Dan Fallon Fly Fishing Article Column 9 2011
Various Alaskan Salmon & Trout Flies
Alaskan Salmon flies are among the most colorful and enjoyable to create of any I have encountered! Typical examples displayed in these photos are the tried and true "Blood Sucking Leech" in many variations and sizes. This pattern actually attempts to recreate a leech raiding and feeding on Salmon eggs.
Loud colors from bright red (again simulating the prized Salmon Egg) Chartreuse, bright orange, white marabou feathers are used to give contrast. The large purple Egg Sucking leech pictured is a true home run when working King Salmon. I caught several with this pattern. I have seen John Wilson owner Lake Marie Lodge Alaska take King Salmon with Surface Popper’s, a feat to witness indeed!
My last trip to Alaska this past June was a great King Salmon Big Trout week, many of these flies were tied and used at lake Marie www.lakemarie.com.
Chasing wild Trout, Dolly Varden, with the smaller light five weight fly rods after throwing larger ten weights all day a pleasant change of pace indeed. Of course working the top water Mouse mentioned in last months article is a lot of fun. Standard wet flies I saw used were usually equipped with a live action tail.
Guides and I tied various live tail variations displayed in the photos, usual old standards from Royal Coachmen to many Wolly Bugger colors were also used on this last Alaska trip. The wild trout action was fast and furious, guides attempted to tie patterns with serious intent to survive many hook ups. A bit of quick drying glue highly advised especially working Alaskan wild trout, its gets fast, no time to stop and tie on another fly Cowboys!
All flies featured in the this months photos were tied either by me or one of the guides at Lake Marie Alaska. Unlike every other fly fishing venue on this planet that I have visited in fifty years of wondering. In deep woods Alaska one can realize a life long dream of endless hook ups , one after another for hours... As sublime as it gets for true die hard fly fisher’s Pilgrims! These patterns and many other home made variations regularly take wild fish and create endless dreams...
Though the patterns featured this month were used in my last Alaska trip June 2011, many Alaska Lodges like to come up with their own variations. If any of you seasoned Alaskan Guides reading this are proud of your fly tying skills? Drop me an E-Mail and send a few examples and your work may be featured in up coming columns!
Also anyone who successfully caught Alaskan King Salmon this season? Send a photo and a few lines and your adventure might be mentioned as well. Taking 40/60 lb Kings on flies a small club indeed...
All flies featured were removed from King Salmon mouth’s Baby!!!
