Dry Line Flies for Summer Steelhead
A pimped-up Mack’s Canyon with Jungle Cock eyes... that’ll hunt.
It may seem early to talk dry line flies for summer steelhead, but we all know how fast the season sneaks up. Before long, summer will be in full swing (pun intended), and it is a good time to start stocking the box.
Below are a few of our favorite summer steelhead wet flies and skaters. Most are fished on dry-line style setups, but a few also fish extremely well on light sink tips.
Wet Flies for Summer Steelhead
If there were an all-star lineup of summer steelhead wet flies, these would absolutely make the team. There are endless variations out there, and while many wet flies share a similar silhouette, the magic is in the materials, colors, and proportions that make each one fish a little differently.
When you think about all the variables in a swing — fly color, size, speed, angle, depth, water type — it can get overwhelming fast. Was it the color? Was it the presentation? Was it both?
Most of the time, presentation matters most. I remember one fish that grabbed and did not stick. I changed flies and got another grab. Changed again, same thing. I repeated that process five times over nearly 40 minutes. Different flies, same fish, same interest. In that case, it was not color — it was presentation.
That said, color and size absolutely matter at times. Later in the season, steelhead often get a little more “trouty” and seem to prefer smaller, more natural flies. That has been true too many times over the years for me to ignore it.
I love fishing these on Scandi-style lines with a floating or intermediate Airflo Polyleader, a RIO VersiLeader, or a tapered mono leader. Most of the time, I add 2–4 feet of tippet to the end of the leader before tying on the fly. I tend to prefer PolyLeaders and VersiLeaders over straight tapered mono because they grip the surface better and help create a cleaner load in the rod.
Aqua Flies Mack’s Canyon
Mack’s Canyon is MONEY.
The Mack’s Canyon has been one of my favorite go-to flies for years. It is beautifully tied, proportioned just right, and has helped bring a lot of steelhead to the beach.
I especially like this fly later in the season when fish have been in the system longer and seem to lean toward more natural colors. The Mack’s Canyon is subtle enough for clear water, but still dark enough to silhouette well in slightly off-colored water.
Best sizes: #6 and #8
SHB tip: Always keep at least two in your dry-line box.
Aqua Flies Green Butt Skunk
The Green Butt Skunk is one of the most famous steelhead flies of all time, and for good reason. It has been catching steelhead for generations and still gets it done.
Anyone who has chased steelhead for long has either fished one, heard of one, or both. Bottom line: steelhead love them.
Best sizes: #2, #4, #6
Aqua Flies Fiddle D
The Fiddle D does not always get the same attention as a Green Butt Skunk, but it should. This is an excellent fly with great proportions and a dark, fishy profile that works in a wide range of water conditions.
Darker patterns like this silhouette well in off-colored water, and steelhead are always looking up. The contrast can make a big difference.
Available size: #6 (a great all-around size)
Aqua Flies Hartwick’s Brown Hilton
Look at this beauty. The Brown Hilton is a classic natural-toned pattern that really shines later in the season when smaller, more subdued flies often produce better.
It has a buggy look that reminds a lot of anglers of an October Caddis. Fish love it. It also comes in a purple version.
Solitude Lady Carolyn
Like the Green Butt Skunk, the Lady Carolyn belongs on the steelhead all-time list. It is a deadly, natural-looking fly that has stood the test of time.
Buggy profile, proven colors, and a great fish-catching look. Always have a few in the box.
Typical size: #5
Aqua Flies No Name Variant
One of my personal favorites. The No Name Variant has helped me land a lot of good fish over the years, and it is still one of the first flies I reach for.
I usually fish the larger size earlier in the season and the smaller size later on. Steelhead love purple, and this fly is a great example of why.
Available sizes: #6 and #8
To be honest, photos never quite do this fly justice. It just looks right in the water, and it has proven itself to me over and over.
RIO Steelhead Coachman
Another excellent natural-looking summer steelhead fly. The Steelhead Coachman is a tried-and-true pattern that always has a place in my box.
Available sizes: #4, #6, #8
RIO Undertaker
Just the name alone tells you it should fish. The Undertaker is a very popular summer steelhead fly, especially on rivers like the Deschutes.
I know anglers who fish this pattern almost exclusively and bring plenty of fish to the beach doing it. Great color combo, clean profile, and it flat-out works.
Available sizes: #6 and #8
Solitude Duddle’s Low Water Green Butt
Created by Gorge Fly Shop owner Travis Duddles, this fly has produced for a lot of anglers over the years. It has all the right colors with a green butt hot spot and a perfect low-water profile.
It fishes great in low, clear conditions, but it is equally comfortable when the river is in prime shape. Tie it on and go hunt.
On the Smaller Side
RIO Last Call (Black & Purple)
These flies are fun — and they work. They are on the smaller side for steelhead flies, and they really shine later in the season when fish start favoring a smaller profile.
A lot of customers look at this fly and think it is too small. I get it. But I have seen enough fish eat them to know better.
I remember recommending one to a customer heading to the Deschutes. He was skeptical, but he gave it a shot. A few hours later he called from his first run and said he had already hooked a nice steelhead on it. He thanked me for pushing him to try it.
That fly has converted more than a few skeptics.
Solitude Steelhead Brassie
Originally designed as a steelhead nymph, the Steelhead Brassie can also be swung just under the surface with very solid results. It has a buggy, caddis-like look that steelhead key in on.
It is a great reminder that steelhead will absolutely eat a smaller swung fly. Think soft hackles for trout — just with a steelhead at the end.
The best part is it is tied on a stout hook that is plenty strong for steelhead.
Available colors: Orange and Purple
Hook size: #6
Skating Flies for Summer Steelhead
I need to be honest here: I have still not landed a steelhead on a skated or chugged fly.
I have had fish boil on them. I have had them grab and take a click or two off the reel. But I have not sealed the deal yet. It has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I know the answer is simple: I need to fish them more often and fish them when the odds are in my favor.
I know there are better times and places for skating, and I am guilty of switching back to a wet fly too quickly. Maybe this is the summer that changes.
So while I am not claiming expert status here, the flies below are favorites of friends and customers who have had real success with them.
Umpqua Pompadour Skater
One of the most popular skaters with customers and friends is the Pompadour Skater, especially in size #6. It also comes in black, and both colors fish well.
Word on the river is that Deschutes steelhead often like smaller skaters, especially in cleaner water. That said, larger skaters absolutely have their place too, especially in choppier water where you can chug or pop the fly with more action.
Solitude Larimer’s Steelhead Muddler
Who has not heard of the Muddler Minnow? Steelhead have been eating skated Muddlers for a long time.
I can personally vouch for how effective this fly is when fished on a sink tip, and I have no doubt about its value as a skating fly. I just have not landed one on the surface with it... yet.
This is a super buggy pattern that comes in Natural, Olive, Purple, and Black. A lot of anglers fish it with a riffle hitch tied at the head to make it skate harder, and you can tie that hitch on either side of the fly to influence the track.
Typical size: #4
Solitude Ska-Opper
The Ska-Opper has become famous with anglers who like to chug or pop the fly during the swing. Created by Scott Howell, it blends popper and gurgler elements into one aggressive surface pattern.
It is designed to ride high, move water, and make a lot of commotion — exactly the kind of thing that can trigger a violent surface eat from a steelhead in the right mood.
I enjoy fishing it and I have put in time with it. I just have not gotten paid yet. Emphasis on yet.
Aqua Flies After Dinner Mint
Who does not like an After Dinner Mint?
This is a great dual-purpose pattern that fishes well as a skater or wet fly. I especially like the Purple/Black and Green/Black versions. Very effective pattern and well worth carrying.
Aqua Flies Brett’s Klamath Skater (October Caddis)
This fly is seriously buggy. Look at it from the underside and it really does look like a natural bug trying to get across the surface.
If I were a steelhead, I would have a hard time not attacking it. It is tied on a #7 hook with a longer shank, which helps with those fish that come up and just “kiss” the fly.
This is a great late-season skater — think late September through October — but there is no reason you cannot fish it earlier too.
Parting Shots
We could go on and on with other effective wet and skating flies, but this is a stellar starting lineup. These are not ranked in order, and they are not the only flies that work, but they are proven patterns we trust.
We are looking forward to summer steelhead season, and we are always happy to talk fishing. If you have questions, give us a call at 541-386-6977.
My son Calvin with his first dry-line steelhead, caught on a Freight Train — not listed above, but it easily could have been. The Aqua Flies Freight Train is a very effective pattern.
Keep Reading
- Skagit vs. Scandi for Steelhead
- How to Choose a Spey Setup for Steelhead
- A New Era of Steelhead Fly Fishing
Thanks for reading.
SHB Team
John G