Of all the species-specific fly patterns, none stands out quite so distinctly as those for steelhead and Atlantic salmon. Perhaps it’s the nature of the fish – large, exotic, reluctant to bite – that caused anglers in two widely separated venues to come to such similar solutions on how to catch them.
Much has been made of the much older liturgy of salmon flies, less so of steelhead. John Shewey, an Oregon steelhead devotee, has taken a long stride toward closing the gap with his lovely book with the simple title, “Steelhead Flies.” Suitable for coffee table placement, it contains a profusion of color illustrations and instructions, along with equally vivid anecdotal material that make the patterns come even more alive. From Frank Amato Publications, 503-653-8108, it costs $49.95.
