Super Spawn

Super Spawn by Jason Akl
article copyright

There is no doubt that egg and flesh flies catch fish in the spring and fall months. Whether it is salmon, steelhead or resident trout being targeted, these types of flies will consistently fool fish into biting down hard. The super spawn is a combination of an egg and flesh fly that uses a few brilliant colors with traditional subdued tones to attract the target fish. A great advantage of these super spawn patterns is that instead of pricey rare materials being used to create sleek profile flies, the spawn flies substitute a variety of differing colors and sizes of fur hackles to create bulky appetizing morsels. Another advantage of fishing these types of flies is that they can take repeated strikes from large toothy critters and still be fishable. The fur hackles used in these patterns comes from spinning hareline dubbing. Hareline dubbing is an invaluable material to fly tiers seeing that it is relatively inexpensive and comes in almost any color imaginable.

These types of flies are fished like any traditional salmon fly streamers, on the swing or dead drift. If needed, these spawn flies can be tied with lead free weight underneath to help get the fly down deep were the big fish are likely to be hiding. Giving these flies a strip or two during the retrieve is a good way to help get even the most stubborn of fish to bite.

Materials Used in the Super Spawn Fly Pattern

Hook: Mustad Salmon Size 4, Turned Up Eye
Thread: Red Uni-Thread 8/0
Butt: White Hareline Dubbing
Body: Orange Hareline Dubbing
Collar: Black and Red Guinea Hackle

1: Start this fly by placing the hook into the vice securely and attaching the thread behind the hook eye. Advance the hook to the point above the barb and form a small dubbing loop with the thread. Place a small amount of white hareline dubbing into the loop and spin a thick fur rope. Wrap this rope forward up the hook shank creating a dense furry body for the fly. In front of the white fur body you just created, form a second dubbing loop but this time place some orange hareline dubbing into it. Spin and wrap this fur hackle up to the point just behind the hook eye. With a dubbing comb, brush the body of the fly and trim with scissors creating a nice tapered look.

2: Tie in the guinea hackle by its tip and wrap it three times around the hook shank. Take a few wraps on top of the hackle collar you just created to give it a swept appearance. Whip finish the thread and cement the head.

author website: visit | author bio