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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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    Steelhead Muddler

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

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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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    Bomber

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    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. ...

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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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    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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    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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    Spey Fly

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

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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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    Purple Angel

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

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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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    Jock Scott

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    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...

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    Red Butt Skunk

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    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...

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    Undertaker

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

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    Coal Car

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

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    Russian River

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    This fly got its humble beginning on the Russian River in CA. This simple bucktail streamer has been known to catch anadromous fish up and down t...

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    Skykomish Sunrise

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

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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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    Caballero

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    Originating in the Pacific Northwest for Steelhead. This older traditional styled pattern has been extremely successful for winter steelhead. Also...

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    Bee Bomber

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    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. ...

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    Silver Hilton

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    An old west coast classic. Just keeps on catching fish after fish! 

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    Surgeon General

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    Legendary summer steelhead pattern, especially on the Deschutes River. Classic color combination and instantly attracts steelhead. Use when swing...

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    Boss

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    Specialized in Northern California. For those day when a dark fly is the first choice, this pattern is heavy with enough color to incite strikes....

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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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    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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    Yewchuck's SK8 or Die - Montana Fly Co

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    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 ...

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