All Steelhead Flies

Jeff Hickman designed the Fish Taco Spey fly specifically for Steelhead and Salmon. When Jeff Hickman gets hungry he thinks of one of his favorite things to eat - fish tacos.

The Fish Taco was designed to be un-weighted and easy to cast with lots of movement.

Like Fish Tacos - a favorite dish for hungry fly fishermen, and every cook has their own recipe. Grabflies has its recipe and custom ties these Fish Tacos by hand in Washougal, Washington.

Grabflies likes to tie Fish Tacos that are spicy and hot, and full and juicy. These Fish Tacos are delicious offerings for Steelhead and Salmon.

Since these Tacos are custom tied, Grabflies offers them in many different flavors and tie ups. You can get them in almost every color, and if you want to fish them deeper you can add Hot Cones.

Jeff Hickman likes to fish Purple Tacos in the morning, bright colors during the day, and black in the evening/dark.

Size: 2.5 - 3 inches

Size 2 Owner trailing hook.

Also See Fish Taco's by Aqua Flies, ready to ship: Pink (click here) and Purple (click here), and Senyo's OCD flies (Click Here)

See larger image - (click here)

Freight Train Fly utilizes a proven combination of colors and a classic profile. A top-producing summer steelhead fly. A favorite on the Deschutes River

Size: 6

Pink and purple flies are a favorite of summer steelhead.  This is a proven pattern that should occupy some space in your steelhead selection.

The Green Butt Skunk is the most popular summer steelhead fly in the Northwest.

Traditional wet-fly swing. If the water temperature is below 52 degrees, consider using a sink-tip line with a 4-6 foot leader.

There well have been more summer Steelhead caught on a Skunk, or Green Butted Skunk fly pattern that any other single pattern around. A must in every Steelhead Fly Fishermen's Fly box.

The traditional summer steelhead flies were developed on the fabled rivers of the Pacific Northwest, such as the Umpqua, Deschutes, and the Rogue. Our traditional summer steelhead flies are tied on a black nickel, up-turned eye,

Size: 4

Also see Green Butt Spey Skunk (click here)

Nice summer and fall Steelhead tube fly. Also works great in low or clear water winter conditions.

Easy to cast.

Comes with hook and junction tubing

Overall wing length: 2.5 inches long.

Easy to cast.

Also see Black and Blue (click here)

Moal leeches are tied entirely on a string with a trailer hook at the back. This gives the fly greater action than a fly tied on a rigid hook. More fish are landed with the Moal fly as well.

The tried and True Mother of all Leeches. The classic Strung Out MOAL (Mother of all Leeches) is the one thst started it all. Invented by Derek Fergus is is one heck of a pattern. These really are a pattern you need if you hunt Steelhead. Because we use a Octopus hook the short shank holds fish far better allowing more fish to hand. Because it is tied on a string (gel spun) the fly tends to wiggle and swim in the current. Specially swinging them.

Size 2 trailing hook - 2.5 - 3" long  (custom flies tied with bead heads)

Also see Summer Moal Leeches, 2 1/4 inches (Click Here)

The Moal Leech catches Steelhead in all conditions. Add it to your fly box. You will never look back.

"I wanted to thank you for your fast service and a great product.  I have
been fly fishing for over forty years and have caught hundreds of trout and
salmon and even a few bonefish but I had never caught a steelhead on a fly
before last weekend.  With my fifth cast of your black and purple MOAL into
a nice Clackamas riffle I hooked and landed a small hatchery summer hen.  I
attached a picture although it doesn't show the fly too well (my hands were
still shaking)." - Paul Boucher

These are small Moal Leeches with trailing eggs, now tied custom using UV2 Eggs.

Great Flesh Flies for Alaska.

This flesh version of the moal leech is great early and late season. Try him on the swing, dead drift. The added attraction of the bead makes a big difference.

A great fly for any Alaska - fishing for rainbows, chinook, coho or sockeye. This fly is also a great coastal winter steelhead fly, particularly in small streams.

Good Summer Steelhead Leech Pattern as well as for Sea Run Cutthroat Trout, and Dollies.

Caught by Dave Robinson

 Size: 2

Tied with Ostrich and Lady Amherst. This fly is easy to cast and gets down deep.

Low water bright pattern for Steelhead

Size: 4

Steelhead Guinea Spider, Orange tied by Spirit River

Size: 4

The Hybrid, A very serious Steelhead Fly (Solid colors good for Salmon too).

(NEW Design, Fall 2015)

I have designed similar Steelhead flies like this pattern. It is a refinement. The Hybrid also comes articulated (more movement) if you choose that option. Also this pattern comes with the new tip dyed Ostrich Plumes that really add movement, plus with the added Ostrich Spey Plumes tied in under the larger tip dyed plumes gives the fly more silhouette but without much water absorption so it is pretty easy to cast for a big fly. When the black dyed tips of the Ostrich move the fly appears more lively in the water.

Moal leeches are tied entirely on a string with a trailer hook at the back. This gives the fly greater action than a fly tied on a rigid hook. More fish are landed with the Moal fly as well.

The combination of rabbit fur which has incredible life in the water and flashabou creates an illuminated attraction for fish. A real winner!

Two Toned Flash Moal Leech - Flashabou and rabbit wrapped around a string go together. Moal Leeches have great movement in the water. They wiggle and undulate, which moves the flashabou in wave like motion reflecting colorful light waves as the fly swings across the river. Two Toned (color) Flash Moals have two different colors of flashabou tied in. The tail color is tied in after half the fly is wrapped with rabbit. The head flashabou is tied with a length of 2/3's the fly length. This works much better that two colors of flashabou tied in together at the cone.

Purple/Red Two Toned Flash Moal with Red Hot Bead in photo

A unique Squid/Shrimp pattern.

Size 4 hook

Spirit River continues to lead the way in UV2 technology. We have used a double dye process to give all our unique UV2 materials and flies the added UVF/UVR ultraviolet wave lengths. We all know UV Florescence which is so common on everything from street signs to bass lures. UV Reflectance is a spectrum of wave lengths humans can not perceive yet is extremely common in the animal and insect world. UVR allows mayflies to find mates, and bees to find flowers. Many male birds and bugs have a strong natural UVR signature.

Tube flies that stack.UV2 Versi Tube by Spirit River

Holy Wow...these we a multi staff brainstorm we had and this pattern series has already proven itself. It is a tube fly that is designed to be stacked. Years ago another fly company had this idea....perhaps it was Solitude or Idlewild. But they kinda sucked. Poor execution id say. Just a wad of marabou and a touch of flash. We have added better components, better color combos, .and made them UV2. The color combos are exactly what any avid steelhead fisherman needs.

Two colors: Blue, Purple

Comes with Hook

Rob Crandalls Guides Choice Pnk/Org, tied by Aqua Flies.

This pattern is a favorite in the green waters of winter steelhead fishing. Cerise and Orange colors show up well and move and swim in the water. This is a go-to pattern in winter.

Size 2 Intruder Hook

Greg's Kriller

Constructed on the banks of the Kanektok River the killer krill, or Kriller, was designed for maximum castabilty as well as its flaring motion when swinging across hydraulic “fences” in the water column. With the weight of the dumbbell eyes at the back of the shank, the Kriller swings deep with more of a downward-diagonal profile than most traditional patterns. A devouring size for both chrome Chinook and Steelhead, having the eyes closer to the hook attracts some of the most aggressive eats you can find near tidewater!

Woolly Buggers are a great catch all fly pattern. If you had to choose one color for catching steelhead, black or purple would be your best bet. This is a nice small bugger for Steelhead and Trout.

Size 6

Add some pink and rubber legs to a nymph with a natural bug like appearance - bobber down.

Size: 6

Evo Bunny, new for 2018.  The small size is tied on a Senyos Articulated Shank, 25mm, Black

Tied with a trailing egg. This fly has lots of movement with a free moving Rabbit wing.

See all Evo Bunny Flies (click Here)

See Evo Bunny Supreme ***** (click Here) 

A Moal Leech as good as it gets. Tied with hook holder to help prevent hook fouling, and natural Micro Barred Voodoo Fibers for legs.

Moal leeches are tied entirely on a string with a trailer hook at the back. This gives the fly greater action than a fly tied on a rigid hook. More fish are landed with the Moal fly as well.

Custom Moal Leeches are tied by Grabflies.com in the good old USA. Moal's are tied using the best materials on the market and are tied to last (super glue, Braid Line 20 LB (double over for 40 LB strength) and, quality Owner size 2 hook.

The Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is a searching style attractor baitfish pattern. Due to its synthetic build, this fly pattern is extremely durable, lightweight, and provides a serious amount of movement while it swims. The A.I. holds a great profile, retains its shimmer and translucency, and is the perfect option to combat changing water conditions. A proven pattern across the Great Lakes Region to Canadian/Alaskan waters and the West Coast.

This fly has lots of movement for Steelhead.

Grabflies custom tied Scuplin fly. A string leech type pattern tied with a number 2 Owner hook. Fly is 2.5 - 3 inches long.

Hook is tied onto 60 pound braid with hook supporter - helps prevent fouling. Loose rabbit hair wing for movement and has weighted eyes.

Marabou under belly, with pheasant gills. Great fly for swinging and stripping. Good for any game fish that eats Sculpin or minnows: Trout, Bass, Steelhead, Pink, Muskie...

The Yuk Bug can be used fly fishing for everything from trout (Searun Brown Trout in Tierra Del Fuego) smallmouth bass and steelhead. This big buggy looking nymph has lots of action and imitates a lot of different fish foods including stonefly. Size: Small #4

TDF

Swing this fly or nymph it. Fly catches fish either way.

Black Magic Muddler a custom tie by Grabflies.

A very good summer/fall Steelhead Muddler Minnow pattern. Design for rivers like the Klickitat and Deschutes... This muddler is tied on a shank with a trailing #2 Owner hook. Trailing hooks are much better for tail nipping takes and help  barbless hook stay hooked much better, plus do much less damage to wild fish for releasing.

Tied with a rabbit wing.

Fly is 1.5 to 2 inches longer. Fishes very high in the water column on a dryline. This muddler has lots of action.

Works great summer into fall for Steelhead.

HoBo Spey - custom tied by Grabflies using quality (best) materials:

• # 2 SSW Owner Hook
• Senyos Articulated Shank, 40 mm
• Micro Barred Voodoo Fibers
  
• Guinea Hackle
  

A great time tested and proven Steelhead pattern. Black and blue is money for Steelhead. HoBo has lots of movement in soft water because of the Marabou. Grabflies ties this pattern with a dubbing ball before Intruder Prop hackle and then black Marabou. This stops the Marabou from collapsing flat, but instead gives the fly shape and movement.

Also see Fish Taco (click here)

A great summer Steelhead fly. Very effective on the Deschutes, Grande Ronde, and low water conditions anywhere.

So much steelheading with a fly takes place at first light.  That grab you get will jolt you awake like a thunder clap on a camping trip.  There's something about Kingfisher blue that steelhead love.  Tied on the sleek looking Alec Jackson Steelhead Iron for added weight and beauty.

Size #5

Mykiss Muddler tied by Rio

Everyone who swings flies for steelhead needs muddlers in their boxes.  RIO’s Mykiss Muddler is a beautiful version you will want to add to your collection.  It will also be the one you reach for first on your next outing.  The flat head causes this muddler to dive into fishing position quickly.  This fly’s happy place is being swung on a floating line just slightly below the surface.  Tied on a #5 Black Alec Jackson Steelhead Iron.

Steel Plow, Black/Chartreuse

Hooking a steelhead on a skated fly is one of the most rewarding experiences in fly fishing.  As we sought out to develop a “top-shelf” steelhead skater we turned to an unlikely source for inspiration - blacksmith John Deere’s original walking steel plow.  Our #4 short-shanked hook acts as a rudder and helps keep the fly in the surface tension even during violent grabs, while the plow handles act as outriggers, giving the fly balance and the simulation of wings. The flash and hackles catch water and light to give indication of movement and life and an orange sighter helps you track this fly across the early morning slicks.

Size 4

When the salmon are spawning trout and steelhead are happy to scoop up loose eggs that tumble down the river.  Try this painted lead eye egg imitation  to help your offering get into the zone.

Size: 6

A very good skating and popular pattern for fishing for  Steelhead on the surface.

The original Intruder designed by Jerry French and tied by Aqua Flies!

The birth of the Intruder was in the Pacific Northwest. It has gone through many evolutions and surely it will continue to evolve, but Jerry's Intruder as it is tied today is a fish catcher. Tied using composite loops, UV materials and a Gamakatsu trailer hook, confidence is high when using this fly. Jerry's Intruder is approximately 3" long. Single Station Intruder is about 2" in length.

A custom design by Grabflies. Design idea came from combining the famous Skagit Minnow with the new Intruder style trailing hook. This fly has lots of action in the water with a large profile.

This is a smaller version of the Neo Skagit Leech. It is not a mini, hence the name bijou, smaller, elegant version. It is tied on a FS SENYOS ARTICULATED SHANK 25MM BLACK and is lightly weighted with some 1.5 inches of medium lead wire wrapped around short shank (this is needed for all the materials, weighted enough to make it swim optimally, great movement).

Fly is 2 inches, long but with some trailing material may drag it out to 2.5 inches. Stinger - trailing hook extends back with mono. Hook can be replaced. Size 2 Owner SSW hook.

This is a slow tie, I can only tie about two an hour. See Neo Skagit Leeches (Click Here)

The Evo Bunny Supreme is weighted enough to get the rabbit down - swims great. The fly is tied with weighted wire (.025 - .030). This is used to create an enlarged body that helps keep the rabbit wing swimming higher and off the hook to help prevent fouling - see photo. I've been working a long time playing with methods to do this. Here it is!

Size: 2 - 2.5 inches

Materials:

• Owner SSW #2 Hook

• Plastic 5mm UV Egg

• VEEVUS THREAD 6/0

• 20 lb Mono

• Senyos Articulated Shank, 25 mm

• Lead Wire

• Dyed Pearl Diamond Braid

• Crosscut Rabbit Strips, 1/8

• Lady Amherst Center tail

• Flashabou - under wing

• Rabbit Strip for wing

• Schlappen

• Flashabou - just over hackle

Great traditional fly for late summer run Steelhead and Sea Run Cutthroat. Caddis Fly imitation/attractor. First day on the water (Cowlitz River) during an evening session this fly produced 24 Cutthroats, and one nice summer Steelhead.

Size: 6 hook

This is a top producing steelhead fly, and tied on the sleek looking Alec Jackson Steelhead Iron for added weight and beauty.

Size: 5 Hook

Moal leeches are tied entirely on a string with a trailer hook at the back. This gives the fly greater action than a fly tied on a rigid hook. More fish are landed with the Moal fly as well.

The tried and True Mother of all Leeches. The classic Strung Out MOAL (Mother of all Leeches) is the one thst started it all. Invented by Derek Fergus is is one heck of a pattern. These really are a pattern you need if you hunt Steelhead. Because we use a Octopus hook the short shank holds fish far better allowing more fish to hand. Because it is tied on a string (braid, 20 lb, doubled over) the fly tends to wiggle and swim in the current. Specially swinging them.

Size 2 trailing Owner hook - 2.5" - 3" long (custom flies tied with bead heads)

The General Practitioner fly is probably one of the most famous shrimp fly ever made. It is a fantastic shrimp fly for steelhead, salmon, and sea trout anglers.

GP Variant, Size 4

The traditional summer steelhead flies were developed on the fabled rivers of the Pacific Northwest, such as the Umpqua, Deschutes, and the Rogue. Our traditional summer steelhead flies are tied on a black nickel, up-turned eye, salmon hook. Special orders can be tied on Gamakatsu, Daiichi, or Maruto hooks.

A very nice tie.

A great Steelhead Pattern for Summer and Fall.

Size: 3 hook

Jerry's newest intruder design utilizing the Ultra Rig. The Ultra Rig is a new system to rig shank flies with a trailing hook. The Ultra Rig is made with 50 pound Spider Wire, Ultra Tubing and a size 2 AquaTalon hook. This rigging system eliminates the use of wire as a trailing loop. The Ultra Rig system allows the angler to change out the hook without damaging the fly or the trailing loop. The only commercially tied fly with this rigging system.  In addition to the rigging system, this intruder is tied using an Aqua Flies Shank, Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes and the Aqua Flies Fake Jungle Cock.

Nymphing for steelhead and sea run browns is a very effective technique. In the rivers of the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest, nymphing is quickly becoming the go-to method for many anglers fishing for steelhead. The hooks used for our nymphs are stout enough to hold the heaviest steelhead or the sea run browns of Tierra del Fuego.