REELS When playing a steelhead, reel becomes much more than just a place to store your fly line. The reel needs to be reliable as steelhead switch directions instantly peeling off line. They need to be large enough to hold your fly line and 150 yards of backing. Large arbor reels are becoming popular as they pick line up in a hurry, when your prized steelie decides to run at you.

LINE Erie steelheaders tend to use floating line as rivers are smaller, they are perfect. If you would like a little boost in casting then get a weight forward line, marked by WF on package. On big rivers one should carry a floating line and a sinking tip line, as conditions change during season. Getting fly down to fish is vital.

LEADERS Most steelheaders actually make their own leaders. Using Maxima Chameleon more often then not. Tippets should be 0x or smaller, Erie steelheaders can go up to 4x on clear water days. But bigger river anglers should stay around 0x or .011 diameter to turn over bigger flies, and to allow for strong arming fish. For detailed leader recipes check our www.globalflyfisher.com.

Well that’s it if you have never tried steelhead fly fishing you are in for a treat. Use this guide as a starting spot for acquiring proper gear, pick up a few flies from www.bigyflyco.com and just add water.

The Light Hendrickson pattern is commonly used for two other mayfly hatches. The Ephemerella invaria can also be called Pale evening Dun or Sulphur and is commonly mistaken with Ephemerella dorithea. But invaria hatches first, often right after subvaria or Dark Hendrickson. It is more robust than later Pale Evening Dun or Sulphur patterns. For most fly angler’s however, it is enough to remember Dark Hendrickson first then Light Hendrickson second. Once in a great while angler’s will not have any luck on rising trout hitting Dark Hendrickson, even though it is only subvaria that is out. Perhaps trout are keying only on females, for whatever reason switching to Light Hendrickson seems to do trick.

One other thing about Light and Dark Hendrickson fly patterns. Is that they make great general all-purpose mayfly attractor patterns. Renowned fly fishing author Skip Morris, has proposed that only two mayfly patterns are required in one’s arsenal a dark and light pattern. While most angler’s wouldn’t be comfortable with such a limited offering, these two patterns would complement each other just fine. The Dark Hendrickson is second only to Adams as most used all purpose mayfly attractor.

Let’s also not forget sub-surface version of these great trout mayflies. The common three patterns that cover whole Hendrickson family of may flies are as follows. Of course there is Hendrickson Nymph, which is a close cousin of all-time great Mayfly nymph Hare’s Ear, and then more dainty Pheasant Tail.

The Hendrickson’s, whichever Mayfly is on water, are a versatile combination to have in your possession. They can be traced back to when affluent fly fisher’s had their own tier’s, and they are still used today. Classics never go out of style.