*Check the Spey Fishing page for Steelhead Swing Patterns
Pattern of the Month - August - "Slap Rat" by Jeff Hubbard

Sometimes, people go over board on their night flies. This fly is simple to tie and fish. It's very affective stripping like a Gurgler or just skating on the surface. Can also fish well fished just below the surface. Pretty Simple!!!!!! Good Luck.

Slap Rat Recipe
Hook: Tiemco Long Shank Streamer Hook 300R
Tail: Magnum or Regular Natural Rabbit Strip tied in Back
Wing: Tan or Dark Brown Foam cut about the width of a Popsicle stick tie in over tail pull tightly over after body is in place
Body: Rabbit Strip palmered to front of Hook.
Legs: Red or orange Centipede legs
Head: Tan Ice Dub or try a clump of Australian Possum
Pearl Braid Series by Todd Deziel

Here are some Flies tied by Todd Deziel, a local angler and expert fly tier. I've tested these patterns in the spring and fall many times and they work.
CORE CADDIS
Hook: Dai-Riki 135 sz.8, 10, 12
Tail: Chartruese or olive pearl core braid w/ two short pcs. of peacock krystal flash melted in cut short.
Body: ice dub to match tail to cover thread
Collar: Brown hen hackle
Head: Peacock ice dub
Thread: Black 8/0
TODD'S STONE
Hook: Dai-Riki 135 sz.8, 10, 12
Tail: Black pearl braid with goose biots melted in a "V" shape
Tail Fluff: Fluff from the base of black hen hackle.
Body: Life cycle peacock dubbing
Collar: Black hen hackle palmered to back of eyes
Wing Case: Black hologram metallic braid (Gudebrod)
Eyes: Burned 40# Maxima Chameleon
Thread: Black 8/0
TODD'S HEX
Hook: Dai-Riki 135 sz.8, 10, 12
Tail: Tan pearl core braid w/ 3pcs of peacock Krystal flash melted into end. 1long, 2shorter. longest 3/4"
Gills: Austr. possum, or gray fluff from base of brown hackle Body: Tan life cycle dubbing
Collar: Brown hen hackle palmered to and including a wrap of the fluff
Wing Case: Copper diamond braid. or any copper material
Eyes: Black craft (Small) 2.5mm
Thread: Rust 8/0
SPARKLE FRY
Hook: Dai-Riki 155 sz. 6, 8
Tail: White pearl core braid w/ 10-12pcs of rainbow krystal flash melted in to end and cut 1/4 inch
Tail fluff: Grizzly marabou tip
Body: Pink and orange ice dub blend
Collar: Grizzly hen hackle
Back: Chartruese diamond braid
Eyes: Black craft 2.5mm
Thread: White 8/0
Pattern of the Month - April - "PM Parr (Little Fry)" by Jeff Hubbard

The Outfitters North Fly of the Month is my PM Parr (little fry). April is the time of year that the Salmon fry start to hatch and show themselves in big numbers. This fly is not only deadly on Steelhead but also becomes a nice snack for big Browns that thrive in the waters I guide on.

Little Fry Recipe
Hook: #700 Dai Riki number 6 or 8
Tail: White Grizzly Marabou
Body: Olive Ice Dub with Mallard flank palmered to front of hook
Wing: Grizzly Marabou pulled over top
Eyes: Med Red Eyes
Head: Shrimp or Orange Ice Dub

Pattern of the Month - March - "Hub's Stone" by Jeff Hubbard
If your a Steelhead Angler in the Great lakes area you must have some Stone Flies in your box. March is the time to fish these bugs, as water starts to warm Stoneflies start to move. I would say most fish we get in March if not on a egg is on a Stonefly Nymph. As in February mostly Hex's work and occasional Stones. Early April Stones will work but, April is more the month to fish a Salmon or Steelhead Parr pattern. March is time for Little Black Stones. This is a very easy pattern to make and very effective. Enjoy!!!!!!!
Hub's Stone Recipe
Hook: Tiemco 3761 Size 8
Tail: Black or Olive Goose Biots
Rib: Copper or Red Wire
Body: Peacock Ice Dub
Collar: Black hen Hackle Palmered to Front
Wing Case: Copper/Brown Swiss Straw or( Wild Turkey Wing works well too.)

Pattern of the Month - March - "Juice Box" by Matt Grajewski
If you are like me, you get bored with tying the same old globugs and nuke eggs every year. My boredom inspired an egg pattern my daughter named the Juice Box. I tie it in a number of different "flavors" and here are a few that have been productive.
Juice Box Recipe
Hook: Your Favorite Caddis hook #6-#10
Bead: Unweighted bead color of choice
Tail: Sparkle Braid color of choice
Body: Sparkle Braid wrapped forward
Egg: Egg Yarn colors of choice tied in figure eight style, pulled back toward the bend of the hook and cut.

Flavors
Fruit Punch Juice Box - steelhead orange, chartreuse, cherise, white
Lemon Lime Juice Box - chartreuse, oregon cheese, white
OJ Fruit Box - steelhead orange, oregon cheese, cream
Grapefruit Juice Box - charteuse, shrimp pink
Citrus Fruit Box - chartreuse, steelhead orange


Pattern of the Month - February - "Hub's Hex" by Jeff Hubbard
This is my go to pattern for this time of year. It goes with my idea of the " Loosening Up Factor". Which you can read about in Volume 13 Issue 5 of Midwest Fly Fishing. This fly works great tied smaller to Nymph, or make it a little bigger and swing it. It's a fast and easy to make, similar to my PM Parr.
Hub's Hex Recipe
Hook: Nymph Dai-Riki 730 SZ 8 Stramer Dai-Riki 700 Size 6
Tail: Tan Grizzly Marabou
Body: Tan/Brown Ice Dub, Wood Duck Flank Palmered to front of hook
Wing: Pull Marabou stem over head
Eyes: Black Plastic size med
Pattern of the Month - May - "Super Smolt" by Jeff Hubbard

Now that it's streamer season for trout, I wanted to tie something that was out of the ordinary. That's one nice thing about streamers, you the tier can let your imagine go wild. This is what I clearly love to do. I like to create flies that are simple and effective. I also like to take ideas from different patterns I have seen over the years and incorporate them into my own style of streamer. To me that's the coolest thing about streamers, everyone has a different style. Some might tie more traditional wets, others like to use a lot of flash, and some tie big while others go small. They are all different in their own way.

This bug I designed is called the "SUPER SMOLT". This fly is very effective this time of year on rivers with salmon fry and steelhead smolts. Rivers like the PM, MUSKEGON, and MANISTEE are great examples of rivers that produce a lot of fry and smolts. Big Browns are keying in on them now that most of the Steelhead eggs are gone. Steelhead Smolts are making their way out in the spring following the adults to the lake. These smolts will form big schools or balls just like baitfish and head on down the river. Then they become ambushed by big fish who want a easy meal ticket. (:

Super Smolt Recipe
Hook: Tiemco 300 Size 4
Tail: Jailhouse Marabou White/Black
Body: Pearl Cactus Chenille
Wing: Blue Marabou/ Mallard FLank/Red Flashabou followed by another Mallard Flank
Throat: Pink Marabou/ Red works good too
Collar: Jailhouse marabou palmered towards eye
Eyes: Med Lead eyes, red or green
Have a pattern you want to share? Send the recipe, photo, and video if you have one to info@outfittersnorth.com and have your pattern featured here. You will be given credit for the pattern or remain anonymous if you choose.