Irene Vucko's Flies
April 2022 - Grizzly Spey
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Purple, Textreme, 8/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fluorescent Purple Floss
Tail: Chartreuse Pheasant Crest
Butt: Peacock Herl
Body: Rear Half; Charcoal floss, Front Half; Grey Seal Dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Grey Pheasant Rump, palmered from the half point
Collar: Purple Teal & Black Hen Hackle
Wing: Blue Grizzly Hackle tips, topped with Chartreuse Pheasant Crest
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
March 2022 - Freedom For Ukraine Intruders
Thread: Blue textreme, 6/0
Eyes: Gold beaded chain (optional)
Sacrificial shank, Senyo intruder wire, Trailer hook
Rear Station:
Tag: Peacock Mirage Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Yellow Seal Dubbing mixed with Gold Dubbing
Hackle: Yellow Marabou, followed by Chevron Sunburst Pheasant Rump.
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
Body: Gold Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Blue Seal mixed with Blue Ice Dubbing
Hackle: Kingfisher Blue Marabou, followed by Chevron Kingfisher Blue Pheasant Rump, Blue Amherst & Rhea Collar: Black Hen Hackle
Wing: Blue Grizzly Hackle tips
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
February 2022 - Freestyle Spey
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Hot Orange, Textreme, 8/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fluorescent Orange Floss
Tail: Yellow Pheasant Crest, topped with Pink Pheasant Tippet
Butt: Ht Pink Ostrich Herl
Body: Rear Half; Red Floss Front half; Hot Pink Seal Dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Red Chevron Pheasant Rump, palmered from the half point
Collar: Pink Guinea
Wing: Purple Hackle Tips
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
January 2022 - Flame Tube
Hot Orange textreme, 6/0
Tube
Rear Station:
Tag: Peacock Mirage Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Yellow Seal Dubbing with a bit of Orange Ice Dubbing
Hackle: Orange Marabou, Orange Amherst and a collar of Orange Chevron Pheasant Rump Marabou
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
Body: Gold Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Fl. Pink Seal mixed with Hot Pink Ice Dubbing
Hackle: 1 turn Hot Pink Marabou, 1 turn Purple Marabou, followed by Black Hen Hackle
Flash: Fuschia krystal Flash, Copper Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
December 2021 - Minnow Intruder Tube
Olive textreme, 6/0
Tube
Rear Station:
Tag: Peacock Mirage Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: White Seal Dubbing with a bit of Purple Ice Dubbing
Hackle: White Marabou, Green Amherst strands
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
Body: Lavender Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Purple Seal mixed with Purple Ice Dubbing
Hackle: Purple Marabou, topped with green Amherst Strands
Collar: Black Hen Hackle
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
November 2021 - Lady Coachman
Hook: TG Salmon Hook,
Thread: Olive Textreme, 6/0
Tag: Small Oval Silver Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fl. Pink Globrite floss
Tail: Hot Pink Pheasant Crest
Body: Peacock Herl, Hot Pink Floss with fine oval silver tinsel rib, Peacock Herl
Underwing: White Polar Bear
Wing: White Hackle Tips
Cheek: Blue Hen Hackle
Throat: Pink Hackle
October 2021 - Winters Hope Intruder
Hot Orange textreme, 6/0
Shank, Senyo Intruder Wire, Trailing hook
Rear Station:
Tag: Peacock Mirage Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Yellow Seal Dubbing with a bit of Orange Ice Dubbing
Hackle: 1 turn Yellow Marabou, followed by Orange Marabou and Hot Pink Hen Hackle. A few Amherst Strands
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
Body: Gold Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Fl. Pink Seal mixed with Purple Ice Dubbing
Hackle: 1 turn Kingfisher Blue Marabou, followed by Purple Marabou, Blue Amherst Strands and Black Hen Hackle
Flash: Blue Veniard Krinkle Mirror Flash
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
September 2021 -Freestyle Spey
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Olive Textreme, 6/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Body: First half- Soldier Blue Floss, Second Half- Grey Seal dubbing mixed with purple ice dubbing
Hackle: Gray Schlappen
Collar: Teal Hackle
Wing: White Hackle tips
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
August 2021 - Marabou Leech
Aqua Flies Jig Shank, 25mm
Shor Tungsten Slotted Bead
Senyo Intruder Wire
Trailing Hook
Tag: Fluorescent Green Glo Brite Floss
Body: Red Floss
Wing: 4 bunches of Black Marabou & Krystal Flash, tied on top, and spaced evenly along the body
Collar: Black Hen Hackle
July 2021
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Hot Orange, Textreme, 8/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fluorescent Orange Floss
Tail: Yellow Pheasant Crest
Butt: Orange Ostrich Herl
Body: Cerise CWO Merino Spey Dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Pink Chevron Pheasaboo, palmered from the half point
Collar: Teal
Wing: Hot Pink, & Orange Hackle tips, topped with darker Pink Pheasaboo and Jungle Cock
June 2021 - Pheasaboo Bugger
Hook: Salmon Hook, mounted with bead
Thread: Black Textreme, 8/0
Tail: Purple Pheasaboo, 2 strands of Copper Flash
Rib: Copper French Wire
Body: Peacock Simi Seal dubbing, & Purple Pheasaboo, palmered
May 2021 - Black Ghost
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Black Textreme, 8/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Tail: Yellow Hackle Fibers
Body: Black Floss
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Throat: Yellow Hackle Fibers
Wing: White Hackle Tips, Jungle Cock
April 2021 - Black Nose Dace, variant
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Claret Textreme, 8/0
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fluorescent Red Floss
Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Peacock Black Ice Dub, mixed with Black Seal dubbing
Hackle: Chevron Black Pheasant Rump
Collar: Black Hen Neck Hackle
March 2021 - Winter Spey
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Orange
Tag: Silver Oval Tinsel
Hot Spot: Fluorescent Pink Floss
Tail: Yellow Pheasant Crest, Topped with Orange Pheasant Tippet
Butt: Orange Ostrich Herl
Body: First half- Orange Floss, Second Half-Orange Seal dubbing mixed with orange flash dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Red Chevron Pheasant Rump, Palmered over the seal dubbing
Collar: Purple Teal Hackle
Wing: Purple Hackle tips
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
February 2021 - Simplified GP
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1/0
Thread: Red
Tag: Small Oval Gold Tinsel
Tail: Orange Polar Bear topped with Orange Pheasant Tippet
Body: First half- Red Floss, Second Half-Orange Seal dubbing mixed with orange flash dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Gold Tinsel
Hackle: Red Chevron Pheasant Rump, Palmered over the seal dubbing
Wing: Red Chevron Pheasant Rump, tied flat
September Fly -
Autumn Skies (variant)
A classic John Shewey Steelhead pattern... The original recipe calls for a purple goose shoulder wing with a thin strip of red goose in the middle of the wing. I opted for a flat wing using purple pheasant rump.
Hook: Mustad Salmon
Thread: Red
Tag: Flat silver tinsel
Rib: Fine oval gold tinsel
Butt: 1/2 Orange floss, 1/2 Flame Red floss
Body: 1/2 Red seal dubbing, 1/2 Purple seal dubbing
Hackle: Red pheasant rump palmered over red seal, Purple pheasant rump palmered over purple seal
Throat: Black pheasant rump
Wings: Purple pheasant rump, tied flat
August Fly - Midnite Spey
Hook: Mustad Salmon
Thread: Blue
Tag: Flat Silver Tinsel & Purple GloBrite floss
Tail: Peacock sword
Butt: Black Ostrich herl
Body: Royal Blue floss & Black Seal dubbing
Rib: Medium Silver oval tinsel
Hackle: Black Pheasant Rump
Throat: Purple Teal
Wing: Black Hackle tips
Cheek: Jungle cock
June Fly - Intruder
Aqua Flies Ultra Rig Kit, 51mm
Thread - Uni-thread, 6/0, Black
Eyes: Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes, Hot Pink
Rear Station:
Tag: Hot Pink Holo
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Fl. Pink Seal mixed with CWO Raspberry Ice Trilobal Dubbing (tied tight and brushed for fullness factor)
Hackle: 1 turn Black Maraboo, followed by Black Pheasant Tippet
Flash: Grey Ghost Krystal Flash, 4 strands
Body: Peacock Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Fl. Pink Seal mixed with CWO Raspberry Ice Trilobal Dubbing
Hackle: 1 turn Black Maraboo, followed by Black Pheasant Tippet
Flash: Grey Ghost Krystal Flash, 4 strands & Pink Glacier Flash/Glow in the dark, 4 strands
Wing: 2 Grizzly hackles
May Fly - A Simple Spey
Hook: TG Salmon Hook,
Thread: Uni, 6/0, Purple
Tag: Small Oval Silver Tinsel, followed by Fl. Red Globrite floss
Body: Back 2/3- Black Floss, Front 1/3- Olive seal, Palmered with Insect Green Pheasant Rump Nature Spirit
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Wing: Pair of Black Hackle Tips and Grizzly Blue Hackle tips
Collar: Teal Flank
Eyes: Un-Real Jungle Cock, Aqua Flies
April 2020 Fly -Hot Pink & Orange
Simple and effective for salmon and steelhead...
Aqua Flies Rigging Kit
Thread - Uni-thread, 6/0, Hot Orange
Tag: Silver Holo tinsel
Body: Hot Pink Holo tinsel
Shoulder: Dubbing Ball - Orange Ice Dub, followed by a Dubbing Collar - Pink seal mixed with Pink Lade Senyo's Fusion Dub
Hackle: Hot Pink Maraboo, followed by Fl. Orange Maraboo
Flash: 4 strands CWO Glacier Flash, Diamonds
Collar: Teal Flank
Eyes: Hot Pink, Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes
Eyes: Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes, Hot Pink
March 2020 Fly: Purple, Black & Blue
Purple, Blue & Black are one of my go to colour combos for Steelhead, on the West Coast and in the Great Lakes region.
Thread - Uni-thread, 6/0, Hot Orange
Hook - Owner trailing hook (size 2, 4 or 6)
Shank- Sacrificial Hook
Wire: Senyo Intruder Wire, Purple
Eyes: Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes, Hot Pink
Tail - Black Bear, Pink Krystal Flash (2 strands)
Rear Station:
Tag: Flat Silver Tinsel
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Blue Seal mixed with Blue Steelie Ice Dub (tied tight and brushed for fullness factor)
Hackle: Purple Pheasant Rump
Cheeks: Jungle Cock Spades
Body: Blue Kreinik Ribbon & Silver French Oval Tinsel
Front Station:
Dubbing Hackle Collar: Blue Seal mixed with Blue Steelie Ice Dub
Hackle: Purple Maraboo, topped with 4 strands of CWO Glacier Flash (Eggplant & Pine River Blue) & 4 Blue Amherst Tail Fibers
Collar: Purple Pheasant Rump, followed by Black Hen Neck Hackle
February Fly: Green Butt Spey, variant
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1
Thread: Red
Tag: Small Oval Silver Tinsel, and Flurorescent Green Floss ribbed with Small Oval Tinsel
Tail: Red Pheasant Tippet
Body: Black Seal Dubbing
Rib: Medium Oval Silver Tinsel
Hackle: Black Heron Hackle, palmered over the black dubbing
Wing: Silver Fox Guard Hairs
Collar: Guinea Fowl
January Fly - PHEASANTBOU SHRIMP
Hook: Salmon Hook, Sz 8 to 1
Thread: Black
Tag: Small Oval Silver Tinsel
Tail: Pink Polar Bear (or Bucktail), Pink Chevron Pheasantboo Hackle fibers
Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Rib: Small Oval Silver Tinsel
Wing: Silver Fox Guard Hairs
Collar: Pink Schlappen, followed by Pink Chevron Pheasantbou Hackle
December Fly - Pink Sparkler Intruder Tube
I have a lot of success with softer colors for Steelhead, both on the West Coast and in the Great Lakes tributaries. It's an easy tie and the color options are endless...
1.25" Tube
Butt: Silver Holo Tinsel
Rib: French Oval Tinsel, silver
Body: Shrimp Pink Flat Braid
Dubbing Ball: Hareline STS Trilobal Dub, Florida Pink
Collar #1: Composite Loop (White Fox, Orange Rhea, White Amherst Tail Fibers), Topped with 4 strands Gold Krystal Flash and 4 strands Pink Mirror Krinkle Flash
Collar: Pink Fox tail in a dubbing loop
Eye: Orange Dumbbell Eyes
November Fly - Intruder Candy Tube
Butt: Silver Holo Tinse
Rib: French Oval Tinsel, silver
Body: Blue Kreinik flat ribbon, & Pink Hackle, palmered
Wing: Amherst Fibers and Blue Flashaboo
Collar: Blue Fox tail in a dubbing loop
Eye: Aqua Flies Intruder Eyes
October Fly- Partridge Spade Variant
Great fly for spooky steelhead!!
Tip: Gold Wire
Tail: Deer body hair
Tag: Wool yarn
Body: Peacock Hearl
Rib: Gold Wire
Collar: Grizzly hackle, followed by Chevron Partridge Hackle
September Fly - Pheasantbou Nymph
Hook: Kona Standard Nymph
Tail: Pheasabou Fibers
Body: Copper Wire
Thorax: 3 strands of Peacock
Hackle: Pheasabou Pheasant (pick the smallest you can find)
Wingcase: Mirage Tinsel and Brown Swiss Straw
August Fly - Pheasantbou Matuka
Wing: 2 Chevron Hackles Pheasantbou feathers
Rib: Silver oval tinsel
Body: Senyo Laser Dub, Black
Collar: White Hackle, Followed by Black Hackle
July Fly- Little Pheasant Wets
Recipe For the Blue Fly (Pink in Brackets)
Body: Peacock Uni-Mylar
Collar: Olive Hackle, Followed by Turquoise Pheasant Rump and Black Salmon Hen
(Hot Pink Hackle, Followed by Hot Pink Pheasant Rump and Black Salmon Hen)
Flash: 2 strands Blue Krinkle Flash
Wing: Small Pheasant Rump Feathers, tent style
Thread: Fire Orange
June Fly - Sunset Spey
Body: Silver Flat Tinsel
Collar:Yellow hackle, Orange Hackle, Red Hackle, and Purple Pheasant Rump (1 to 2 turns each)
Wing: 2 Purple Pheasant Rump Feathers tied on top
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Thread: Fire Orange
May Fly - Elvira Spey
Tag: Silver Tinsel
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet, Dyed Black
Body: Black Floss
Rib: Silver Tinsel
Collar: Black Hackle
Wing: Black Fox, with 2 strands of red grizzly flash
Collar: Black Hen Hackle
Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Pheasantbou Bugger
Tail: 2 strands of gold flash, and a soft, webby Chevron Hackles Pheasaboo Feather
Rib: Gold Wire
Body: Black Hackle palmered over Laser Dub dubbing
Collar: Chevron Hackles Pheasaboo followed by Black Salmon Hen Hackle
Eyes: Extra small gold bead chain eyes
Leeches
