The Salmon Fly

Every spring across the trout-laden rivers of the American West, something spectacular happens. As runoff begins to subside and the days stretch longer, an enormous insect emerges from the cobbled riverbeds.  The Salmonfly—Pteronarcys californica, a massive, prehistoric-looking stonefly that ignites the water with life and draws trout to the surface with a reckless hunger.

The Salmonfly is a species of giant stonefly in the order Plecoptera. They grow up to 3 inches long, being one of the largest aquatic insects in North America. Adults are typically dark brown to black with vivid orange or rust-colored markings on the underside.

Pteronarcys californica

 These insects are indicators of pristine river systems, and they require cold, clean, well-oxygenated water to survive. You can find them in rivers like the Colorado, Henry's Fork, Deschutes, Madison, and the Gunnison to name a few.

The Salmonfly’s has a long-life cycle. The nymph stage can last up to 3 to 4 years, the nymph lives beneath the surface, crawling among stones and river bottom debris. They feed on organic matter and slowly mature. As water temperatures climb in late spring, nymphs begin migrating toward the riverbanks in preparation for emergence. During this time, trout will feast on these vulnerable nymphs. At night or early morning, nymphs will crawl out of the water onto rocks, logs, or grasses and split their exoskeletons to become winged adults.

The Salmonfly are massive in size.

Adult Salmonflies have a short terrestrial life of just a week or two. They fly awkwardly, mate, and females return to the river to drop eggs, slapping the water surface and are often easy targets for trout.

For fly fishermen, the Salmonfly hatch is of legend. It is an incredible time of the most explosive dry fly fishing of the year. Witnessing a big trout suddenly rise with abandon and crashing through the water surface to devour these Salmonflies is extraordinary! Timing is everything. The hatch typically runs from mid-May to early July, depending on location, altitude, and weather. Rivers warm from the bottom up, so anglers often follow the hatch upstream over days or weeks.

Dead drifts close to banks, under overhangs, or near logs often draw violent takes from trout lurking for an easy, high-protein snack. If you haven’t experienced this unbelievable kind of dry fly fishing, put it on your fishing agenda to seek and fish it!  See you on the river!

A New Fishing Season!

Manhattan Midge.

Spring is well underway, but the fly tying and prep is always ongoing.  This blog is of fly tying and fly patterns I have been tying for myself, guide trips, and fellow anglers wanting these flies to fish.  I will share some of the many fly ties and some highlights of when and how to fish these patterns.  Some are of my signature designed fly patterns as well as many featured known tiers and their fly patterns. I will keep adding to this blog with fly patterns.  Enjoy and share your thoughts. 

Simple Quill Midge.

The Simple Quill Midge. Cruise by once, eat on the return!  This fly pattern seems to turn heads under some of the harder fishing conditions, but often very productive fished in the springtime.

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Hook:  Togens 3x heavy scud size 20

Thread:  Semperfli Nano Silk 12/0 black

Body: Hand Stripped Quill natural

Wing case: Fluoro filaments clear

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors: Anadromous Fly Company Arrow point straight 4” orange

Manhattan Midge in purple.

Forrest Dorsey’s Manhattan Midge, a true pleaser in the tailwaters as the days are warming up.  There is an absolute mind-boggling phenomenon with the draw of purple to trout.  It seems when the trout want purple, that is all you fish!  This beautiful fly pattern stirs lots of trout particularly in the spring and summer time fishing.

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Hook: Togens 3x heavy scud hook size 20

Bead: Glass small

Thread: UNI-Thread 8/0 purple

Ribbing: UTC Ultra Wire x-small copper

Wing: Fluoro Filaments clear

Thorax: Peacock herl

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor 4” Titanium Rainbow

Rojo Midge.

Another favorite midge pupa, Greg Garcia’s, Rojo Midge. Amazing fly pattern that is alluring to the trout with the red glass bead, gill tuft, and the contrast of red and copper ribbing.  A favorite in the S. Platte River particularly in Deckers and Cheesman Canyon.

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Hook:  Togens Curved Nymph 2x size 18

Thread: UNI-Thread 8/0 Mahogony

Bead: Small red glass bead

Gill: Fluoro Filaments clear

Ribbing: Ultra wire small copper

Collar: Peacock herl

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor 4” Titanium rainbow

Pale Ale Midge.

One of my favorite winter/spring larvae, Juan Ramirez's Pale Ale Midge.  These simple larvae have won the trout on some of the colder winter days as well as moving into springtime.  

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Hook:  Togens Curved nymph 2x barbless, size 18

Thread: UTI-Thread 8/0 Lt. Cahill

Ribbing: Slim Rib, clear

Back: BIC permanent marker, Honey brown

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Arrow point curved 4” chartreuse green

Burnt French Fry Mini Leech.

This Burnt French Fry mini leech is absolute magic when the trout are keying in on leeches or larger meals in the rivers, creeks, and lakes.  I always say, if you haven't fished a leech, you really should!  Leeches exist in lots of rivers, lakes, streams, and creeks.  They are nocturnal and best fished early morning, sunset, or overcast days, as well as having success during the day.  Leeches are quite prevalent usually in the spring, summer, and fall times of the year.  

Hook: Togens Heavy 3X Scud hook sizes 14, 16, 18, and 20

Thread:  UNI-Thread 8/0 black

Segmentation/flash:  Flashabou iridescent pearl extra limp

Abdomen: Pine Squirrel crawdad orange

Head: Synthetic Peacock Herl

UV: Solarez Bone Dry

Matchstick Midge.

The Matchstick Midge is one of my designed midges I duplicated fishing the S. Platte River here in Colorado.  A year-round midge often fished deep in the water column.  A simple midge that fishes well in the tailwaters.  I could not believe how many fish I caught in the San Juan River in New Mexico on this midge!

Hook:  Togens 3X Scud Heavy hook

Body:  UNI-Thread 8/0 Tan

Segmentation: UTC Wire hot orange small

Head:  UNI-Thread 8/0 Mahogany

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Paisy Midge.

I call it, the Paisy Midge. A chironomid in size 20 on Togens 3x Scud hook, tied with Semperfli Nano Silk 30D 18/0 olive thread, UTC Ultra silver wire small, head with UTC waxed thread 12/0 brown.  Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor titanium rainbow scissors for the precision cut.  UV Resin: Solarez Bone Dry clear.  This another favorite midge that fishes well in the spring, summer and fall.

Hook:  Togens 3X Heavy Scud hook size 20

Thread: Nano Silk waxed 18/0 olive

Ribbing:  UTC Ultra Wire small silver

Head: Waxed 12/0 brown

UV Solarez Bone Dry

Mercury Blood Midge in red and black.

The Mercury Blood Midge is a favorite winter midge to fish. It mimics a blood worm larva that are prevalent in our rivers.  One of Pat Dorsey's magnificent fly patterns.  A favorite spring and summer pattern trout cannot resist.  A very easy tie and crazy effective!

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Hook:  Curved nymph 2x size 18

Bead: Clear silver lined glass small

Thread: Uni-thread 8/0 red

Rib: Ultra wire gold, small

Thorax: peacock herl

Scissors:  Arrow point 4” straight orange

The Orange Scud.

I have been studying scuds for some time. Scuds are a staple food for the trout in the tailwaters. When scuds die at the end of their lifecycle, they turn bright orange in color. This makes for a very easy meal for the trout high in protein.  Successfully fished in the summer and fall months, when the trout are focused on the scuds, hang on!!

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Hook:  3X heavy scud hook size 16

Thread: UNI-thread 8/0 fluoro orange

Head/tail: Antron yarn, burnt orange

Body: Ice dub orange

Rib: gold wire extra small

Back: Scud back 1/8” clear

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor 4” titanium rainbow

Paisy pupa midge (Photo coming soon)

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Hook:  3x scud heavy, size 20

Thread:  Nano Silk 18/0, olive

Ribbing: UTC Ultra wire small, silver

Gils: J Fair Ultra fine flash, pearlescent

Head: Semperfli waxed 12/0, brown

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissor:  Anadromous Fly Company Titanium coated spring 4.5” curved

Miracle Midge.

It’s a Miracle Midge that does the trick! Stay warm!  One of my go to midge patterns in the wintertime when fishing is tough, a size 22 or 24 Miracle Midge seems to do the trick!  Also, a favorite in the springtime.

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Hook: Togens 3x scud heavy, size 20

Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0 white

Segmentation: Ultra Wire X-small copper

Head:  Nano Silk 12/0 black

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company TC arrow point curved 3.5” orange

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Bling Midge.

Bling midges are a great midge in the tail waters especially winter. I will often fish it deep as my last trailing midge. My kind of bling.🎣 This simple midge pattern is a fish catcher imitates a midge larva and a winner especially when the trout are keying on midges.

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Hook:  Scud 3X heavy, size 20

Thread: UTC Ultra thread 70 Cream

Gil: Flashabou extra limp

Head:  Nano Silk 18/0

UV:  Bone Dry

Scissors: Razor 4” Titanium rainbow

Black Beauty Midge.

Pat Dorsey's Black Beauty Midge size 24 that can fool a lot of big bucks!  This simple year-round midge pattern has put more fish in my net than any other midge pattern!  One of the easiest midge patterns you must tie and always have some in your box!

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Hook:  Togens Dry Fly size 24

Thread:  Nano silk 30D 18/0 black

Segmentation: Danville fine wire gold

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly CompanyTitanium Coated spring 4.5 straight.

No Mercy Midge.

One of my favorites very effective midge, Phil Iwane's No Mercy Midge. The blend of camel and silver looks like trout champagne.🍾 Happy New Year!  A favorite year-round pattern I often will fish in all of our beloved tail waters.  The CDC tuft movement in the water and the flash of the wire segmentation on the camel is irresistible to the trout!

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Hook:  Togens Scud 3x Heavy, size 20

Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0W, camel

Segmentation: UTC Ultra Wire small, silver

Head:  Nano Silk 30D 18/0, black

Gil: Cul De Canard Tuft, white

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company TC Arrow Point curved 4” chartreuse green

The Anneworm.

Tyler Boroff's Anneworm, red annelid. Red candy for the trout!  When the trout are keying on the red bloodworm, the trout will hit this annelid hard!  

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Hook:  Togens Curved nymph 2x long length size 12

Thread: Glo-Brite 

UV:  Solarez Thin, Hard formula

 Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Titanium Coated Spring Scissors, curved

Foamie Homie Midge.

Tyler Boroff's Foamie Homie, some true trout slayers.

Hook:  Togens Scud 3x heavy hook, size 20

Body thread:  Semperfli Nano silk 18/0 30D brown

Ribbing: Danville’s Fine wire, gold

Flash: Flashabou Magnum pearl

UV:  Solarez Bone dry

Head:  Nano silk 18/0 30D black

Wing: Evazote foam 1/8” white

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor 4” titanium rainbow

Cat's Caddis Larva aka Green Cheeseburger.

Cat’s Caddis Larva with a little Christmas spice

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Hook:  Togens Scud 3x heavy hook size 16

Thread:  Semperfli Nano silk 30D, black

Segmentation: UTC Ultra wire silver small

Body:  EZ Magic dubbing, olive

Head:  Semperfli Straggle Legs black

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry, black

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Razor 5” Titanium blue

The Holo Midge.

Spring is so near! The Holo Midge is a flashy fly pattern an absolute winner in the rivers! In the drift hard to miss, sure to get smashed!

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Hook:  Togens 3x Heavy Scud hook size 20

Bead: Glass small

Thread:  Semperfli Nano Silk black

Body: Holo Tinsel medium pink

Ribbing: UTC Ultra Wire silver small

Wing case: Fluoro filaments clear

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly CompanyTitanium 4” Razor rainbow

Matchstick Emerger.

The Matchstick Emerger, an emerger that has trout saying yes!

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Hook:  Togens Scud 3X heavy size 20

Thread: UNI-Thread 8/0 tan

Segmentation: Ultra Wire small hot orange

Head: UNI-Thread 8/0 mahogany

Wing:  Evazote foam white

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company 4” Tungsten Carbide Razor Titanium Coated

TF Midge.

When winter fishing gets tough, I’ve had great success fishing the TF midge. The quill segmentation along with the fluoro filaments are an amazing attention combo for those picky fish.

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Hook:  Togens 3x heavy scud hook size 20

Thread:  SemperfliNano silk 12/0 black

Body: Hand stripped Quill olive

Wing case: Fluoro Filaments clear

UV:  Solarez Bone Dry

Scissors:  Anadromous Fly Company Titanium coated spring curved

Pink Scud.

Will some trout be my Valentine? Pink scuds, hand tied with love.💕

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Hook:  Togens 3x heavy scud hook size 16

Thread:  Textreme Standard 6/0 fluoro pink

Head/tail: Ice dubbing hot pink

Body dub: Ice dubbing hot pink

Rib: Ultra Wire X small gold

Back: Scud back 1/8” clear

Scissors:  Andromous Fly Company Titanium coated spring curved

(Photo coming soon)

The Smokejumper is midge pupae with a translucent appearance with its silver wire ribbed body. When the pupae emerge, they propel themselves up through the water column using a small bubble of gas to reach the surface from its nymphal state to become a winged adult.

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Hook:  Togens 3x Heavy scud hook size 16

Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0W, olive

Rib: Ultra wire small silver

Wing case: CDC puff, natural

Thorax: Peacock herl

It's a new year of Health, Happiness, and Fly Fishing!

What’s been on your mind as you think about what’s most important in 2025?  Are you focusing on personal goals, relationships, or something else entirely?  I have always been a goal believer to grow, flourish, and create happiness into my life.  Really, none of these desires are anything new, but an ongoing life journey.  Most of my desires for growth are centered around fly fishing truth be told.  How about you?

Having good health enables us to participate and contribute to the fullest of our physical capabilities.  As a serious-minded athlete as a skier and a former competitive motocross racer, I am not naive in getting injured.  When I decided to immerse into my fly fishing endeavors, I presumed fewer encounters of injuries.  To descend freely by the force of gravity, or falling, is an unmistakable injury I have learned no one is exempt from in fly fishing.  Some of our river bottoms are incredibly rock, slippery, and unforgiving.  The natural reaction to falling is often extending our arms and hands, to try to catch oneself, or brace for impact.  

My right nondisplaced scaphoid
wrist waist oblique fracture.

I have encountered a few falls through the years with fishing resulting with broken fingers and even a fractured wrist.  All of which I have recovered and continue to fish and fly tie.  To improve any further falls, weight training particularly legs and core strength along with downhill skiing manifested great equilibrium and stability.  

My right hand with moderate first and third
interphalangeal osteoarthritis from fractures.

For hand grip and finger dexterity strength, for years I use the Grip Master, now the Finger Strengthener - Finger Exerciser for Forearm and Hand Strengthener on Amazon - Hand Grip Workout Equipment for Musician, Rock Climbing and falling Cat in the Hats.

 

Less falls means more days out on the river and being able to tie the best flies for the trout.  Plus, sheer happiness of catching lots of trout in all the lakes, rivers, and creeks.  Stay healthy, happy, strong, and injury free! Happy new year to you!  See you on the rivers!

Happiness and trout!