Couple of Steelhead SH's.

[Mataura mayfly]

Mustad 36890 Dublin point, Limerick bend, Forged, Turned up looped oval eye, Black. #1/0

Ha, better put a haul on that FF858 and use some thick tippet lest you wear that one in your off-ear. Here in the States at least I'd fish those for big brown trout--and plan to, once I get back to the vise and on the water this autumn.

I was thinking more along the lines of tossing these guys about with one of the big Fenwicks, 98-114- or 116.
Not sure if big Browns would look at them here, maybe in cloudy water, but a bit of a roadtrip and I reckon some of our big Rainbow Trout might swing over and snap at one drifting past.

[Kelly L.]

Jeff, I enjoyed all the photos, and the story. I really liked your reel collection too!

[Mataura mayfly]

Couple more, for Ray, both have Pukeko breast (blue tipped) hackles.



Hook: Same as others, #1/0
Thread: Kinkame purple silk
Tag & Rib: Small UNI mylar tinsel (gold side)
Tail: Woodduck folded slip
Lower body: Tying thread
Upper body: Same Ray supplied purple yarn as before
Hackle: Two large Pukeko breast feathers wrapped separately.
Flash: Plum angel hair (?)

From the front.



Pukeko #2.



Hook: As above
Thread: Black Ultra 280
Tag & Rib: As above
Tail: Centre tip of a Peacock body feather
Lower body: Fine red yarn shank wrapped
Centre hackle: Small Pukeko breast feather
Upper body: 1/4" Rabbit zonker strip, guard hairs cut off to leave blue underfur, tied in by tip of leather and shank wrapped 3-4 turns.
Front hackle: Three similar sized Pukeko breast feathers wrapped at the same time.

From the front.

[letumgo]

Have you ordered a two-handed Spey rod yet?

Very cool flies.

[Mataura mayfly]

Have you ordered a two-handed Spey rod yet?

Very cool flies.

Nah...... have not gotten that far into the book!
Truth be known, I could add fighting butts to some of the big glass rods I have and have a semi-respectable Spey rod..... or just use some of the big old British cane rods I have that have sliding reel rings and long reel seat/grips.

Couple of my buddies from San Francisco have pretty specialised Spey rods they cart all the way over here to use on a specific river for wild Rainbows. Both of them grew up on Steelhead over there, both of them can Spey cast very well. I sedom pick up a rod when they can see me.
But I am not able to spend most my Saturdays casting on purpose made 150' square concrete casting ponds either!
I can get in enough trouble "lazy Spey" casting a single handed rod. With a double hander I would be just dang dangerous.

I might just collect all these up and post them over for you to toss at the locals.

[Kelly L.]

Getting fancy there Jeff. Very nice flies. Thanks for sharing.