|
Cojones Fly Black
(click image for detail)
|
Did you ever wonder why steelhead take some fly patterns and reject others? Some will argue that the steelhead is angry and will strike at a fly because it's provoking them. Sounds like my dating years. I mean come on now...assigning human emotions to a fish?! Others say the steelhead will strike at a well placed fly out of habit. Now I can swallow that one, because as small rainbows they probably fed on insects like any other self-respecting trout would do. Or is it because of certain attributes that particular flies display, like movement, color, shape or even placement, that make it more productive? Now the Cojones fly, I admit, does have some resemblance to an egg sucking leech pattern. There is an obvious exception. It has a small egg cluster up front to entice a discerning steelhead. Now you not only have additional movement, but you've added more shape to the pattern to make it stand out in a river choked with Purple Perils and Green Butted Skunks! And you have to give the fly some credit. It takes a fly made of nerves of steel, real manly courage to stand up to the constant beating those steelhead flies take on an average outing. We're talking about a fly that not only catches more fish than a sober Swede on a frosty fall morning, but a fly that has been proven to this date to be an effective producer. Lutefisk has nothing on this baby!
Steelhead see this fly and they immediately go into action. We fished these little jewels on the Grande Ronde river a few weeks ago in a particular drift that held 3 steelhead and landed 2, LDR'd 1. One method they seem to prefer is the downstream drift and pinch. Whips and chains are optional. Cast your sink tip line into a run and follow the fly through the drift and have it end up where you think a steelhead might be resting. This is accomplished by pinching the line at the precise moment and having it swing in to that area. Follow up by short stripping the fly through the hole, seam, shadow, eddy, or other protected area on the river. In all probability, if there is a steelhead lying there, the Cajones fly will be jumped on.
An additional report on this fly came in all the way from Kodiak Island, Alaska. It seems that both of my friends were on this incredible trip fishing for silver salmon and one of the guys remembered a particular fly that some old crusty Swede had recommended he try on silvers. The only difference with this Cajones fly was the purple color. So he decided to give it a try, as fishing was hot. When they returned from their trip, I was shown the only sterilized Purple Cajones fly in existence. It had survived countless silvers until it just wore out. Somewhere in the background there was a bagpipe playing as we laid the poor guy to rest. Kinda brings a tear to one’s eye.
|
Advertise with us