This is a classic steelhead fly created by a father and son. Here is an excerpt from the famous book by Trey Combs, Steelhead: Fly Fishing to tell the story.
“Ken and his son, George, were driving east to the Skykomish River one January morning in 1936. The sun was coming up over the snowcapped Cascades, a splendor of red, yellow, and white. “Tie me a fly with those colors in it,” Ken told his son. That evening, George used red tying thread to secure a mix of red and yellow hackle, a red wool body, and a white polar bear wing. The completed fly was named the Skykomish Sunrise. George christened the pattern with three winter steelhead from a single pool near Monroe. The day included a seventeen-pounder. The new fly became a sensation.”
Recipe:
HOOK: 7999, sizes 2-8
THREAD: Red
TAG: Flat silver tinsel
TAIL: Red and yellow hackle fibers, mixed
RIB: Oval silver tinsel
BODY: Red chenille. Angora goat dubbing may be substituted.
HACKLE: One red hackle and one yellow hackle, wound together
WING: White calftail
CHEEKS (OPTIONAL): Jungle cock
Paul I love the short history behind a great fly. I hope you do more like this.
Thanks Howard, I appreciate that!
Likewise. These history bites are invaluable for creating good campfire or coffee talk. They also heighten one’s credibility among other fishers. Nice work!
Thanks Sam!