Fly fishing for salmon is a captivating blend of knowledge, skill, and a sprinkle of luck. You could be a master of casting, an expert in reading rivers, and possess an uncanny knack for achieving the perfect drift, but it all comes to naught if your fly doesn’t entice the salmon to bite.
That’s where having the best salmon flies in your fly box comes into play. Let’s dive into the world of salmon flies and uncover the top patterns that should always grace your fly box.
Best Salmon Flies
Cascade Fly
The Cascade fly pattern is a world-class salmon lure, a timeless classic in the arena of fly fishing. Its versatility is commendable, proving effective on a range of salmon species, from chinook in Alaska to steelhead, and even trout fishing in Oregon. It’s a potent weapon against Atlantic salmon as well.
Designed on a size 6-12 double or treble hook, the cascade fly features an orange head, black body, and an orange tail with a glint of silver flash or tinsel. This pattern, which mimics a shrimp/baitfish, is equally effective in high or low water conditions. For optimal results, fish this fly pattern on a swing or with a strip.
Egg Fly – The Glo Bug
The Glo Bug fly is a replica of an egg drifting down the river. When used in the right season, this fly can deliver excep tional results, making it one of the go-to flies for various salmon species in Alaska, including king, sockeye, dolly, chum, pink, and silver (coho) salmon.
This pattern comes in a vibrant array of colors, from pink to orange, blue, and green. Don’t shy away from bold colors, especially if you’re tying your own flies, and use a size 10-14 hook. Fish these egg flies on a natural dead drift upstream, letting them float on the surface or sinking them with a split shot.
Hex Nymph Fly
The Hex nymph is a proven winner when fishing in the mid-west around rivers that flow out of the Great Lakes. It is particularly effective in Michigan, where it successfully imitates a Hex nymph that hatches from mid-June to mid-July, enticing pink, silver, sockeye, and king salmon.
The pattern, tied on a size 10-12 hook, has a greyish body with a bright green head. Fish them on a natural upstream drift, akin to a regular nymph for trout, and add some split shot if needed.
Ally Shrimp Fly
The Ally Shrimp fly, a classic pattern that closely resembles a shrimp, is an orange fly with an orange head and tail, accented with a touch of black and red on the body. It is one of the most effective salmon fly patterns for Atlantic salmon but proves equally successful for other species like chum, sockeye, silver salmon, and even trout. This fly showcases versatility and is adaptable to all types of rivers.
This pattern, usually tied on a size 4-10 hook, should be fished on a swing or with a strip for the best chances of landing a salmon. It’s a strikingly bright fly, with larger sizes suitable for high/murky waters and smaller patterns designed for low/clear water conditions.
Spey Fly
Named after the Spey river in Scotland, the Spey fly is a top performer for Atlantic salmon, especially in deeper rivers experiencing spate conditions. However, it can also be used effectively in shallower waters when tied in smaller sizes. It’s also a good choice for steelhead and other salmon species like dolly or sockeye.
Spey flies are predominantly black, featuring a large wing with a hint of silver flash and red. They are usually tied on a size 4-10 hook, and it’s best to fish them on the swing with a sinking tip or some split-shot to attract a salmon.
Stoats Tail Fly
The Stoats Tail fly is an exceptional choice when salmon fishing in skinny water. Its low profile and dark colors, predominantly black with a hint of yellow and silver flash, make the fly subtly effective in shallow rivers, as it doesn’t startle the salmon.
This salmon fly is tied on a size 6-12 hook and should be swung or stripped across the river mid-season when the water level is low.
Red Francis
The Red Francis fly is an age-old salmon lure that enjoys global recognition. It is particularly effective in Iceland but has proven its worth in various parts of the world. This fly comes in all colors and sizes, from red, black, green, blue to pink, and can be tied on a tube or double hook. When tying, add some weight to the head and make the tails long and ostentatious.
There’s a difference of opinion among anglers regarding this fly. Some believe that salmon are attracted to these flies because they resemble shrimps, while others hold that salmon despise these flies and bite them out of annoyance. Either way, these salmon flies work.
It’s wise to have a few of these flies in your fly box in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can match the water quality and level depending on the season. Give them a try on your fly rod for salmon, at least once in each pool, and swing or strip them in.