Description
The Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer: Your Ticket to Salmon and Steelhead Glory (Or Epic Fails)
Ah, the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer. Sounds like a bad ’80s hair metal band, right? But no, this is the fly that’s going to make you look like a pro on the water—or at least give you something to blame when you come home empty-handed. If you’re into fly fishing for steelhead and salmon, this bad boy is your secret weapon. Tied with Ewing Hackle Deep Purple Chickabou for that irresistible body marabou patch tail, palmered saddle hackle in classic spey style, and a body spun from Fluorescent Steelhead Slammer Monster Bush Fur into a brush with stainless silver wire and a cheeky red Crystal Chenille egg, it’s basically a party in feather form. Steelhead can’t resist it, and salmon? They’ll hit it like it’s the last shrimp at the buffet.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll dive into how to tie this fluorescent purple beast, then spill the beans on slinging it in prime spots from the icy rivers of Alaska to the Thompson River in Canada, down to Steelhead Alley, and over to Idaho’s Upper Clearwater River. We’ll keep it casual, with a dash of sarcasm because, let’s face it, fly fishing is 90% standing in cold water pretending you know what you’re doing. Buckle up, anglers—this is going to be fun. Or frustrating. Probably both.
Tying the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer: Because Store-Bought Flies Are for Quitters
Alright, let’s get our hands dirty—or feathery, as the case may be. Tying your own flies is like cooking your own meal: it tastes better when you do it yourself, even if it looks a bit wonky. The Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer is inspired by classic spey flies like the Purple Peril or Spey, but with a fluorescent twist that screams “look at me!” to those finicky steelhead. We’re using premium materials like Ewing Hackle for that deep purple chickabou, which is basically marabou’s cooler, webby cousin. Chickabou absorbs water like a sponge, giving your fly that pulsating action in the current. And Monster Bush Fur? It’s a coarse dubbing with just enough flash to make your fly glow like a rave stick under UV light.
Materials List: What You’ll Need to Craft This Masterpiece
- Hook: Size 2-6 salmon hook, because steelhead don’t mess with tiny stuff.
- Thread: Purple 6/0, to match the vibe.
- Tail: Ewing Hackle Deep Purple Chickabou Body Marabou Patch—pluck a generous clump for that fluffy, seductive tail.
- Body: Fluorescent Steelhead Slammer Monster Bush Fur, spun into a dubbing brush with stainless silver wire. Add a red Crystal Chenille egg for that pop of color—think of it as the cherry on top.
- Hackle: Palmer Saddle Hackle in spey style, deep purple to keep the theme going.
- Rib: Stainless silver wire, for durability and a bit of bling.
- Head: Black thread or epoxy for a sleek finish.
- Extras: A dubbing loop tool, because spinning fur without one is like herding cats.
Pro tip: If you’re new to this, watch a few YouTube tutorials on palmering hackle. It’s not rocket science, but it can feel like it after your third tangled mess
Step-by-Step Tying Instructions: Don’t Screw This Up (But If You Do, It’s Fine)
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- Start with the Hook: Secure your hook in the vise. Wrap the thread from the eye to the bend. This is your foundation—mess it up, and the whole fly falls apart. Kind of like life.
- Tie in the Tail: Grab a patch of Ewing Hackle Deep Purple Chickabou marabou. Measure it about the length of the hook shank for that spey-style flow. Tie it in at the bend, fluffy side out. This tail wiggles like it’s got places to be, drawing in steelhead from across the river.
- Build the Body: Here’s where the magic happens. Take your Fluorescent Steelhead Slammer Monster Bush Fur—it’s coarse, natural with synthetic flash for that glow. Spin it into a dubbing loop with the stainless silver wire. Wind it forward in tight turns to form a bushy body. This creates a profile that’s bulky yet translucent, perfect for imitating baitfish or whatever steelhead are hallucinating that day.
- Palmer the Hackle: Select a long, webby saddle hackle in deep purple. Tie it in by the tip at the rear of the body. Palmer it forward in open turns, spey style—think loose and flowing, not tight like a woolly bugger. This gives the fly that classic spey silhouette, with fibers pulsing in the current. Secure it with the silver wire ribbing for extra strength, because steelhead fight like they owe you money.
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Add the Egg: Tie in a small segment of red Crystal Chenille right behind the head area. It’s like adding a beacon: “Hey salmon, free snack!” But really, it mimics roe, which these fish can’t resis
- Finish the Head: Whip finish, add a drop of head cement or epoxy. Trim any stragglers. Voila! You’ve got a Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer that’s brighter than your future after landing a 20-pounder.
If your first one looks like a purple mop, don’t sweat it. Practice makes perfect, or at least fishable. This pattern shines in low-light conditions, where the fluorescent bits pop. Tie a dozen; you’ll lose half to trees anyway.
How to Use the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer: General Tips for Not Looking Like a Newb
Before we hit specific spots, let’s talk basics. This fly is a swinger’s dream—spey casting it across currents and letting it swing is the way to go. Use a two-handed rod for those long casts; single-handers are for trout wimps. Sink tips help get it down to where steelhead lurk, but in shallower runs, a floating line works. Strip it slowly if they’re aggressive, or dead-drift if they’re picky. For salmon, twitch it like an injured minnow. And remember: purple is king for steelhead—it’s like their catnip.
Sarcastic aside: If you hook a snag instead of a fish, congratulations, you’ve mastered “bottom fishing.” Just kidding—mend your line upstream after casting to get that perfect swing.
Now, onto the hotspots. We’ll cover how to deploy this purple powerhouse in each, with location-specific sarcasm because why not?
Fly Fishing the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer in Alaska: Where Bears Are Your Only Competition
Alaska: land of big fish, bigger mosquitoes, and rivers so cold they’ll make you question your life choices. Steelhead here are chrome-bright beasts, fresh from the ocean, and they’ll smash a swung fly like it’s personal. Focus on southeast Alaska spots like the Situk River—clear water, fast runs, perfect for spey casting.
How to use it: Rig up a 11-13 foot spey rod with a Skagit head and sinking tip. Cast the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer quartering downstream, mend once, and let it swing through deeper pools. The chickabou tail and bushy body create killer action in those glacial currents. In spring runs, when steelhead are holding in slower water, add a bit of strip to provoke strikes. Salmon? Coho and kings love it too—swing it in estuaries for silvers that fight like demons.
Humor break: If a grizzly shows up, just offer it your fly box. Bears prefer purple, apparently. But seriously, Alaska steelhead fishing is epic; this fly’s fluorescence cuts through murky water, making it a go-to. Expect 8-15 pounders, but pack bear spray—safety first, fish second.
In fall, when leaves are turning, hit tributaries for rainbows that think they’re steelhead. The Thompson? Wait, that’s next.
Conquering the Thompson River in Canada with Your Purple Powerhouse
Oh, the Thompson River—British Columbia’s crown jewel for steelhead, or at least it was before populations dipped like a bad stock market. Still, when they’re running, it’s world-class. These fish are big, wild, and love dry flies on the swing, but our wet Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer shines in those deep, fast runs near Spences Bridge.
Technique time: Use a single or two-handed rod, floating line for surface swings in low water. Cast across and let the current do the work—the palmered hackle pulses like a living thing. For deeper holds, switch to intermediate tips. Steelhead here migrate late, holding in the Fraser before ascending, so time it for September-November. The red chenille egg mimics spawned-out bits, triggering aggressive takes.
With only a few hundred fish returning some years, catching one feels like winning the lottery. But hey, if you blank, blame climate change, not your tying skills. For salmon, chum and pinks hit it hard in overlapping runs. Pack warm—Canadian winters sneak up like polite apologies.
Pro tip: Over 90% of Thompson fly fishing is swinging dries, but switch to our wet fly when they sulk deep. It’s versatile, like that friend who shows up uninvited but saves the party.
Steelhead Alley Shenanigans: Great Lakes Tributaries Meet Purple Mayhem
Steelhead Alley—sounds gritty, like a backstreet brawl, and it is. This stretch of Lake Erie tributaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York pumps out massive steelhead runs every fall and spring. Crowded? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. Fish here are lake-run monsters, 5-15 pounds, fresh and feisty.
Using the Slammer: Nymphing is king, but swinging spey style works in bigger rivers like the Grand or Chagrin. Indicator rig with split shot to bounce the bottom— the Monster Bush Fur body holds up to repeated casts. For swinging, cast 45 degrees downstream, mend, and hang on. The fluorescent purple cuts through stained water after rains. Streamers? Strip it fast for aggressive bucks.
Funny bit: In Steelhead Alley, “combat fishing” means elbowing for spots. If someone crowds you, just flash your purple fly— they’ll think you’re crazy. For salmon, coho runs overlap; the red egg draws them in. Best time: October-April, when Erie freezes your toes but not your spirit.
Techniques vary: Tight-line nymphing or Euro style for picky fish, but our fly’s spey hackle adds swing appeal. Don’t forget fluorocarbon leaders— these fish are leader-shy.
Upper Clearwater River in Idaho: B-Run Behemoths and Purple Persuasion
Idaho’s Upper Clearwater River is steelhead heaven, with B-run giants averaging 10-20 pounds. Clear water, rugged canyons—it’s like Alaska but with more potatoes. Salmon too, chinook and coho, make it a dual-threat fishery.
How to fish it: Swing the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer in fast runs with a spey rod. The chickabou tail and dubbed body excel in clear flows. For deeper pools, add weight or sink tips. In fall, steelhead stack up below Dworshak Dam; spring brings fresh runs. Salmon hit it on the swing or dead-drift.
Sarcasm alert: Catching a B-run feels like wrestling a submarine. If you lose one, it’s not the fly—it’s your knot-tying skills. Pack for variable weather; Idaho changes moods faster than a teenager.
This river’s A and B runs mix, so vary depths. The red chenille egg is gold for egg-sucking steelhead.
Wrapping It Up: Go Forth and Slam Some Steelies
There you have it—the Fluorescent Purple Steelhead Slammer, your all-in-one ticket to salmon and steelhead success from Alaska’s wilds to Idaho’s canyons. Tie it, fish it, and laugh at the fails along the way. Remember, fly fishing isn’t about the catch; it’s about the stories (and the occasional monster). If this fly doesn’t work, well, maybe try pink next time. Happy casting, folks—may your lines be tight and your sarcasm sharper. Learn more about Steelhead Fly Fishing.
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