How to Tie Red Salmon Flies

Sockeye salmon are also known as red salmon because they turn bright red when they return to the streams and rivers to spawn. Red salmon do not respond to flies and lures unless you place them right in front of the salmon. Instead of buying pre-flied ties, you can tie your own red salmon flies to help them fit your specific needs. Salmon flies come in all different colors and patterns, and are more complicated than some other flies. A salmon fly is generally composed of 10 to 12 parts, but can vary depending on the pattern you use.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly-tying vise
  • Bobbin
  • Hackle pliers
  • Fly pattern
  • Fly-tying thread
  • Hook
  • Floss
  • Ostrich herl
  • Tinsel
  • Feathers
  • Head cement
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Instructions

    • 1

      Insert the bend of the hook into the fly-tying vise. The vise clamps to a tabletop and holds the hook so both hands can remain free. A size 6 hook is ideal for red salmon flies. Not only is the hook heavier, which helps weigh down the fly in the water, but it is also strong in terms of hooking the red salmon. A heavier fly is more likely to get to the depth where the red salmon are swimming.

    • 2

      Wrap thread around the shank, or straight part, of the hook. Use the bobbin to hold the thread so that it can hang when you are not using it, which will weigh down the wrapped thread and keep it from unwinding on the fly.

    • 3

      Tie the tag and tip. Tying is used to describe securing the material with the thread before wrapping the material and securing it again with the thread after you finish. Wrap 3 inches of tinsel 1/8 of an inch down the shank from the bend of the hook and secure it with thread. Do the same thing for the tag, using floss as the material, and extend the wrapping starting at the tip and moving forward another short distance down the shank and then back to where you began before tying if off.

    • 4

      Attach a tail in front of the tip. Tie the tail onto the top of the shank by wrapping it with thread three times. The edges of the tail should extend in the direction of the bend of the hook.

    • 5

      Wind the ostrich herl over the tail to form the butt. Tie the herl in front of the tag and wind it six times before tying it off and removing the excess.

    • 6

      Tie tinsel in front of the butt. The tinsel, thin metallic wire acts as the ribbing material and you will use it in step 7.

    • 7

      Tie in 6 inches of yarn on the body. Wind the yarn down the length of the shank, starting ¼ inch from the hook eye. Wind it down to the butt and then wind it back to where you started. Use thread to secure it to the hook. The body should have a tapered shape. Wind the ribbing down the length of the body five times, leaving space in between. Secure it with the thread.

    • 8

      Tie in the throat. Choose a feather for the throat such as neck hackle feather. Using the hackle pliers if you need to when handling the feathers, tie in the throat feather where your thread is hanging so the feather extends halfway down the shank.

    • 9

      Tie in wings over the throat. Use feathers, such as mallard flank sections, for the wings. Tie in two matching sections over where you tied in the throat. Remove the excess.

    • 10

      Create a tapered head. Wind the thread toward the eye, creating a tapered head. Use a whip finish knot to tie off the head.

    • 11

      Apply head cement to the head. The cement acts as a varnish and makes the head appear shiny.