Some Common Skagit Flies: Materials, Instructions, and Tutorials

Skagit-style fly fishing often utilizes larger, weighted flies designed to sink quickly and attract fish in deep or fast-moving waters. Below is a selection of ten effective Skagit fly patterns, each with its materials list, step-by-step tying instructions, and a link to a detailed video tutorial.

1. Intruder

Materials:

• Shank: Waddington shank or cut hook shank
• Trailer Hook: Octopus hook, size 2-4
• Thread: Black, 6/0
• Eyes: Lead eyes or dumbbell eyes
• Body: Dubbing of choice
• Hackle: Rhea or ostrich herl
• Flash: Flashabou or similar
• Wing: Arctic fox or craft fur
• Collar: Guinea fowl feathers

Tying Instructions:

1. Shank Preparation: Attach the trailer hook to the shank using a loop of braided line or wire.
2. Thread Base: Start the thread on the shank and secure the lead eyes near the front.
3. Rear Section: Apply dubbing to the thread and wrap to form a ball at the rear.
4. Hackle and Flash: Tie in rhea or ostrich herl and flash material, wrapping them around the shank.
5. Body: Add more dubbing to create the body, leaving space near the front.
6. Wing: Tie in a small bunch of Arctic fox or craft fur over the body.
7. Collar: Wrap guinea fowl feathers in front of the wing.
8. Finish: Build up a neat head with thread, whip finish, and apply head cement.

Video Tutorial:

2. Hoh Bo Spey

Materials:

• Shank: Waddington shank, 25 mm
• Thread: UTC 140 Denier, black
• Connection: Berkley FireLine, 30 lb test, smoke color
• Hook: Partridge Intruder, size 2
• Butt: UV Ice Dub, pink
• Rib & Support: Guinea hen feather, dyed pink
• Body: UV Ice Dub, purple
• Collar 1: Strung or Spey marabou, black
• Flash: Holographic Tinsel, fuchsia
• Collar 2: Lady Amherst fibers, dyed pink

Tying Instructions:

1. Shank Preparation: Attach the Berkley FireLine to the Waddington shank to create a loop for the trailing hook.
2. Thread Base: Start the thread on the shank and build a thread base.
3. Butt: Create a dubbing loop, insert pink UV Ice Dub, and spin to form a rope. Wrap to form a small ball at the rear of the shank.
4. Ribbing: Tie in a dyed pink guinea hen feather by the tip, with the stem facing forward.
5. Body: Dub the thread with purple UV Ice Dub and wrap to form the body, leaving space near the front.
6. Palmered Hackle: Wrap the guinea hen feather in open spirals over the body and secure.
7. Collar 1: Tie in a black marabou feather by the tip, wrap it to form a collar, and secure.
8. Flash: Add strands of fuchsia holographic tinsel on top and sides of the fly.
9. Collar 2: Tie in Lady Amherst fibers around the shank to form a second collar.
10. Finish: Build up a neat head with thread, whip finish, and apply head cement.

Video Tutorial:

This video provides a detailed step-by-step guide to tying the Hoh Bo Spey fly.

Note: The Hoh Bo Spey is known for its lifelike movement in the water, making it a favorite among steelhead anglers.

For more information and variations of this pattern, you can refer to the following resources:

• The Hoh Bo Spey – Tying Instructions
• Hoh Bo Spey - Fly Tyer

These resources offer additional insights and techniques for tying and fishing the Hoh Bo Spey.

3. Dolly Llama

Materials:

• Hook: Streamer hook, size 2-6
• Shank: Articulated shank or cut hook shank
• Thread: Black, 6/0
• Body: Rabbit zonker strips in contrasting colors
• Flash: Flashabou or similar
• Weight: Lead eyes or dumbbell eyes

Tying Instructions:

1. Rear Hook Preparation: Place the hook in the vise and start the thread at the hook eye.
2. Tail: Tie in a rabbit zonker strip at the bend of the hook, allowing it to extend beyond the hook bend to form the tail.
3. Body: Wrap the rabbit strip forward to create a palmered body, then secure and trim the excess.
4. Connection: Attach the articulated shank to the rear hook using a loop of braided line or wire.
5. Front Section: Place the shank in the vise and start the thread.
6. Weight: Secure the lead eyes near the front of the shank.
7. Body: Tie in a contrasting rabbit zonker strip at the rear of the shank and wrap it forward, securing it behind the lead eyes.
8. Flash: Add strands of flash material along the sides of the fly.
9. Finish: Create a small thread head in front of the lead eyes, whip finish, and apply head cement.

Video Tutorial:

This video provides a detailed step-by-step guide to tying the Dolly Llama fly.

Note: The Dolly Llama is renowned for its lifelike movement and effectiveness in attracting predatory fish.

For more information and variations of this pattern, you can refer to the following resources:

• Dolly Llama Fly Pattern

These resources offer additional insights and techniques for tying and fishing the Dolly Llama.

4. Egg Sucking Leech

Materials:

• Hook: Streamer hook, size 2-6
• Thread: Black, 6/0
• Bead: Orange or pink, sized to match hook
• Tail: Black rabbit strip
• Body: Black chenille or dubbing
• Hackle: Black saddle hackle

Tying Instructions:

1. Bead Placement: Slide the bead onto the hook and secure the hook in the vise.
2. Thread Base: Start the thread behind the bead and wrap a solid base down to the bend of the hook.
3. Tail: Tie in a black rabbit strip at the bend, ensuring it extends beyond the hook bend to form the tail.
4. Body: Tie in the black chenille at the base of the tail and wrap it forward to the bead, creating a uniform body. Secure and trim the excess.
5. Hackle: Tie in a black saddle hackle by the tip at the front of the body. Palmer the hackle backward over the body in evenly spaced turns, then secure and trim the excess.
6. Finish: Build up a small thread head behind the bead, whip finish, and apply head cement if desired.

Video Tutorial:

This video provides a detailed step-by-step guide to tying the Egg Sucking Leech fly.

Note: The Egg Sucking Leech is a versatile and effective pattern, particularly for steelhead and salmon, due to its combination of leech-like movement and egg imitation.

For more information and variations of this pattern, you can refer to the following resources:

• Egg Sucking Leech Pattern - Current Works Guide Service

These resources offer additional insights and techniques for tying and fishing the Egg Sucking Leech.

5. Moal Leech

Materials:

• Hook: Octopus hook, size 2-4
• Thread: Black, 6/0
• Body: Rabbit zonker strip
• Core: Braided fishing line or monofilament
• Head: Conehead or bead (optional)

Tying Instructions:

1. Core Preparation: Cut a length of braided line or monofilament approximately twice the length of the desired fly. Thread the octopus hook onto the line and position it at the midpoint. Fold the line, aligning the ends, and secure them in the vise, creating a loop with the hook at the bottom.
2. Thread Base: Start the thread at the folded end of the line and wrap a solid base to secure the two strands together.
3. Body: Tie in the rabbit zonker strip at the base of the thread wraps, ensuring the fur faces rearward. Wrap the zonker strip around the braided line, spiraling up towards the folded end, creating a leech-like body. Secure the strip at the top and trim any excess.
4. Head (Optional): If using a conehead or bead, slide it onto the folded end of the line before tying off the rabbit strip.
5. Finish: Create a small thread head at the top, whip finish, and apply head cement if desired. The fly will have a flexible, articulated body with the hook trailing at the end.

Video Tutorial:

This video provides a detailed step-by-step guide to tying the Micro MOAL Leech fly.

Note: The Moal Leech is renowned for its lifelike movement and effectiveness in attracting predatory fish, making it a favorite among steelhead anglers.

For more information and variations of this pattern, you can refer to the following resources:

• Moal Leech Fly Pattern

These resources offer additional insights and techniques for tying and fishing the Moal Leech.