Mercer's Poxyback Hares ear
As with all fishing there are numerous thoughts regarding philosophy, strategy, and methods of pursuit……….. In my mind, the application of these thoughts is in a perpetual state of change. It must be so, for in fishing, no two days are exactly the same.
Girdle Bug Variation
As many of you know, I generally fish a two fly rig with a strike indicator (Bentleys Balls, Steelhead size, buy them here!). This rigging is fished with a dead drift presentation casting up stream or up and across. I will regularly check the swing when this rig is fished down stream.
BH Halfback
This post is about the first fly in the two fly rig that I fish most often. These examples make up a reliable selection of flies for the Brule River for the way I fish. Please make note that there are many other flies that can fit this bill, but these are some of my confidence flies that have produced fish in the past. These flies may also be fished as single flies.
PM Stone
Over the years I have seen many anglers fly fishing on the Brule River. Most anglers I have encountered have been kind enough to engage in conversation while fishing for steelhead. These conversations take place when the action is slow for an extended period of time or if an angler just recently landed a fish or two and no one was around to see them. Most anglers find it difficult to contain their emotions when one of these gigantic trout just happens to grace the the bag of their net. The urge to tell someone,,,, anyone,,, is just too great a celebration to pass up! This exchange of conversation usually leads to the first question, “what did you catch it on?” This many times leads to the opening of fly boxes and the trading of patterns or at least information.
Bloody Prince
Trial and error have lead me to some of these bugs and other anglers have gifted me a pattern or two as well.
Black Stone
Golden Stone
These flies are all size #12 or larger. I will change my trail fly at least 4 times to every one change of my lead fly.
X-legs Variation
My lead fly will always be larger and heavier than my trail fly.
BH Hares Ear Soft Hackle
Make sure you get to the bottom sometimes. Add weight and adjust depth constantly.
BH Gray Goat Soft Hackle
The next post will be about trail flies.
3 users commented in " Steelhead Flies for the Brule River #1 "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackAndy,
Thanks for the advice and especially the pix on fishing the Brule. Some friends and I were trying to hook into the steelie run two weekends ago. Lots of rain, but the steelhead had not moved into the river in masses yet. They probably had, we just didn’t attract them.
I was fishing a fly very similar to the Mercer’s Poxyback and a Bloody Prince dropper.
Caught some small trout on the Bloody Prince, but no big steelhead.
Have you noticed any difference in catching fish when using a stone/nymph pattern WITH the X legs vs. similar flies WITHOUT the legs?
Any current report on the Brule run of steelies?
Thanks for sharing!
Heading up to the Brule today, till Friday. I will give you a report when I get back. I have not has as much success as everyone else with the X-legs. I keep trying it though. I will give you trail fly examples that I use on my next report.
Andy,
Love to read your stories and info on the Brule. You put fishing the Brule in perspective especially for most of us who do not catch a lot of fish….Its okay if you do not catch any fish, you may not be doing anything wrong either. It takes a while to understand the mystique of the Brule.
Hope you did well and looking forward to your report.
Tim
Leave A Reply