Alaska Flyfishers
Fly of the Month
by Rich Johnson



JULY'S FLY: The Flashfly

This fly is also called the Karluk Flashfly after the Karluk River on Kodiak Island and is essential in anyone's vest when targeting Pacific salmon. It is particularly effective when fish are fresh from the ocean. This is best drifted with quick erratic strips. The original pattern was tied in red and silver but can also be tied in orange and silver, green and silver, pink and silver, purple and silver or gold and black. Some say this pattern is a fly rod Pixie.
Thread: 3/0 red
Hook: #2/0-8 #3407 or equal
Lead: .025 or .030 Tail: Flashabou, Silver
Body: Diamond Braid, Silver
Underwing: Calf tail or Bucktail, Red
Wing: Flashabou, Silver Hackle: Saddle, Red

Wrap lead on the shank from above the hook point to two eye widths behind the eye. Wrap the thread back and forth to create a taper at both ends of the lead.
Attach a short (hook gape) Flashabou tail. Tie in the Diamond Braid along the top of the underbody, bringing your thread to the front of the body.
Wrap the Diamond Braid forward. Tie down and trim excess. Coat the body with a quick drying polish or head cement. (Diamond Braid unravels when nicked or cut).
After the body coating is dry, tie in a sparse underwing of calf tail. The length should not extend past the tail.
Using about twice the volume as the tail, tie in the Flashabou wing. Center the wing over the calf tail underwing. Tie off and wrap a base for the hackle.
Tie in the hackle by the tip.
Wrap the hackle as a collar and tie off.
Trim the hackle and whip finish.

Previous Flies
June: Comet
May: Everglow
April: Battle Creek Special
March: Pearl Marabou Smolt
February: Crystal Egg Wooly Bugger
January: Tangle Lakes Teaser
December: Bead-Head Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle

Home | About | News | Alaska | Forum | Gallery | Links | Store | Membership

Send comments or questions to webmaster@akflyfishers.org
Photos and text by Rich Johnson, used by permission.
Copyright © 1997, All Rights Reserved.