Skip to main content

The Fly Box: Tips for tying undulating steelhead flies

The Fly Box: Tips for tying undulating steelhead flies
Silvey's Prawn (Imagine courtesy of Idylwilde Salmon & Steelhead Flies)

Winter steelhead often hold in slower currents than their summer cousins. Many flies appear stiff and dead as they swing through water like this, limiting their ability to tempt a strike. A generation back, winter steelheaders began using marabou or rabbit strips to help give flies slow-water action, and these flies were definitely a step in the right direction. But marabou and rabbit have the opposite problem from the stiff flies: they're so supple that they will fold back in a run with even a moderate current--giving the impression of stiff, lifelessness.

These days, you'll find winter steelhead guides tying flies with several different materials, i.e. marabou, ostrich, peacock, Rhea, deer hair, saddle feathers, etc. Sure these diverse materials create beautiful flies, but beauty isn't the reason for the diversity. Each of these materials flexes at a different current speed, thus lending the fly undulating action in slow, moderate, and fast currents.

//www.flyfisherman.com/files/2011/11/yhst-17105658520519_2185_8263695761.gif
Silvey's Prawn (Imagine courtesy of Idylwilde Salmon & Steelhead Flies)

Personally, I use stiff materials under softer materials to help bulk up the body of the fly. Also, I use stiffer materials at the head of the fly to create that fishy front-wide tail-narrow appearance. 

The trick, I think, is to create a thick fly that will undulate in a range of currents, and yet remain easy to cast.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: Bakko's Phat Azz Hopper

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...

Ed Jaworowski's Fly Casting Video Series, Video 3: Critical Angle

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
How-To/Techniques

Nymphing Is A Drag

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
Fly Tying

Blane Chocklett: fly-tying innovator & guide, reveals new flies & relationship with Lefty and ASGA

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
News

Jay Nichols

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski, a lifetime of studying the physics of fly casting

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski's Functional Fly Casting Part 2: Rotation & Leverage

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: Max's Mess Maker (MMM)

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
News

Lefty: The Greatest of All Time

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
Gear

DIY Airbrushing on Popper Heads

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
Gear

Trailer: The Kids Are Alright

Sometimes the hardest part of perfecting a new fly is knowing when to stop tinkering and call it good. One of Craven's f...
Gear

Fly Tier's Bench: How to Tie Craven's Lil Bit Nymph

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use