Steelhead & Salmon Flies

Name: Trust Issues Spey
Price: 7.58 USD
Availability: InStock

Steelhead and Salmon Flies Hook up on the Swing

Classic hairwings, spey flies and egg patterns for the toughest fish in freshwater. These American-tied steelhead and salmon flies cover the patterns that have fooled fish for generations and the bright, modern ties that move fish in cold, high water.

Classic Hairwings

Some flies earn their place over generations. The Skunk and Green Butt Skunk, the Green Butt and Purple Butt Black Bears, the Freight Train, the Golden Comet and the Electric Jackson Purple Spade are slim, easy to cast and deadly when swung through clear water. When fish are holding in walking-speed water, these are the first flies to tie on. You will also find shop favorites like the Green Flash, Plain Jane, Night Walker, Clearwater Walker, Steel Thunder and Autumn Moon Rising.

Spey Flies

Long, flowing hackle that breathes in the slowest current is what a spey fly is built for. Our lineup runs from the classic Purple Peril, Signal Light and Electric Coal Car to the Gary Cooper, Mae West, Sunday Spey, Autumn Day and Pretty in Pink. When you need to be seen, the Chartreuse, Orange and Fl. Pink Butt Chartreuse Screamers and the Trust Issues Spey bring the color.

Leeches, Buggers and Bigger Profiles

When the water is high, cold or off-color, a fish needs to see and feel your fly. That is when to go bigger: the Fluorescent Chartreuse and Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammers, the Mae West Trout Intruder, the Bright Purple Grizzly Sugar Momma and the Claret Orange Woolly Bugger all push more water than a slim hairwing. For even more bulk, see Intruders and the Bush Fur Leeches in Streamers.

Egg Patterns

Steelhead and trout follow spawning salmon upriver and eat the loose eggs. When fish will not move to a swung fly, dead-drift the Salmon-Steelie Egg under an indicator through the tailouts and gravel below spawning fish.

Choosing a Steelhead Fly Color

The old rule still holds: dark day, dark fly; bright day, bright fly. Black, purple and blue patterns like the Black Bears and Purple Peril show up as a strong silhouette in low light and stained water. Orange, pink and chartreuse patterns like the Screamers grab attention in clear water and bright sun.

How to Swing a Fly for Steelhead

Cast across and slightly downstream, throw a mend to slow the fly, and let the current swing it across the run. Take a step or two downstream between casts so you cover the whole run. In cold water, slow everything down. Whatever speed you think is slow, cut it in half. Most grabs come as the fly finishes the swing and hangs below you, so keep your rod low and do not set too fast. Let the fish turn and come tight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best steelhead fly? There is no single answer, but every box should have a dark fly like a Green Butt Black Bear for low light, a classic like a Green Butt Skunk for clear water, and an egg for days when fish will not chase.

What is the difference between a hairwing and a spey fly? A hairwing has a stiff wing of hair and a slim profile that swims steady. A spey fly has long, soft hackle that pulses and breathes, even in slow water.

Do these flies work for salmon? Yes. The same swing flies take Atlantic, coho and chinook salmon, and the bright Screamers and pink patterns are especially good on fresh salmon.

Showing all 31 results

Autumn Day Spey
$8.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Autumn Moon Rising
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Bright Purple Grizzly Sugar Momma
$5.95 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Chartreuse Screamer Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Claret Orange Woolly Bugger
$4.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Clearwater Walker
$5.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Electric Coal Car Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Electric Jackson Purple Spade
$4.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Fl. Pink Butt Chartreuse Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Fluorescent Chartreuse Steelhead Slammer
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Freight Train
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Gary Cooper Spey
$10.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Golden Comet
$4.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Green Butt Black Bear
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Green Butt Skunk
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Green Flash
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Mae West Spey
$9.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Mae West Trout Intruder
$12.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Night Walker
Price range: $6.95 through $7.65 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Orange Screamer Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Plain Jane
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Pretty in Pink Spey
$10.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Purple Butt Black Bear
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Purple Peril Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Salmon-Steelie Egg
$3.96 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Signal Light Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Skunk
$6.88 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Steel Thunder
$7.65 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Sunday Spey
$8.85 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Trust Issues Spey
$7.58 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page