STEELHEAD!!!!!!

[PolarBear]

Who else is chompin' at the bit to hit the rivers?  Hopefully by next weekend they will be in better shape. 

Had to do some prep work while watching the Hawks game today! Only a fraction of the way done.  Ran out of cerise and leader material.     Still need to do some more trimming on the yarnies. Gonna pour and tie up a bunch of jigs as well tomorrow right after I am done getting DoubleJ's Sons deer heads in the "brine".

[Button Nubbs]

Lookin good! Tough for me to get excited about hatchery fish this year. They ain't comin... We can only hope for nates.

[PolarBear]

Talked to a guy and saw the pics of over a dozen chrome brats taken in one day on a certain "coastal" river last week.

[Smossy]

Who else is chompin' at the bit to hit the rivers?  Hopefully by next weekend they will be in better shape. 

Had to do some prep work while watching the Hawks game today! Only a fraction of the way done.  Ran out of cerise and leader material.     Still need to do some more trimming on the yarnies. Gonna pour and tie up a bunch of jigs as well tomorrow right after I am done getting DoubleJ's Sons deer heads in the "brine".

What are these setups and what are they made of?

[PolarBear]

Here is a little diagram series that I made up explaining the procedure for tying the yarnie loop.  I pre tie some up with a yarn ball and some I leave the loop loose so that I can throw on whatever color yarnie that I want to on the fly.

[PolarBear]

Or were you talking about the yarn balls Smossy?

[splitshot]

  sounds great but what is that orange stuff in the last two pics. and how did you attach it on?   mike w

[Smossy]

Here is a little diagram series that I made up explaining the procedure for tying the yarnie loop.  I pre tie some up with a yarn ball and some I leave the loop loose so that I can throw on whatever color yarnie that I want to on the fly.

I know how to do the eggloup knot, Im just curious as to what exactly everything is and why they're used, never seen a fuzzy setup like that.

Or were you talking about the yarn balls Smossy?

Yeah basically, How come not just yarn?

[PolarBear]

I usually use just yarn balls or some of my fake eggs in the loop.  I find the yarn balls flow better with the current than just a chunk of yarn.  The rig in the diagram shows how you can use a yarn ball and eggs at the same time if you wish.  Sometimes, especially in darker water, it is nice to put a tiny bit of cured eggs in front of a yarn ball.  Smossy, do you know how or have you ever tied or used yarn balls?

[Smossy]

I usually use just yarn balls or some of my fake eggs in the loop.  I find the yarn balls flow better with the current than just a chunk of yarn.  The rig in the diagram shows how you can use a yarn ball and eggs at the same time if you wish.  Sometimes, especially in darker water, it is nice to put a tiny bit of cured eggs in front of a yarn ball.  Smossy, do you know how or have you ever tied or used yarn balls?

Never used a yarn ball man.

[PolarBear]

  sounds great but what is that orange stuff in the last two pics. and how did you attach it on?   mike w

The orange stuff is a small bit of salmon eggs.  You string it through the regular egg loop.  The secondary loop is for whatever else you want to put in it.

[PolarBear]

Smossy, you have to start using yarn balls!  I rarely fish bait anymore, only yarnies and my fake eggs.  Here is a video on how to tie up some yarn balls.http://www.fishwithjd.com/2011/01/06/how-to-tie-yarnies-yarn-balls-for-steelhead/

[Smossy]

Smossy, you have to start using yarn balls!  I rarely fish bait anymore, only yarnies and my fake eggs.  Here is a video on how to tie up some yarn balls.http://www.fishwithjd.com/2011/01/06/how-to-tie-yarnies-yarn-balls-for-steelhead/

Hey thank for that link, Never knew of such a thing.

[splitshot]

in certain situations black glo-bug yarn will work.  my fav is orange with a bit of cerise. some rivers don't allow scent, but I like to use it on my hands when I tie flies.   mike w

[BOWHUNTER45]

looks good ! now put them to work 

[boneaddict]

Two of the three of my faves.

[boneaddict]

Green-Butt Skunk

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Real good article. Thanks for the post!

[Bullkllr]

Two of the three of my faves.

Nice flies! What's that one?

[Button Nubbs]

Quality work bone. You got skills!

[kisfish]

Waiting for the rivers to drop and clear up. Tons of rain this last week

[PolarBear]

Dang Bone, those are too pretty to fish!!!!   

[boneaddict]

Thanks!

Nice flies! What's that one?

A long time steelheading buddy of mine invented it for the Deschutes River. Its a great clear/low water fly and can be tied even more sparse.  I use it a lot on the Methow and in the old days, the Wenatchee.   Its called the Fartn' Fool.

[Bullkllr]

Thanks!

Nice flies! What's that one?

A long time steelheading buddy of mine invented it for the Deschutes River. Its a great clear/low water fly and can be tied even more sparse.  I use it a lot on the Methow and in the old days, the Wenatchee.   Its called the Fartn' Fool.

Thanks, looks like one I may try. Like the look; not going to ask about the name

[Smossy]

How hard is it to learn how to tie flys? It looks like something fun to do, I dont fly fish but I love making things

[PolarBear]

It's not that tough.  I started when I was 9 and within a couple of months I was selling them to the local sporting goods stores.  However, it does take some time to tie flies that are as nice as what Bone ties.  The expense is getting set up.  Do some online searches, buy a fly tying book with patterns and have fun.  I went from tying flies to jigs.  Making your own stuff is fun but even better when you catch something on it and ever better when you out fish your buddies with it and even better when you out fish everyone on something that you came up with and only you have!!!!

[TheHunt]

Thinking about being sick on Friday.

[boneaddict]

Making your own stuff is fun but even better when you catch something on it

That's the crème' right there. Same as loading your own bullets, making your own arrows.  Just that much more satisfaction.

[PolarBear]

 
I've been making as much of my own fishing gear, (flies, worms, eggs(real and fake), jig heads, lead, crank baits, spinners, leaders etc since I was a little kid.  Even made an okay living at it for a while.  I would love to get into reloading and traditional archery.  The BEST feeling is winning a tournament or derby on something you made and designed!  Done that a few times.  Last year I won our company steelhead derby on my fake eggs and home made yarn ball.

Smossy, just a fair warning...  Tying your own flies or making your own gear is very addicting and you might find yourself obsessing with it.   

[Smossy]

I've been making as much of my own fishing gear, (flies, worms, eggs(real and fake), jig heads, lead, crank baits, spinners, leaders etc since I was a little kid.  Even made an okay living at it for a while.  I would love to get into reloading and traditional archery.  The BEST feeling is winning a tournament or derby on something you made and designed!  Done that a few times.  Last year I won our company steelhead derby on my fake eggs and home made yarn ball.

Smossy, just a fair warning...  Tying your own flies or making your own gear is very addicting and you might find yourself obsessing with it.   

I dont doubt it. I already build all my own arrows and hate buying pre-fletched ones. Lovveee it.

[KopperBuck]

Interesting, never seen it done that way before. I just tie a double egg loop. Don't like trying to tie leaders on the river if I don't have to. But to have on hand at home wouldn't be a bad deal.

[TheHunt]

I tie some as I go.  I leave sting of yarn in different straws in a sandwich bag for scent control.  Then when I go I tie up 3 of this color, 2 of this color, 2 of this color.  When I saw color I mean is the picture above.  I make mine about this size of a dime. 

Yarn balls are the ticket in my opinion.  I plan on trying a fish pill approach like was stated in the linked article. 

[akirkland]

I like to thread my yarn balls on  with a threader. And I  make a "soft" egg loop for eggs and shrimp. Works out really well

[splitshot]

flyfishing and tying is a lifelong sport.  I have been at it for 55 plus years and always am learning something new.  a great family sport.    bone, those are nice flies you build.    mike w

[boneaddict]

THanks Mike.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

We tied yarnies yesterday for awhile. Here's our 4yr old daughters first two she ever tied. She will be trying them out once our fcavorite river opens this spring!

[_TONY_]

 

[WSU]

Those will fish!  I just tie my yarnies directly into the egg loop.  Basically, all I do is put yarn in the loop and then make it round.  I put a single fake egg directly on the hook.  Saves a step for me and I don't generally fish bait with a yarn.  If I want to fish bait, I generally just fish bait.  A hint for those trying them out: sometimes really small is the ticket.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Were still tying yarnies. Tryed tying them on the shank of a 1/0 hook just behind the egg loop. Seemed to work out pretty good. First I gently clamped the eye of the hook in my fly tying vise? Then added the yarn and magic thread. Here's pics!

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Then there's the daughters Salmon Slayer!!! Said she's going to soak it with secret sauce and catch a big Springer!

[7mmfan]

Then there's the daughters Salmon Slayer!!! Said she's going to soak it with secret sauce and catch a big Springer!

Trim that down and you got yourself a Jerry Garcia! Great steelhead yarny for all conditions

[PolarBear]

Yeah, trimmed down it looks exactly like the yarnies that my youngest daughter makes.  The funny thing is she catches fish on them!