salmon fly nymph pattern on steroids

Later ties turned out better, but I had already taken these photos.  Not sure where to use it, the Yellowstone in Montana and a little stream in Northern Utah both have species easily this large.  Actually to be honest I am going to try them on salmon in the Sacramento near Chico along with some equally large glo-bug egg patterns.  I have been on the Sac 5 times this November with no luck.  I dont really expect this to change my luck or anything but it has helped feed the madness.

Nice fly!  I'm sure some big Salmons will find it irresistible 

what fly were you tying?

what fly were you tying?

Its the underwater nymph stage of the Giant Salmonfly or also known as Pteronarcys californica.  Check out salmon flies at http://www.troutnut.com/hatch/969/Stonefly-Pteronarcys-Salmonflies

oh ok i know what a salmon fly is there are just so many flies...

What size are they?

oh ok i know what a salmon fly is there are just so many flies...

What size are they?

Large versions of this species can be in the 2 to 3 inches long range.

oh i was asking what size are the ones that you tied.
sorry about that poorly phrased question.

oh i was asking what size are the ones that you tied.
sorry about that poorly phrased question.

the one in the picture is 3.25 inches long

wow i feel like an idiot, did not even see that it was on a ruler in the picture...

Not bad.  Try tying a little more bulk in the thorax.  I would also tie a cone shaped bead head in the front to get that puppy down fast. 

The body is all black, much thicker too. I use rubber legs so they move alot.

The Deschutes River in Oregon. Huge salmon fly hatches.
Toss that thing in any bass pond too.

Upper Klamath river has a well known hatch of the monster salmon flies too (Pteronarcys californica). Hatch usually goes off around Memorial day. I fished the Klamath section that runs through the Ca/Or border since I was a kid and it's stupid good fishing at that time.

I always found though that if the salmon flies and the golden stones were out at the same time the fish would seem to eat the golden's more. Salmon flies are always out first with the Goldens about a week behind.

Some peeps on some other fly fishing boards have seen a few salmon flies on the Yuba or Feather I think this year too. Not epic hatches like the Deschutes, Yakima or Klamath but it's a good sign as the nymphs require excellent water quality.