JavaScript is required to view this page.
Skip to content

Big Y Fly Co is a short drive to the Deschutes River; the biggest stronghold for:

Pacific Summer Steelhead

Explore Summer Steelhead Gear

Spey/Switch Lines

Special rods, reels and fish need special lines. These are designed to meet the needs of two-handed steelhead anglers

Pacific Steelhead - Summer Run

General Info: Summer-run steelhead can be found up and down the west coast of the US, but their fortress is the mighty Columbia river and it's tributaries. Rivers like the Klickitat, Deschutes, Grande Ronde and Clearwater are home to the majority of the west's summer steelhead. These fish differ from their winter brethren in the type of flies that they hit. Summer fish are far more likely to move up near the surface to hit a small fly. Winter fish are unlikely to move that far; they usually require a sink tip and a big fly.

Traditionally, summer steelhead are caught by swinging a small fly on a floating line. These are our best traditional summer steelhead patterns, tried and true, tested on the waters of the Columbia River tributaries by employees and customers alike.

Steelhead nymphs can be found on the Great Lakes steelhead page, and bigger swinging patterns can be found on the Winter Steelhead or Chinook Salmon page.

Preferred Rods: 6-7wt switch/spey rods as long as needed for river. Deschutes river, up to 13'6" rods are common. Most anglers would be fine in the Pacific Northwest with a 7wt switch rod between 11'-12'.

FLIES:  These are mostly traditional flies that are used for summer steelhead.  Typically, these are fished on a dry/floating line, swung slowly across the river.  "Hairwing" patterns like the Green Butt Skunk, Freight Train and Polar Shrimp are very popular and work best fished just under the surface on that floating line.

Flies like the Egg Sucking Leech are usually fished with a sink-tip during mid-day if the sun is high and the fish are not coming up.   Slightly bigger flies with longer tails, marabou or rabbit strips are best fished deeper.

Read More

Filters

$
$
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
  • Save 10% Save %

    Steelhead Egg-Sucking Leech

    $1.35
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    $1.35 - $1.35
    $1.35

    The #1 all-time pattern everywhere sea-runs are fished for now tied on a black salmon hook for the Kings, Cohos, Atlantics and large steelies.  A...

    View full details
    $1.35
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    $1.35 - $1.35
    $1.35
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Green Butt

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    This pattern is in everyone's Top Ten Steelhead patterns. The Green Butt Skunk is likely the most well-known steelhead fly in existence.  The Pur...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Babine Special

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A classic pattern featuring two eggs, developed on the Babine River in British Columbia.  Home of perhaps the world's largest steelhead.  This p...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Green Butt Skunk Spey

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    The pattern that is in everyone's Top Ten Steelhead patterns, now tied with modern materials. Originated to catch Salmon in Alaska, it is now pop...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Steelhead Muddler

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    The original muddler minnow is one of the most productive streamers ever made. Steelhead anglers have used versions of the muddler minnow for deca...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Bomber

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Waking flies such as this one are intended to ride on the surface and create enough fuss so that a summer steelhead will be goaded into a strike. ...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Black Bear

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    One of the classic Atlantic Salmon fly pattern, that is now bi-coastal.

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Freight Train

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A popular summer steelie fly on the west coast. Designed by Randall Kaufmann a great bright day fly for fresh steelies!

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    PBR Bucktail

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    Classic construction new color combination. Perfect for steelies, coastal runs, and all salmonoids.

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Polar Shrimp

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Popular from Alaska to Argentina for sea-runs Excellent for fresh arriving steelies, also great for cutts, dollies, coho 

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Spey Fly

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    This is a traditionally styled spey fly with a bit of a modern twist. Great for when color is everything.

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Save 10% Save %

    Winter Hope

    $1.35
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    $1.35 - $1.35
    $1.35

    A classic Northwest fly, vibrant colors that attract Steelhead. Works best with a traditional wet fly swing. 

    $1.35
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    $1.35 - $1.35
    $1.35
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Deschutes Madness

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    An oldie but a goodie. Invented by Dave McNeese, for chasing steelhead, obviously a good pattern for the Deschutes along with many PNW Rivers with...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Purple Angel

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A great west coast summer steelhead pattern, also excellent for coho

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Purple Peril

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Our version of this all-time popular steelhead pattern. We have updated this pattern in 2024 to more closely match the original design. Purple has...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Jock Scott

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Developed in 1854 by none other then Jock Scott. Fished in Scotland and England now for over 150 years, it is now fished the world over, and proba...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Red Butt Skunk

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    So when a classic pattern like the Skunk is invented and time tested, what do fly innovators do?   They improve upon it or at least give it a diff...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Autumn Gold

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A classic pattern for chasing salmon, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Has been known to catch it's fair share of steelhead. Great late su...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Undertaker

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Originally designed by Warren Duncan for Atlantic Salmon, the Undertaker has proven to be deadly for Steelhead as well.

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Coal Car

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A darker version of Randall Kaufmann's Freight train, the Coal Car is a great late day or overcast pattern.

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Skykomish Sunrise

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    This pattern was named after the Skykomish River in Washington. This is a great general bright pattern, that will attract attention. Used in Alask...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Bee Bomber

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Waking flies such as this one are intended to ride on the surface and create enough fuss so that a summer steelhead will be goaded into a strike. ...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Green Machine

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Just maybe the most popular Atlantic Salmon pattern ever invented, by Warren Duncan. See the salmon or steelie chase your fly with this favorite s...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Silver Demon

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    A variation on the old Zane Grey classic pattern designed for the North Umpqua River in Oregon. Excellent for steelies, sea run cutthroats and Atl...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Coming soon

    Summer Run - Solitude

    $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96

    A great fly to swing for Steelhead and Pacific Salmon! Invented by the Rich Youngers. 

    $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96
    Coming soon
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Mack's Canyon

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

    Possibly the most famous Deschutes River Summer Steelhead Fly Pattern EVER Hugely popular with locals. This pattern is a must-have in every Deschu...

    View full details
    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Yewchuck's SK8 or Die - Montana Fly Co

    $5.77
    $5.77 - $5.77
    $5.77 - $5.77
    $5.77

    High-riding mouse pattern that creates a great wake Works well on pike, bass, steelhead and trout.  Skate it, swing it, fish it for anything that ...

    View full details
    $5.77
    $5.77 - $5.77
    $5.77 - $5.77
    $5.77
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Save 10% Save %

    Chou's Moo Shu Muddler - Montana Fly Co

    $4.46
    $4.96
    $4.96 - $4.96
    $4.96
    $4.46 - $4.46
    $4.46

    Productive stinger fly, primarily used for steelhead Sink-tip friendly, but swings great on a dry line too The stinger hooks help grab those short...

    View full details
    $4.46
    $4.96
    $4.96 - $4.96
    $4.96
    $4.46 - $4.46
    $4.46
    Save 10% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.

Compare products

0 of 3 items selected

Select first item to compare

Select second item to compare

Select third item to compare

Compare
Earn 5% Rewards