Pink Lady Sucker Spawn

 Requested Fly Tutorial 



The Pink Lady Sucker Spawn is just like any other sucker spawn tied with glo bug yarn but this color combination of pink lady and chartreuse has proven extremely effective for steelhead.  This pattern imitates a small cluster of eggs drifting in the current.  This fly does not however imitate sucker eggs (suckers spawn in May) but most likely steelhead or trout eggs.  Because of this flies subdued colors, I like this fly for low water steelhead.  This fly is most effective fished dead drifted in a tandem rig behind a heavier beadhead nymph.

Hook: MFC no. 7045 size12-16
Thread: chartreuse 6/0
Tail: 4 strands of pearl krystal flash
Body: 2 strands of pink lady Glo-Bug Yarn

Pink Lady Glo Bug Yarn is a good color to imitate eggs.  It is a light pink with a chartreuse tint.  Try to use the strands with the more pink color.  You should tie this fly with two strands of yarn when compared to a penny about the diameter of Lincoln's head.  Tie both strands in at once and give each a slight twist (1/2 turn) before forming the loop.  Remember sparse is better.

STEP 1: With your scud hook in your vise, take attach your thread and wrap back to the tie in point.

STEP 2: Take 4 strands of pearl krystal flash and tie them in for the tail.  Trim them so they extend past the tie in point the same length as the hook shank.

STEP 3: Take the two strands of yarn you prepared earlier and tie them in a the tie in point.  Trim off any excess and tie down the butt end with many thread wraps so all you see is chartreuse.

STEP 4: Advance your thread about a 1/8th in.  Take the yarn strands in one hand and bring them forward to the hook eye giving each strand a slight twist.  Form a small loop with the yarn and secure with your thread.

STEP 5: Advance your thread again so it is about 2/3rd the way up the shank.  Take the glo bug yarn again and form a second loop.  Tie down. 

STEP 6: Form a third loop in the yarn to make the last egg.  Secure with thread, build a head and whip finish.  This is a simple fly that should take less than 2 minutes.



The finished fly.



A wet sucker spawn.

Tyler Straight

Custom Tied Steelhead Flies

steelheadflies@me.com

CKOF Website Design

countrykidsonthefly@gmail.com 



Ice Dub Sucker Spawn

Ice Dub Sucker Spawn is a bright highly visible egg pattern for steelhead in high dirty water.  I tie this fly with Glo Bug Bling yarn instead of the regular Glo Bug Yarn. The bling yarn has added flash which makes it more visible to fish.  Tie this fly up in several sizes and color for when the water is slightly off-color.

Hook: MFC 7045 size 10-14
Thread: 6/0
Body: Glo Bug Bling Yarn
Flash: Ice Dub
Colors: pink, chartreuse, orange, blue, egg, peach

STEP 1: With your MFC no. 7045 in the vise. Attach your thread and wrap back to the tie-in-point. Take a 8in piece of Glo Bug Bling yarn, pull the yarn into 3 pieces for size 10 hook, 4 for size 12, and 5 for size 14.  Tie the piece of yarn at the tie-in-point and secure with several wraps of thread.

STEP 2: Form a loop in the Glo Bug yarn as you did for the Blood Dot and Estaz Spawn. 

STEP 3: Take a clump of Ice Dub (the same color as your Glo Bug yarn) and tie it in several more wraps. 

STEP 4: Advance your thread forward and form a second loop in the Glo Bug yarn.  Secure with another 3 wraps of thread.

STEP 5: Repeat 3 and 4 to form a third loop with another clump of Ice Dub between the two loops. Form a small head and whip finish.

Ice Dub Sucker Spawn when wet.
 

 

Tyler Straight

Custom Tied Steelhead Flies

steelheadflies@me.com

CKOF Website Design

countrykidsonthefly@gmail.com 

Crystal Spawn

Crystal Spawn is similar to Sucker Spawn but is tied with diamond braid instead of angora. Crystal Spawn was invented by Pennsylvania steelhead fisherman as a better imitation of sucker eggs.  Crystal Spawn works for steelhead at all times of the year, during both high and low water conditions.  Feel free to use only one strand of diamond braid instead of two for a smaller profile.

Hook: Daiichi 1120 or MFC 7045 Size 10-14

Thread: 6/0 color to match body

Tail: pearl crystal flash

Body: 

Colors: pink, chartreuse, orange, fl. orange (shown), steelie blue

STEP 1: With your Daiichi 1120 in the vise, attach your thread and work your way back to the tie in point. Tie in 3-5 strands of pearl crystal flash as a tail.

STEP 2: Tie in 2 strands of diamond braid, trim off the excess, and make enough thread wraps to completely hide the tag end.

STEP 3: To make the body form a loop in the strands of diamond braid and secure with your thread.

Step 4: Make 3 more loops, whip finish and cut the thread. Crystal Spawn is a simple pattern that can be tied in under two minutes. 

 

Top view.  Note the two rows of diamond braid.



Average steelhead from Chautauqua Creek caught on a pink Crystal Spawn.