The Woolly Gentleman

Regional shopStrong match

Schultz Outfitters

Matched on wet flies, steelhead, steelhead. Michigan and Great Lakes shop lead for steelhead, trout, and smallmouth patterns.

wet fliessteelhead

Regional shopStrong match

Alaska Fly Fishing Goods

Matched on salmon, salmon. Alaska-specific fly shop with fly categories for trout, char, grayling, salmon, and steelhead.

salmon

wet fliessalmonbroad catalog

Broad sourceBroad match

Fulling Mill Flies

Matched on wet flies, salmon, broad catalog. Large pattern house with broad freshwater and saltwater fly categories.

wet fliessalmonbroad catalog

Broad sourceBroad match

Orvis Fly Catalog

Matched on wet flies, salmon, broad catalog. Broad retail catalog for standard trout, warmwater, salmon/steelhead, and saltwater patterns.

The Comet is the grande dame of Pacific salmon flies -- a pattern so established it has outlived the anglers who made it famous, the tackle companies that marketed it, and several salmon populations. The gold tinsel body catches light in the murky rivers where salmon stage, and the orange hackle collar creates movement that triggers a predatory response in fish that have technically stopped eating. It is a fly that works on muscle memory, both the fish's and yours -- tie it on, swing it through, and trust the pattern. A century of history says you should.

Quick Facts

TypeWet Fly

Difficultyintermediate

SeasonsFall

Target SpeciesChinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead

Sizes#2 - #8

Best LocationsRogue River, OR; Cowlitz River, WA; Sandy River, OR

Where to Fish It

Rogue River

OR · Freestone River

Cowlitz River

WA · Tailwater

Sandy River

OR · Coastal Stream

Map unavailable. Locations for Comet: Rogue River, OR; Cowlitz River, WA; Sandy River, OR

Boss

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Pacific Northwest

#2 - #8

Virgil Sullivan's steelhead and salmon pattern. Black chenille body, fluorescent orange tail, silver rib. An Oregon standard since the 1960s.

Black/Orange

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon

SprSumFallWin

Alaska Mary Ann

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Pacific Northwest

#2 - #6

Frank Dufresne's classic salmon pattern with a tinsel body and polar bear wing. Originally designed for Alaska, equally deadly in the PNW.

Silver/WhiteGold/White

Chinook Salmon · Coho Salmon · Steelhead

SprSumFallWin

Green Butt Skunk

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Pacific Northwest

#4 - #1/0

Classic steelhead wet fly. Fluorescent green butt, white wing, black hackle. The Pacific Northwest standard.

Standard (green/black/white)

Steelhead · Coho Salmon

SprSumFallWin

General Practitioner

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Pacific Northwest

#2 - #8

Esmond Drury's classic British salmon fly adapted for Pacific steelhead. Orange hackle, golden pheasant tippet collar, prawn-like silhouette.

OrangeYellowRed

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon

SprSumFallWin

Freight Train

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Pacific Northwest

#2 - #6

Randall Kaufmann's steelhead fly with layered hackle in purple, orange, and fluorescent green. Named for its unstoppable effectiveness.

Standard (purple/orange/green)

Steelhead · Coho Salmon

SprSumFallWin

Marabou Spey

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Pacific Northwest

#2 - #6

Simplified spey fly using marabou instead of traditional heron or blue-eared pheasant. Maximum movement, minimal materials.

Purple/BlackBlue/BlackOrange/BlackOlive/Black

Steelhead · Sea-Run Cutthroat

SprSumFallWin