Steelhead Slammer
By Tyler Straight
fotm jan 2020
Translated by Carl Wuebben

The steelhead slammer is a simple fly pattern for high water steelhead.

PATTERN

HOOK – MFC #7045 – MUSTAD c49s – TMC 2488 – DAIICHI 1120 size 10
THREAD – Red 6/0
TAIL – Vernille or micro chenille
BODY – Estaz regular
COLORS – (tail/Estaz) chartreuse/orange, pink/chartreuse, brown/chartreuse.

HOW TO TIE
  1. Place your scud hook in the vise so the hook eye is pointing down slightly. Attach your thread in behind the eye and clip the tag end off, then make a thread base by wrapping rearward to just a little into the bend of the hook and above the hook barb with close wraps.
  2. Tie in a piece of Vernille or micro chenille with a one inch tag extending forward using a pinch wrap.
  3. Secure the chenille tag by making tight spiral wraps forward up to the hook eye but leave about an eyelet space so you don’t crowd the head. Make a couple wraps to secure the chenille then trim off any excess chenille.
  4. Tie in a length of Estaz in at about where you started your thread. Then bring your thread forward to about one eyelet space from the eye.
  5. Make 2 -3 wraps forward of Estaz. Make a small thread head, clip the tag end of Estaz, whip finish, and cut the thread. Trim the chenille tail so it is about 2 inch. Long
  6. This is an optional step. You can take a lighter and melt the end of the chenille to a point. This doesn’t affect the fish catching ability of the fly, just makes it look nicer to the fisherman.


TIE UP A DOZEN OR TWO – AND GO FISHING*** But remember to practice C.P.R. (CATCH – PICTURE – RELEASE)