 90% of the fish will come on the fry pattern.

Best For… steelhead and trout          Could Also Be Used For…  panfish

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 3761, size 6 or 8
Tail and Body… Flashabou Mirage, 3005 opal
Wing… natural mallard
Head Base… built up black thread
Gill Accent… red thread
Head Finish… your favorite head hardener

 
Morlock’s Baby Salmon, Alevin Martinez with a salmon fry.

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly Recipe… Alevin Martinez by Steve Martinez

This fly is designed to fish when swung down-stream or stripped with short strips.  Peak timing for this fly is February through June, focusing on the hatching salmon and then the steelhead.  I tied this fly smaller to better represent the size of a real alevin but have evolved to this larger size because it catches more fish.

Best For… steelhead and trout          Could Also Be Used For…  panfish

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 3761, size 6
Eyes… black bead chain
Tail… white zonker
Back… loose spun yarn (see note)
Body… sparkle braid
Egg Sac… orange or peach McFoam

Note:  The only place I know to get this loose spun yarn is FlyMasters in Indianapolis.

 
Morlock’s Baby Salmon, Alevin Martinez with a salmon fry.
 

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Steelhead Fly Recipe… SS Buggers (Steelhead/Salmon Buggers) by Everyone

This is another super easy to tie, highly effective steelhead and salmon pattern used by many folks in the area.  Swing it as a wet or use it as a streamer with or without a sink-tip.  Tail, body, tinsel and hackle color combinations are endless, I go with bright in low light or dirty water and natural in clear conditions.  I tie most with tinsel because it only takes two snips with my scissors to un-tinsel them.

Best For… steelhead and salmon          Could Also Be Used For…  trout, carp and bass

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R74, size 4
Eyes… x-large silver bead chain
Tail… marabou
Tinsel… whatever you like
Body… yarn
Hackle… schlappen

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Steelhead Fly Pattern… Bunny Hex by unknown

A local fly fishing friend brought this pattern on a trip last year and it was dynamite, he had picked-up the pattern at a local fly fishing club meeting (West Michigan Hacklers).  I have made a few changes from his original, peacock back instead of swiss straw, black eyes instead of brass and a better hook.  It is still dynamite and easy to tie and has become mandatory equipment in my boat for steelhead.  Kevin Morlock

Best For… steelhead          Could Also Be Used For…  salmon and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Gamakatsu, octopus (02408), size 4

Eyes… medium, black bead chain

Tail… flesh colored rabbit strip

Back… 4-5 strands of peacock herl

Body… cream colored sparkle yarn

Hackle… pheasant body

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Steelhead Fly Recipe… Crystal Egg (Estaz Egg or Sparkle Egg) by unknown

I have a wide variety of nuke and crystal eggs in my boat each day for steelhead and salmon.  The crystal eggs give me more versatility and fly pattern depth than simply having yarn selections.  They work well in all conditions and are a "must have" pattern for my trips.  Kevin Morlock

Best For… steelhead, salmon and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad, octopus,beak "Big Red" (92567R), size 4-6

Body (inner)… Estaz, Cactus Chenille or Ice Chenille

Wing (outer)… a lighter colored egg yarn than the inner color

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Steelhead Flies… Morlock’s Steelhead Ammo by Kevin Morlock

I really never had a name for this pattern until tonight when I needed to post it on the site.  I have been tying and successfully using this pattern for over ten years.  It is simply a shortened Woolly Bugger, a pattern that looks about like anything… bushy and buggy.  It is a four material fly and flies off the vise.  I tie then in unlimited colors, bright if I’m planning on dirty water or natural for clear conditions.

Best For… steelhead           Could Also Be Used For… salmon and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 105, size 4-6

Eyes… medium bead chain

Tail… marabou

Body… sparkle yarn

Hackle… pheasant (or other hackle of choice)

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Steve’s Steelhead Stone by Steve Martinez

This stonefly pattern was a steady evolution over the years, it is easy enough to tie and has a nice look.  I like the bead head to give a segmented look and a little weight to fish heavy, like a stonefly.  I found that some of the stones had a slightly lighter underside than their back and I think the high contrast on this pattern is good at getting noticed.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R70, size 8

Head… medium tungsten in black

Tail… black rubber legs

Body… *medium sized, tan rubber band

Hackle… brown grouse

Back… oil can foil

*Use a black Sharpie marker to darken the back.

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Steelhead Fly… Morlock’s Spring Stone by Kevin Morlock

Our first hatch of the year in west Michigan that is important to steelhead anglers are a couple species of black or dark stoneflies, they range from size 10-20, but most are in the 12-14 range.  The steelhead are not critical on size and many feel that a bit larger stonefly pattern will produce more action, stonefly patterns tied on size 6-8 egg hooks are a good choice.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad C67S, size 6

Tail… turkey tail

Ribbing… light copper wire

Body… 3-5 strands of peacock herl

Hackle… pheasant neck

Back… *turkey tail

*This is the same turkey tail piece that was used for the tail, now brought forward for the back.

I had a question about the pheasant neck feathers I was using, so I have included a picture.  They are the feathers near the white ring.

References:

West Michigan Fishing Report for February 23rd, 2010