The freshwater salmon patterns for our area are constructed on size 2 - 6 hooks and are weighted either through the use of medium chrome dumbbell or bead chain eyes or with .030 lead wire wrapped around the shank of the hook one and a half inches. Bright and flashy materials are commonly used by our guides and are very popular throughout Alaska. Key colors to look for when buying materials would be chartreuse, fuchsia, fluorescent and standard pink, red, purple, yellow and orange. We construct numerous patterns using "Flashabou" which can be purchased in singly or as a five color mixed card.

  The patterns devised by our guides are based on the natural feed found in our brackish water systems, due to the fact that the majority of trout are fished in streams on the tidal water estuaries. Their natural feed consists of small shrimp, salmon & trout fry, salmon eggs and the flesh of spawned out salmon. Occasionally, they will rise to flies on the surface, but more often they settle for sweet flesh over crunchy bugs. Most of our patterns are constructed using the same materials as our salmon patterns, but on a smaller hook ranging from size 4 to 12. Again, the majority of our patterns are weighted with either small bead chain eyes or with lead wire.

  Common saltwater patterns are constructed imitating herring, squid, crab and needle fish which are commonly found throughout our region. When tying these patterns you should consider three different weight options due to the depth variance per species. These patterns should be tied on stainless steel hooks ranging in size from 1 to 3/0.

  The pattern books that we have found to be filled with attractive flies for our area are titled "Flies, The Best 1,000" by Randy Stelzer, "Fly Patterns of Alaska" by The Alaska Flyfishers and "Umpqua Fly Patterns" by Randall Kaufmann. All three of these books as well as tying materials can be purchased through the Angler's Workshop. You can contact them at 360-225-8641.