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June 2001
by Rich Johnson
Chenille Egg
Notes: For the summer months (there are only three of them in Alaska) we will be demonstrating different styles of egg patterns. Starting with the easiest and finishing with the dreaded Glo-Bug style. In between I'll discuss a material that hasn't received a lot of fanfare, but has some unique characteristics that make it a bit more effective when size is important. Yes, fish in Alaska can become selective on eggs. Especially by August when they've seen about a zillion of them, both real and imitations. Color and size do matter.
Each salmon species has a unique egg. It will serve you well to know what species eggs you are imitating before you make a selection out of your box. Sockeye are the most prevalent on the Kenai Peninsula stream where I fish. Their eggs are approximately 5mm in diameter and are a deep oranges/red. Eggs that don't stay in the redd (spawning gravel) often die and turn more pinkies. It is this color that the fly this month most closely imitates.
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Hook: Specialty Egg hook, or any short shanked hook
Thread: White, or color to match body
Weight: optional, 4 wraps
Body: Chenille, Shell Pink (or color of choice)
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1) I like to use a Dai Riki #135 for my egg flies. It has an extra short shank, heavy wire, and it is curved and offset, giving me a more gape and a more positive hook set. I have used the "regular" egg hooks and am not fond of them. Truth be known, you can tie egg patterns on almost any standard wet or dry hook and they'll work.
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2) Start your thread a short distance behind the eye and attach your chenille.
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3) Make three (3) wraps to the rear with the chenille. each wrap should just butt up against the previous wrap.
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4) Bring the chenille forward with two (2) wraps, placing each wrap in the middle of the three wraps to the rear. (Think of this like stacking logs)
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5) As you complete the second wrap forward, and the chenille is coming up from the bottom on the near side of the fly, angle the chenille sharply back and place a wrap over the top and around the back of the fly.
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6) As that wrap comes up from the bottom, angle the chenille sharply forward and place the last wrap tightly over to the backside of the eye.
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7) Secure the chenille with a few very tight wraps working the thread into the core of the chenille. Trim the chenille and clean the fuzz from in front of the wraps. Secure with a couple more wraps and whip finish.
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8) This color chenille egg is known as the Ilimana Pinkie and is probably the most popular color used by anglers. However, a good egg pattern box has a variety of colors from fuchsia to fluorescent orange. One of my favorites for later in the season is from shell pink/white variegated chenille, an egg I've named Peaches & Cream. I also find that a pale yellow will work well. (Hmm, I wonder if it's corn?) Anyway, have fun at the vise and remember, in Alaska eggs are the hatch and size, color, and presentation will make a difference in your success.
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