Unlock the secrets of Washington State's waters with expert fly patterns, practical advice, and region-specific tips that will take your fly fishing to the next level. From trout to steelhead, this guide offers essential knowledge tailored for the Pacific Northwest angler.
About as often as the wind favors your back cast, a book comes along that not only changes the way you fly fish but reawakens your appreciation for the art inherent in so many aspects of the sport. For me, one of these books was "Flies of the Northwest, Completely New Edition" by Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club.
It’s as far from a generalized fly fishing guide that you can possibly get. This deceptively small book with its spiral binding speaks directly to the experiences and needs of those of us who fish here in Washington state and throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Currently in its second edition, the fly patterns included are tested and proven in the same waters many of us here at Olympic Fly Fishers so often frequent. With vibrant illustrations and complete recipes, it’s tailored to the unique challenges of Washington state’s lakes, rivers, and the Puget Sound.
The detailed tying instructions and the historical context provided for each fly make it easy for you to understand not just how to tie the flies it covers, but also when and where to fish them for the best results.
That this book is touted in our club's Beginning Fly Tying class each winter underscores its importance. It serves as a foundational text that helps new tiers build the skills and knowledge needed to tie flies that are optimized for the specific conditions they’ll encounter on our local waters.
Tailored to the way you want to fish
Sections are broken into types of flies, like mayflies, chironomids, stoneflies, and a personal favorite of mine, leeches. Detailed advice on presentation is included in each section. For example:
“Leech patterns are usually fished slow and deep with a jigging retrieve or a slow, steady hand twist. An active retrieve with twitching, pumping and varying speeds may be the ticket in stillwater. In streams, cast the fly across and upstream, then mend the line to keep it drifting sideways to the current or bounce it off the bottom, dead-drift.”(1)
The book also includes sections on specialized types of fly fishing, like fishing the salt, fly fishing for sea run cutthroat, and fly fishing for salmon in both fresh and salt waters. This includes recipes for unique patterns like the Beach Bug and Musselbed Mino.
“Make sure your tackle is properly assembled, because any saltwater fish over three pounds is going to test the integrity of your backing splice.”(2)
If you’re new to the sport, this is great advice to cut your teeth on. If you’ve been fishing all your life, it’s a great reminder and a prompt likely to trigger memories of a lesson learned that, with time, is now something you can fondly recall as you shake your head and laugh. That’s the power of this book.
…and that’s before you even start thinking about the fly patterns.
Tailored Fly Patterns for Washington State’s Waters
The book's extensive catalog of over 200 fly patterns is particularly valuable for those of us who fish the diverse environments found throughout Washington. That’s because it was written by a group of those same fishers.
Whether you’re on a tranquil lake in the Cascades, a fast-flowing river like the Skagit, or the saltwater expanses of the Puget Sound, this guide offers flies that are proven to be effective in these specific settings. These include:
Sculpzilla
The Sculpzilla is a must-have pattern for any serious angler targeting trout and steelhead in Washington’s rivers, particularly the Yakima or the Skagit. Its ability to mimic sculpins, which are abundant in these waters, makes it a highly effective pattern. Olympic Fly Fishers members also appreciate its performance in deeper, faster waters, where it can stay in the strike zone longer.
Parachute Adams
This fly is particularly useful for all the stillwater anglers within the club, especially those fishing high-altitude lakes where midge hatches are common. The Parachute Adams, effective in sizes 18-22, is perfect for those calm, clear-water days when fish are rising delicately to midges—an experience many of you might have had at lakes like Pass Lake.
Green Butt Skunk
When it comes to fishing for steelhead in the rivers of Washington, such as the Hoh or the Clearwater, the Green Butt Skunk is legendary. It’s a staple for spey fishermen, offering reliability in challenging conditions. Given the steelhead runs that many Olympic Fly Fishers members target each year, this pattern is a must-have.
Zebra Midge
Perfect for the tailwaters and spring creeks of Washington, like the Yakima River’s upper stretches or the Methow River, the Zebra Midge is indispensable. This fly’s effectiveness in the colder, clearer waters makes it a crucial addition to your fly box, especially during winter and early spring when midges are a primary food source.
Dolly Llama
If you enjoy the challenge of fishing the Puget Sound’s tidal waters, the Dolly Llama offers an excellent choice for targeting sea-run cutthroat and even the occasional steelhead. Its contrasting colors make it highly visible in the brackish waters of estuaries like those found near Hood Canal.
Woolly Bugger
Whether you’re fishing in the lakes of the Olympic Peninsula or the rivers that flow into the Sound, the Woolly Bugger remains one of the most versatile flies. It works equally well on lakes, swung through slow-moving river sections, or even in tidal waters where it can imitate everything from leeches to small baitfish.
Summary
Whether you’re preparing for a trip to Coldwater Lake, gearing up for your next steelhead expedition, or headed out for a quick day trip on the Puget Sound, "Flies of the Northwest, Completely New Edition" offers the expertise that helps you make the most of every outing.
It’s a resource that enhances your fly tying skills. More importantly, it deepens your understanding of the rare fly fishing opportunities available throughout Washington state while invoking memories of past trips.
Pick up a copy today at your favorite online bookstore or direct through the publisher, Frank Amato Publications.
(1) Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club. Flies of the Northwest Completely New Edition. Portland, OR: Frank Amato Publications, 1998, 76.
(2) Inland Empire Fly Fishing Club. Flies of the Northwest Completely New Edition. Portland, OR: Frank Amato Publications, 1998, 108.
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