Rhea Steelhead Muddler

For steel...

Over the years, the flies in my steelhead arsenal have gotten progressively smaller and I fish them in the middle to upper column. For the Salmon River, I've settled on flies in the 2-3 inch range as my preferred size because thats where I've had the most success. With that in mind, I am always tinkering at the vice with new patterns. This is one I am confident will produce this fall and winter. A little twist on a classic I'll call the Rhea Steelhead Muddler...

Materials List:

Orvis Salmon Wet Fly Hook (or tube)

Danville 140 Denier 

Large Mirage Tinsel

Danville Large Gold Wire

UV Polar Chenille

Mallard

Rhea

Elk Hair

Build a thread base and take it to the point of the hook...

Tie in wire and bend out of the way...

Tie in tinsel and wrap down the bend and two thirds the length of the shank...

Evenly wrap the gold wire forward and tie off...

Tie in and wrap UV polar chenille making sure to constantly fold the material back like your wrapping marabou...

Create a dubbing loop. I'll wet the chenille to keep it out of the way from interfering with the rhea.

Cut off about 20-30 rhea fibers and place in the dubbing loop...

Use your scissors or bobbin to evenly space out rhea...

Trim.

Spin.

Untangle.

Wrap, making sure to constantly fold rhea backwards...

Tie in mallard and make two wraps...

Prepare thread base for elk hair...

Be sure to pull out all the guard hairs...

Spin the clump of deer hair evenly around the shank...

Fold back, tie off, and finish your fly...

Trim head...

Go swing...