rattles for salmon/steelhead flies?

[cabezon]

Hi folks,

It is not unusual to place rattles of various types (metal beads in a glass or metal tube) into flies for warmwater fish, like largemouth bass, or marine fish, like red drum. The idea is that the sound attracts the fish and helps elicit a strike. I haven't seen this idea extended to fishing for steelhead or salmon. I can see where adding a rattle might not be very effective for a typical steelhead swing, but I was wondering if it might prove useful for those situations where you are actively stripping a fly back. Specifically, I was wondering if it might be useful for silvers in frogwater, ala the noise of a spinner. It might also be useful when fishing in the sound for resident silvers or searuns; the clacking of the rattle on the strip may provide a similar sound to a shrimp tailflipping away or a baitfish darting away - adding a sound component to the visual signal created by the strip. Have any of you had experience/success in using flies that incorporate rattles when fishing for our local salmonids?

Thanks,

Steve

[Cameron Derbyshire]

I definitely know of others using rattles in warmwater and saltwater situations to entice fish. I don't know of any reference to trying them or their effectiveness in print. But I know some traditional gear guides swear by them for both steelhead and salmon. I've tied up some with rattles, covering the rattles with Everglow tubing or some other type of tubing. Now if I can only find them somewhere in my many fly boxes....... Anyway give it a try. Stripping the fly in on the presentation would probably make more use of the rattles than down and across swing. Thousands of winter steelhead await your trials.

[kodiaksalmon]

I like my saltwater flies to make as much noise as possible. For fishing for silvers offshore (+5 miles out) I use rattles and spinners on many of my flies. It's a big ocean, and if my little (3/0) fly is going to be seen, it has to be heard. I've had good luck with them.

Jeff

[Old Man]

If you use a long enough hook,you can use two beads with a space between them. Saw this once in some fly fishing magazine.

Jim

[Ringlee]

The doggone special which is some ugly looking king fly has some rattles in it. I too have pondered the question on steelhead flies. The problem I see. I rarely ever strip a fly for a steelhead besides a little movement at the end of my swing. Thats the sweet spot, so I might experiment with some rattles. Might mess around with an intruder with some rattles in the middle section.
I live by plugs that rattle when guiding in Alaska for kings, so It just might make sense to tie some flies that rattle.

[ewhitaker75]

check out www.bouncerflies.com

[cabezon]

Wow, great find. That's not quite what I was thinking (i.e., typical plastic or glass rattles with bbs inside), but those bouncer flies are quite interesting. Not only am I impressed with the novelty of the idea, but the site is well done. I really like the clear minnow bouncer - looks like it would be deadly in the salt and the floaters - can you say bass magnets!! Back to the vise....

Thanks,

Steve

[Davy]

yup, I think I might dress , a few like that that and give them a trial when possible. thanks for the link

[MrP]

check out www.bouncerflies.com

Very interesting; thanks for the link.