December 2011 Fly(s) of the Month

With the large Chinook salmon run this year, January through March look to be banner steelhead months. Nothing has proved more effective in bringing these big fish to net than egg patterns. Here are two different versions that are easy to tie and proven on the water.

Load up on these flies and bring them to both the New Years Day outing on the Mokelumne and to the January 21 Steelhead Outing and Clinic on the American.

Tie the same flies slightly smaller and they're dynamite to use in May and June for spawning rainbows and November for spawning browns.

Egg colors can range from pale yellow to dark red. Tie a good mix of sizes and colors if you want to "be prepared."

Here's another pattern, a variation on a single egg. If steelhead like a single, they're bound to gobble up a bunch!

If you tie either or both of these flies, why not bring some to the next meeting. Oh, and maybe tie a few for me... please!