This fly was the hot leech last weekend, so here’s the pattern. Tied by Matt Stansberry, making his first appearance on the fly tying videos. With 12 collective days in our party swinging for steelhead last weekend, this fly hooked almost all of the fish. Today’s conventional steelhead wisdom says you need a trailing, articulated, short-shank hook. But for my money, you can’t beat the TMC 7999. Something about it just wags in the water. I’ll live with a few short strikes. Don’t be shy with the lead or the rabbit.
Ronald McDonald Steelhead Zonker Minnow
Hook: TMC 7999 size 1/0
Thread: Ultra Thread 140 Denier Pink
Weight: 0.30 lead wire
Flash: Silver Flashabou
Tail/Wing: Barred two-tone rabbit strip
Body: Flat silver Diamond Braid
Collar: Marabou Blood Quill, Fluorescent Flame
Hackle: Red Schlappen
Check out our Oregon Steelhead Fly Pattern Video library.
Looks like a great fly, I’ll have to give it a try!
My new favorite fly.
Not me. Nope. Boycott. Just say no. Sleazy, I think. What? It catches steelhead? Pass the rabbit.
JN