The Washougal Olive
by Elaine Cook
This steelhead pattern is an effective low water attractor. So often, unfortunately, these are the conditions in our local streams. Try this fly with a cast that quarters down and across and to a wet fly swing.
The Washougal Olive
by Elaine Cook
This steelhead pattern is an effective low water attractor. So often, unfortunately, these are the conditions in our local streams. Try this fly with a cast that quarters down and across and to a wet fly swing.
| Hook: | Heavy steelhead salmon/fly with up eye, sizes 2-6 TMC 7996; Partridge M; Mustad 3690 |
| Tail: | Golden-olive calf tail |
| Body: | Gold rope |
| Beard: | Golden-olive calf tail |
| Wing: | White calf tail |
1. Crimp barb.
2. Attach thread two eye lengths behind eye.
3. Lay a 6-inch strand of the gold rope on top of shank, extending beyond rear of hook. Tie in place down shank to spot forward of hook point. Advance thread forward one eye length. Wrap rope forward to thread position, tie in place.
4. Select small clump of calf tail, cutting from tail at base of hair fibers, remove underfur, position on top of shank with tips extending to rear of hook and cut butts at thread tie-in position, wrap forward to butts.
5. Advance rope forward in touching wraps, tie off, cut excess, tie one half-hitch.
6. Turn hook upside down.
7. Select another clump of calf tail for beard and prepare as in #4, attach to underside of shank (which is now top of hook) so that tips extend to rear of body, cut excess, do one half-hitch.
8. Reposition hook into standard position.
9. Select medium amount of calf tail for wing and prepare as in #4. Position on top of shank so that tips extend to tip of tail. Tie in place, the first thread wrap around just hair and other wraps around both hair and shank, cut excess, apply drop of Zap-A-Gap to tie in thread wraps.
10. Tie thread head, covering butts of calf tail, whip finish, cut thread. Apply drop of 5-minute epoxy.