How to Tie a Salmonfly Dry Fly

Producer: Spawn Fly Fish

The annual emergence of Pteronarcys californica—commonly known as the salmonfly—on rivers across the West represents a biologically significant and highly anticipated event in the fly-fishing calendar. The appearance of these monstrous insects offers anglers the chance to use big surface patterns to target large trout. The conspicuous presence of these large aquatic insects, which can exceed three inches in length, stimulates aggressive surface-feeding behavior, often enticing otherwise reclusive trout to rise.

In this great video, Pete from Spawn Fly Fish teaches you how to create a cool salmonfly imitation that’s based on the classic Amy’s Ant. There’s plenty of foam to keep the pattern floating through rough water, and both legs and antennae to create lifelike movement. There’s nothing complicated about the fly, but it looks remarkably like the real thing. Even if you don’t live near waters with salmonflies, you can use this pattern to imitate your local stonefly species.

Salmonfly
Hook: 2X-long dry-fly hook (here, an Ahrex FW571), size 4.
Thread: Orange, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Adhesive #1: Superglue.
Body base: Orange foam, 2mm.
Underbody/lip: Orange foam, 2mm.
Body/head: Brown foam, 2mm.
Rear Legs: Speckled Brown MFC Centipede Legs, medium.
Antennae: Rusty brown or bedium brown Krystal Flash.
Body: Steelhead Torch Spawn UV Dub.
Rear Wing: Bleached elk hair, cleaned and stacked.
Thorax #1: Bronze Butter Spawn Dub.
Front Wing: Bleached elk hair, cleaned and stacked.
Thorax #2: Bronze Butter Spawn Dub.
Front Legs: Speckled Brown MFC Centipede Legs, medium.
Adhesive #2: Head cement.