steelhead fly patterns

[msmith14]

Hi im new to this forum and i was wondering if any one could help me out with some fly patterns.
I fish a small Lake Ontario stream about an hour from the Salmon River and im having some luck on egg patterns but that is all im using. What other patterns would you recommend using (mostly nymph patterns)? right now I only have a small section of the river to fish but after deer season ends i have the hole river to my self I tried asking people in my local fly fishing store but they all say they only use egg patterns and I want to tr something new.
Thanks for the help and have a nice day.

 

[Trout Fever]

check out the "live search" you will find a lot of thread topics on the SR and the flies that most use... welocome to the site

 

[LyNcH]

How big is your trib? Are you able to swing flies on it or just indi/dead drift?

Ultimately, you are being told use egg patterns this time of year because that is what works best right now. Once winter finally sets in, start moving over to various nymph patterns ranging from hare's ear, stoneflies, pheasant tales etc. My January go to pattern is the psycho prince nymph, size 10. I fish mainly 8,10 & 12 nymph patterns, really need to be tied on 2x strong hooks. Throughout the winter, egg patterns will still work as well.

Hope this is a good start. Please let us know how you do and what works and doesn't work.

Here is my streamside steelhead nymph box.

 

[AKSkim]

Eggs

 

[Johnny Utah]

Agreed....Eggs

 

[flyman23]

I was up over Thanksgiving weekend and had some luck with egg patterns. Just to be different I put on a BHHE tied with soft hackle and started really getting into to them. I spoke to a guy who was doing well with a stonefly nymph. So, if it's slow try something different. I figured these fish must have seen a ton of eggs and it worked this time, next time who knows?

 

[msmith14]

How big is your trib? Are you able to swing flies on it or just indi/dead drift?

Its a pretty small trip its probably 30 ft across at the widest and like 6 ft at the skinniness sections. Right now the waters much higher and slower moving than im used to so im having some trouble fishing it as well as locating the fish. dose any one have any subjection's for me?
Also thanks for all the help I really appreciate it.

 

[Johnny Utah]

If the water is high, try casting close to the bank. Fish tend to hang where the current is weakest. Check behind any obstructions as well. They will form eddies and the fish will seek these out. Of coarse you should nymph areas. Good Luck.

 

[nmakota]

Every stream that empties into Ontario has abundance of stoneflies. If you want to switch from egg patterns try looking at some stoneflies like golden stonefly or black if the water is not clear you want to use some flash so instead of regular gold rib on stonefly experiment with something more flashy instead of hackle as legs use maybe some flash etc. You will find many stonefly patterns and they should all work if presented nicely. Keep in mind you are fishing for rainbow trout and they like colors. Once I get home I will post a picture of couple of stoneflies you can tie. The only bad thing about them is that they aren't as easy to tie as a 40 seconds glo bug

 

[GreyFox]

Every stream that empties into Ontario has abundance of stoneflies. If you want to switch from egg patterns try looking at some stoneflies like golden stonefly or black if the water is not clear you want to use some flash so instead of regular gold rib on stonefly experiment with something more flashy instead of hackle as legs use maybe some flash etc. You will find many stonefly patterns and they should all work if presented nicely. Keep in mind you are fishing for rainbow trout and they like colors. Once I get home I will post a picture of couple of stoneflies you can tie. The only bad thing about them is that they aren't as easy to tie as a 40 seconds glo bug

Hellgramites abound in those waters!

 

[nmakota]

Hellgramites abound in those waters!

Also true.

If he wants to imitate a hellgramite its easy just tie/buy some wooly buggers/worms

I can swear by golden stonefly, as people fishing eggs next to me asked me if I am using dynamite!

 

[msmith14]

I took your advice and made some golden stoneflys. I almost think they need some more "flash". What do you think?
I cant wait to try them out!

 

[Johnny Utah]

They will work

 

[Trout Fever]

nice looking pattern

 

[nmakota]

try this stonefly, this is called gold ice stonefly

this one works like a charm on rainbows/steelies

recipe

yellow biots for tail

yellow dubbing for body

flash for the legs and the thorax

french tinsel for the body wrap

 

[Johnny Utah]

Nice Tie!!!