Salmonfly.Net
Contributing Fly Tyers Series

Basic Tying Instructions

Anatomy of a Fly

Salmon and Steelhead Hooks

Fly Tying Tools

Materials Glossary

Fly Search

Match Flies to Species

Contributing Tyers

Show Your Flies Here

Steelhead Facts

Pacific Salmon Facts

Tips and Techniques

Forum

Site Map

Flies

Issues

Photo Gallery

UCLA Medical Center physician, fly fisherman and fly tyer, Dr. John Glaspy, has been fishing Alaska and Pacific Northwest waters for Pacific Salmon for some time now.  You will discover here that he has the experience to know what works and the creativity to apply that experience to his fly tying. He has developed some unique Alaska flies that are not only attractive, but use a very effective combination of Spey, Wooly Bugger and Egg-sucking Leech materials. If you are looking for  flies for Pacific Salmon, these may be all you need. Before you look at his flies, I recommend that you read what he has to say about them. He has some great tips on how to fish them.

The Deshka Light and Dark are named for the Deshka River where I fish most often, and are used when the water is relatively clear and the weather is either sunny (Deshka Light) or rainy/overcast (Deshka Dark). Bruce's Spey is named for Bruce Knowles, friend, famed Alaskan fisherman-guide and tireless advocate for Alaskan sport fisheries; it is designed for use when the water is stained. Paddy's Spey is named for my son, Padraic, my favorite Alaskan fishing partner and, like Paddy, can catch fish under any conditions when all else fails.

These flies are fished on the traditional Spey slow downstream swing, but should be left dangling directly downstream for at least a minute after the swing is complete because of the propensity of these salmon to strike "late." They can also be fished dead-drift nymph style (the bunny strip adds important motion to the fly when dead drifted) through deep holes or slots common in Alaskan rivers.

John Glaspy