This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Van Sant Steelhead Fly.
The fly pattern is found in John Shewey’s Classic Steelhead Flies, page 178.
Shewey attributes this steelhead fly to Josh Van Sant, Jr. (1861-1950) of Eureka, CA.
The fly is remeniscent of popular trout wet flies of the early to mid-1900s, namely those found in Ray Bergman’s Trout. In fact, the fly is similar to the Scarlet Ibis, but tied with peacock for the body.
Materials
Hook:
Steelhead iron
Tail:
Red hackle fibers
Body:
Peacock herl
Hackle:
Red schlappen
Wing:
Red goose primary section
Tied on a size 6 Mustad 36980.
Enjoy…go fish!
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