Newsletter this time
- Unveiling the Mystery of Fly Colors in Salmon and steelhead Fishing
Discover some of the secrets behind the hues that attract salmon and how to make the most of your fly selection. - Revolutionary Nymph Fishing Gadget
Introducing a game-changing tool that will elevate your nymph fishing experience. - Early Christmas Discount
Get ahead of the holiday rush with exclusive savings on our top fishing gear—just in time for gifting (or treating yourself!).
If you join our newsletter you will also be able to get special dicount offers feel free to join newsletter
Fish see colour: Anadromous species, such as salmon and trout, have highly specialised colour vision adapted to their environment. They can perceive colours like red, green, and blue, and their specialised vision also allows them to detect UV wavelengths, which aid them in locating prey and evading predators. Consequently, the colours of our flies play a crucial role, as specific shades can be particularly effective in attracting fish.
Above: The legendary Jock Scott, regarded as an iconic pattern in the world of fly tying, is believed to have been created by the ghillie Jock Scott. The story goes on to say that he tied the fly while crossing the North Sea from England to Norway, travelling with his employer, Lord Scott. This famous pattern has become a must-have fly pattern for salmon anglers worldwide.
Design of the Centuries
Victorian salmon anglers were pioneers in crafting some of the most striking and intricate salmon flies in history. These avant-garde designs sometimes incorporated as many as 30 different exotic, contrasting feathers, shimmering metal wires, and silk threads dyed in every imaginable hue to form flies that were as visually stunning as they were effective.
Bridging tradition and innovation
The enduring success of these classic patterns that lasted for many decades lies in their exceptional craftsmanship and the use of organic materials like feathers and wool, renowned for their ability to entice trout and salmon into biting. Victorian anglers not only mastered the art of fly tying but also understood that specific design elements and vibrant colour schemes could significantly enhance their ability to catch salmon. These innovative insights laid the foundation for modern fly patterns and fly-tying techniques. Their legacy continues to thrive in the salmon fly patterns we tie onto our leaders today, bridging tradition and innovation.
The Role of Color in Salmon and steelhead Flies
Bright yellow was a key colour in Victorian fly patterns and remains a staple in modern salmon and trout flies. The yellow flies are particularly effective one or two days after a flood and especially effective in rivers with slightly murky water. Fly: Bulldog # 7/0
The bright red tag has become a timeless feature in salmon and trout flies, frequently used in modern low-water patterns and those patterns designed to be fished near the surface. Often paired with a bright yellow or green wound tag, it creates a striking and highly effective design. Fly: Black Doctor # 2/0
Shimmering threads in gold or silver add a subtle yet effective glimmer to a fly. In many cases, a small amount of shimmering material has a greater impact than larger quantities, providing just the right amount of sparkle to attract fish.
The iridescent peacock feather, a key feature in countless fly patterns, holds an undeniable allure for salmonids. Green peacock herl, in particular, is a versatile material that elevates nearly any salmon or trout pattern, adding both visual depth and irresistible attraction.
The dual-coloured body—featuring a lighter-coloured rear and a darker front—is a well-established design used by both trout and salmon anglers. The Rusty Rat originated by East Coast fly tier Mr Joseph Clovis Arseneault in the 1940s is a prime example of how 20th-century anglers drew inspiration from traditional salmon fly patterns like the Jock Scott pattern.
Black and white contrasting feathers are an evolutionary design found in birds, used to camouflage them into their surroundings and break up their body’s outline to avoid detection by predators. Such camouflaging pattern is also seen in some water insects. Salmon and trout, no doubt, have developed the ability to identify these contrasting stripes as part of their predatory instincts.
The Jungle Cock feather, once a key feature in Victorian salmon fly designs, brings together a mix of ingredients that effectively can deceive salmon and trout. These fish, like many predators, instinctively target the head and eyes of their prey for an effective strike. The distinct contrast between the bright and dark colours of the Jungle Cock feather, along with the wavy structure, makes this feather a useful tool for anglers targeting salmon and trout
Blue and green are colours that seem particularly effective for attracting fresh trout and salmon. This is likely because salmon and trout entering from the sea have eyes adapted to detect shorter wavelengths, like blue and green, which help them spot prey in the open ocean. As they spend time in the river, their vision gradually adjusts, becoming more attuned to other colours. You can learn more about this fascinating adaptation further down in the newsletter. Fly: Silver Doctor # 11/0
The see-through quality is also a key feature of tube flies designed for surface fishing, such as riffling hitch tube flies and larger patterns like Sunray Shadows. Modern materials like twinkle flash and mylar further enhance this effect, adding a subtle transparency that can be highly effective for attracting trout and salmon. Incorporating these elements into your fly designs can significantly boost their allure and effectiveness.effektivitet.
🍒The Cherry on Top
No discussion about colors for salmon and trout flies is complete without mentioning the importance of the see-through aspect in our flies.
In general, most of our flies are perceived by trout and salmon as some form of edible prey rather than being dismissed as, say, a piece of driftwood or other plant debris found in the water column. A combination of moving hair, dubbed woolen bodies, and other organic materials creates this impression. However, the see-through quality also plays a crucial role in enticing fish to strike—something fly tiers quickly learn when their flies are made too dense or solid.
It’s better to allow light to shine through our flies and the materials they are made of, as this transparency seems to be an essential part of deceiving the salmonids that roam our rivers.
In fly fishing, especially when selecting colours for salmon and sea trout flies, there are certain golden rules that many anglers swear by. However, it’s important to remember that these rules often come with an important caveat: flexibility is key. Fishing conditions are constantly changing, and fish behaviour can be unpredictable. Sometimes, it’s those small adjustments you make that can lead to success. So, yes—follow the golden rules, but don’t hesitate to adapt and experiment as needed.
- Weather Matters The weather conditions have a significant impact on how flies are perceived by salmon and sea trout. On clear, bright days, fish tend to respond better to lighter, more vibrant flies. However, on dark and murky days, you’ll often find that darker fly patterns are more effective at attracting fish.
- Match the Environment The environment where the fish are located plays a crucial role in determining which fly colours will be most effective. For example, if you’re fishing in an area with a lot of foliage, flies that blend in with this natural backdrop tend to work better. On the other hand, if you’re fishing over a grey-tinted riverbed, a grey Bomber fly could be just the thing to catch the fish’s attention.
- Yellow Flies After a Spate Yellow-coloured flies are especially effective a day or two after a spate, particularly in murky rivers. The bright yellow hue stands out in the dim water, making it an excellent choice for fish hiding out in less-than-ideal visibility.
- The Power of Red Red flies tend to become more effective as the season progresses. * Read about this further down in our newsletter.
- Black Flies: A Universal Choice Black flies are a reliable and versatile option in nearly all rivers and conditions. Their adaptability makes them a staple in many anglers’ fly boxes, as they prove effective regardless of water clarity or time of day. It’s important to note that in low-light conditions, such as the twilight “witching hour” before complete darkness sets in, flies are often perceived primarily as black. During these times, slightly larger and darker flies can be especially effective, capitalising on their visibility in the reduced light. This highlights the fact that without light, colour perception changes, making black flies a go-to choice when other options may not stand out.
Yearly variations
As with every season, the most effective fly patterns tend to change. In 2024, White Bombers became my go-to fly, a striking contrast to 2023, when dark green Bombers produced the best results.
The reasons behind these shifts are difficult to pinpoint, but they are something most salmon anglers will notice over time. It’s one of the many fascinating mysteries that make our sport so intriguing.
White Tube Bomber the favourite colour for salmon in 2024 – See this Bomber in our shop
Changes in the eye of salmon and sea-run brown trout may explain Why a Red Fly is More Effective Late in the Season.
Throughout their remarkable life journey, both salmon and sea-run brown trout move between two drastically different environments—freshwater rivers and the open sea. Each of these worlds presents distinct visual challenges, prompting these fish to develop extraordinary adaptations that allow them to perceive colours more effectively.
☞ Read the longer story on this subject in our blog on Fishmadman here
We’d love to hear from you! If you have any thoughts or insights about colours in salmon and trout flies, feel free to drop us a message at fishmadman@gmail.com. We’re excited to connect and look forward to hearing from you!
A New Nymph-fishing Product You Should Try
Nymphs for salmon and sea trout
During my summer of salmon fishing, I occasionally switch to a heavy nymph to target sea trout or salmon hiding in secluded areas of the river, often in slow or slack water. For this type of fishing, I rely exclusively on strike indicators. Over the years, I’ve tried a wide variety of them, but this season, I discovered a game-changer.
I purchased a set of indicators from Patrick and Teri Douglas in Belgrade, Montana. Their OROS strike indicators feature a clever foam design with an easily adjustable screw-on, screw-off system. This innovative setup makes them incredibly practical and user-friendly. I was so impressed that we’ve decided to include these OROS strike indicators in our range of fly fishing gadgets.
The version we offer in our shop is the # small model featuring a 16 mm diameter.
See a video on how you attach this smart OROS strike indicator (the strike indicator used in this video is the BIG version) – The one we sell is the SMALL version.
On the subject of nymphs
Starting in 2025, we will be expanding our collection of TDF flies with the addition of two new nymph patterns. The first, the Copper John, is a widely recognized favourite among anglers targeting sea-run brown trout (sea trout) in Argentina. The second is a unique stonefly pattern, inspired by a design featuring two golden brass
See previous newsletter
