Spoons and flytying steelhead patterns

[Jeff Hale]

In my past I have gear-fished spoons and spinners both for steelhead with very good success. Bill Herzog is the gear-head spoon-god and has recently switched over to the flyrod to pursue his chrome. He likes swinging the fly because it is very similar to swinging a spoon and requires even more control. This got me to thinking about spoons and some of my favorites. One of my best all times steelhead killers is an all brass spoon in 3/8 ounce. So, I wonder why we see so few flies with LOTS of flash like a spoon. One of the reasons spoons are effective is because they have an "attraction" radius much larger than other types of lures and flies. That being said, has anyone fished for steelhead with a fly that incorporates a lot of flash, either brass, copper, nickel, or silver to create the effect of a spoon? I would be very interested to hear and see your flies if so. Most of the flies I see with a lot of metallic colors are tied for coho and Kings in rivers like the Nushigak (sp?). But why not Steelhead, eh? Here is a quick, crazy looking thing I tied up on a whim in the School Colors (Purple and Gold) of the highschool where I teach mathematics. I went pretty heavy on the flashabou. It will either scare them to death or piss them off. Jeff

[sharpshooter223]

what really is the difference between a dressed hook spoon and a flashy fly besides the fact that one is a little more bushy and the shape of the weight?

[chadk]

"why not for steelhead"

I think much of this has to do with 'tradition'. Many people are hesitant to tie something that doesn't at least have roots in one of the traditional patterns.

An apsect of that also involves the nature of the materials. Some of the 'traditionalists' look down on to much 'flash' and try to stick to natural feathers and fur (I bet the guys who created the traditional patterns to begin with would have loved to have access to some of the newer synthetics we have today...).

Some may claim they try to reproduce the natural food source, but that really doesn't add up with most steelhead flies (at least in these parts).

Another aspect is that i think the 'flash' part of spoons and spinners is often over rated (matt black and faded brass are used by some with success). With steelheading, it is more about getting something in front of them with a general profile and presentation that will entice them to strike (yes, generally a chunk of yarn drifting past is all it takes, so don't over think this...).

Just my 2 cents...

[Philster]

My personal belief, based on tests that I have run personally, meaning they are unscientific and strictly anecdotal is that it's extremely easy to overdo flash.

I believe that in relatively clear water every steelhead in the run WILL SEE YOUR FLY regardless of color. The question is 1. will they ignore it for whatever reason (resting, zoned out, water temp, just went to the old country buffet), 2. see it as a threat that they avoid, 3. see it as a threat that they wish to dominate, 4. see it as something to eat, or 5.see it as something small and non-threatening that they nip at just because their feet hurt that day and they're in a bitchy mood.

So if you are trying to duplicate a spoon, the first thing you need to do is look at a spoon. Two sides. Even with holo tape there isn't as much flash as a healthy clump of flashabou. Every strand of flashabou has two sides. 20 strands have 40 individual reflective surfaces that if your design has a moderately bulky head will kick around alot more than a spoon. So what of the 5 options above will a steelhead choose. No way to predict, but in my experience it certainly isn't an advantage.

Now I have out of curiosity played with actual "spoon flies" because the magic of spoon lies in its action, not its flash or color. Didn't work great, but caught alot of stripers on the American:thumb: Caught one absolute PIG of a steelhead on a Burke's Bass Flash (smallmouth version pictured) I had tied up for stripers, but I consider that an annomaly.

I have also tied marabou spey style flies with a low spey style overwing made of silver sheet mylar, and hologaphic mylar. I adapted it from when I used tyvek paper for prince nymph wings. Did they catch fish? Yes. Did they catch more than a skunk? No. Were they cool looking? Damn Rizzy!

Just personal opinions. But they are based on trying.

[herl]

I would guess that the effectiveness of spoons and spinners probably has more to do with the vibrations/shock waves that they produce than it does with the visual flashiness.

You'd be hard pressed to mimic that kind of motion with a fly of any kind, except maybe a 'pistol pete':eek:

[sharpshooter223]

vibrations have a ton to do with it for spinners, but spoons dont spin in the same way usually, flash has a ton to do with it-can look like baitfish flipping around

[chadk]

a spoon fished properly for steelhead should slowly wobble more than spin and flip...

[Jerry Daschofsky]

Yup, a properly presented spoon with wobble. BUT.......Herzog (and I'm included in this) fish his half/half spoons in REAL SILVER! What does this mean over chrome? Well, a TON of flash!!!!! A chrome plated lure will actually dull and turn a black under water. Flash isn't as much. True silver plating keeps it color and flashes. So yes, a spoon with real silver with flash quite a bit as it's wobbling (dull brass to bright silver as it wobbles). A properly presented spoon actually doesn't truly "spin". It slowly "wops" in the water. You'll draw more hits retrieving it slow then you will with a fast retrieve (plus draws out more flash). Problem is most of you (and not just you, but even gear guys) buy spinners they call "silver" but are just plated chrome. The true shine comes out underwater (try doing this with a chrome lure versus a true silver one). You'll be shocked at the difference (and I can testify to my hookup ratio on my trolling lures as well on this one).

I'm one of the "non conformists" when it comes to flies. I tie my flies to mimic what I use in the gear world. My coho muddlers immulate the plugs I use (I cut head to make them wobble then add lots of flashabou for the wing). Been a hot ticket when I'm river fishing. Same goes for steelhead flies as well. Now, don't always add tons of flash, but I add as much as dictated for river conditions (for lower clear water I'll use smaller darker plugs/spoons/spinners whereas for stained conditions I use just the opposite). Key is to dictate the fly depending on the water clarity. You don't want a bright bushy flashabou fly when the water clarity is gin clear.

[Mark Graham]

I'll probably get shot for this- but I don't care. Sometimes when I am fishing for cutt's I'll throw a small dick nite 50/50 in a strong current on an intermediate sink line w/ fast strips. It works great and casts quite well on a fast action 5wt. I thought I'd give it a try when a friend of mine who fishes gear open his tackle box and I saw the Dick Nite. Now don't get me wrong, I like to tie my own flies and use them 99% of the time but I see nothing wrong w/ using a Dick Nite 50/50 if I want too. After all I'm out there to catch fish.There are also spoon flies I know that are used quite often for red fish. I don't see why they wouldn't work for steelies as well. I like to tie my own spinners too (I'm a gear guy not just a fly fisher) and have even entertained the thought of making small spinners for the fly rod. I know I'm not the only one who does this but don't mind speaking out about it. A little off the topic but I make micro jigs (usually w/ a heavy tungston cone on a 1/0 gamagatsu 604 jig hook) and fish them under a large indicator. It helps enable me too stand right in there w/ the gear guys and cast. Same as I would w/ my gear rod...

[David Dalan]

Herzon once wrote about using a "fly with a lot of flash" on the lower GR. It was a small spoon. Tiny spoons and spinners were the #1 weapon of choice for my 'ole grandpap on the Deschutes below the falls at the mouth (before the dams).

Flash to taste and fish with confidence.