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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.

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    Steelhead Egg-Sucking Leech

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    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...

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    Green Butt

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    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...

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    Babine Special

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

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    Salmon/Steelhead Woolly Bugger

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    You asked for it, we provide; a woolly bugger on a super strong, salmon-friendly hook. The classic pattern is now beefed up for our Great Lakes an...

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    Green Butt Skunk Spey

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    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...

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    Assassin

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    Specialized in Northern California.  The pattern for this fly, originated by Dale Lackey around 1985.   Excellent for fishing California's Klamath...

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    Black Bear

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

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    Purple Reign Muddler

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    A extremely popular steelhead fly across the US. From the upper tributaries of the Columbia to the Erie runs. Purple at times can be the only colo...

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    Freight Train

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

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    PBR Bucktail

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

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    Polar Shrimp

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

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    Blue Charm

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    Another prolific fly pattern, originating from England.  The Blue Charm has found a home on the Miramichi. It is a great bright day pattern for al...

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    Deschutes Madness

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    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...

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    Purple Peril

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    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...

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    Autumn Gold

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    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...

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    Bantam - RIO

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    The Bantam is an excellent late fall/early winter fly for PNW steelhead, with just the right amount of weight, flash, and contrast. It is the perf...

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    Brindle Bug

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    The Brindle Bug was created by Lloyd Silvius in the 1960's on the Eel River. It has become very popular in Southern Oregon and California. Recent ...

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    Cosseboom

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    When one starts thinking about Atlantic Salmon patterns, thoughts usually start right here.

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    Steelhead Skater

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    This top water pattern is an excellent skater for those hard charging steelies, atlantic salmon etc. No bigger thrill in all of fly fishing.

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    Light Out

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    This top water pattern is an excellent skater for those hard charging steelies, atlantic salmon etc.  No bigger thrill in all of fly fishing. Also...

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    Steelhead Coachman

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    One of our favorite summer steelhead patterns. Excellent choice for Columbia River Tribs. One of the most requested patterns in our showroom. 

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    Native Muddler - By Jeff Hollamon

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    A great twist on a classic pattern. Tied on a 2x strong steelhead/salmon hook. Swing it, dredge it, grease it, this fly will produce steelhead! Th...

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    Jack's Klickitat Muddler - Rainy's

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    This juicy muddler minnow can be swung with a sink tip or fished at the surface as a skater. A nearly perfect do-it-all summer steelhead fly for t...

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    Ska-Opper - Solitude

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    Developed as a technique to raise big summer steelhead to the surface. Skate it, or you can twitch or pop it. Steelhead will rise to it Developed ...

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    Last Call - RIO

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    This pattern takes the look of a classic steelhead fly, but tied on a short, stinger style hook. It can be used as a trailer behind a skating steel...

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    Mack's Canyon

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

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    Deschutes Mayhem

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    This is a classic take on the Deschutes Madness.  Adding a softer fox wing and flashy body helps in lower-light situations  This fly swings well o...

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