How important is the salmon fly? One of 1000 theories.
By Guideline Ambassador Hajas Andersson.
Many say that it does not matter what a salmon fly looks like as the salmon is virtually color-blind, that it does not eat in the river but take the fly by instinct or irritation. But, is it really so? Many anglers fish with the same type of fly and line all summer. Often an all black fly, maybe with some other color in the underwing and in some different sizes. It works, because the fish strike.
If you refine the fly according to the time of year, the color of the surroundings, the color of the water, the chances increase. For example, when fishing in a river with clear water, light bottom and with green surroundings, I fish with a light green / olive yellow variant together with a fluorescent silicone hook tube in the same color that blends in. Then the fly becomes almost invisible in the water. In a humus-colored river, I use a black-brown / orange with orange UV dubbing.
UV and fluorescent materials are very important for the sea trout fisherman today, so why not the same for the salmon fisherman? Or does the salmon fisherman not have the same knowledge and belief? During the last 10 years of my 30 years as a salmon angler, I have worked intensively with UV and fluorescent materials in my salmon flies. With mixed results in the beginning. But after a number of tests, I noticed that with a smaller strike-point in the fly – instead of in the whole fly – the result is better in late summer, and the chances of catching a salmon increase further. If I use the right color in the right type of river, it got even better.
For example, here a yellow / green fluorescent fly in humus-colored water has almost no UV effect at all, but in glacier water or clear water the effect is much better. In a humus-colored river, red / orange or pink is best. The parts of the fly that I use fluorescent colors on are dubbing, flash, silicone hook tubing, hackle or on the head.
All wildlife sees UV colors much better than we humans – so do fish. We need an UV lamp to be able to see it. Are UV and fluorescent materials good all season then? At the beginning of the salmon season, when the water is usually cold and high, the salmon have just emerged from the sea and are aggressive, I want a lot of fluorescent material in all the flies to really show the fly.
In late summer, when the salmon stack up in their places and is a bit sluggish, I remove all UV and fluorescent so that the salmon will see the fly as late as possible to get a reaction. During the autumn, when the salmon start to become aggressive, I pick out the UV flies again, but then in smaller sizes and more scattered flies such as Ally’s and Pot-belly’s. It’s all about adapting your fishing to the season and location – then the chances increase.
But you can go even further to optimize the conditions, by changing the fly according to the type of pool you fish in. I always have different flies depending on whether the pool is fast or slow. In a pool with fast water, I want a fly that is long and narrow with fairly stiff hair that keeps its shape and looks good.
In a normal fast pool, I usually fish with flies that are 5-7 centimeters and with softer hair and with a little more volume to bring the fly to life. In the slowest pools I fish with a shrimp or Francis variant. I have caught many salmon when the fly barely moves but just hangs in the deep slow pools. In such a pool, a long-winged fly is not as good. In the calm pools or at the end of the swing, I try to bring the fly to life by jerking a little in the line a maximum of 2-3 times during the swing – to see if anyone follows. Overall, I try to fish the fly quite slowly as my experience is that a large salmon rarely catches a fly fished fast.
If you take these elements into account and vary the flies according to season, temperature and watercolor – I promise you will get more salmon. In my opinion, the salmon fly is VERY important.
AT THE MOMENT YOU CAN FIND THE FLIES FROM THESE SHOPS:
ADH-Fishing
https://www.adh-fishing.com/
Erä Kontio
https://www.erakontio.fi/
Fischen.ch AG
https://fischen.ch/
Nordisk Fiskeutstyr AS
https://nfisk.no/
Skitt Fiske AS
https://www.skittfiske.no/
HA Bearfarm 5cm
(Item nr 107088)
Guideline HA Bearfarm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. This fly has no fluorescent material, so that the salmon see it as late as possible. Fished best in high summer when the fish is usually sluggish and not so keen on biting. Best suited in humus-colored water. Recommended hook size: #10-12 treble, #8 double, #6 single.
(Total body length 15mm)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 6mm US tube 0,20gram
HA Bearfarm Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107089)
Guideline HA Bearfarm Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. I have this fly as a favorite in humus-colored rivers at high cold water early in the season or during floods in the summer. The fluorescent orange body has a high UV effect humus water. Fished best in the middle layer of the river to get close to the fish. Recommended hook size: #6-8 treble, #6 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm whit hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) hot orange
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Guideline HA Boliven 5cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A fly for the most discerning salmon! Low tide, clear, warm and sun can be a dilemma to attract salmon to bite. Then this goes on, it is tied completely with no fluorescent material so that the salmon will see it at the last second and be surprised so the chop becomes impulsive. They can not resist it. Recommended hook size: #12 treble, #10 double, #6 single.
HA Boliven 5cm
(Item nr 107093)
(Total body length 15mm)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 6mm US tube 0,20gram
HA Boliven Gray 5cm
(Item nr 107090)
Guideline HA Boliven Gray 5cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. Boliven fly, here in a version with a grey appearance. A fly for the most discerning salmon! Low tide, clear, warm and sun can be a dilemma to attract salmon to bite. Then this goes on, it is tied completely without fluorescent material so that the salmon will see it at the last second and be surprised so the chop becomes impulsive. They can not resist it. Recommended hook size: #12 treble, #10 double, #6 single.
(Total body length 15mm)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 6mm US tube 0,20gram
HA Boliven Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107091)
Guideline HA Boliven Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. This fly is highly fluorescent and is a clear favorite in clear or glacier colored water and fish well all season. Preferably fish it with a sinking and quite slowly. A clear top three fly! Recommended hook size: #6-8 treble, #6 doubles, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) transparent
HA Boliven Pig Fluo
(Item nr 107092)
Guideline HA Boliven Pig Fluo is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. This pattern is highly fluorescent and is a clear favorite in clear or glacier colored water and fish well all season but best in spring and late summer. Fish it in the deepest pools where the water moves slowly and as deep as you can with a real sinking line and slow strips to make it swim. Recommended hook size: #8 treble, #6 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 25mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 14mm Sean Stanton tubes 0,80gram (cone shaped)
Soft hook holder (silicon) chartreuse
Sprouted from wild boar (fluo yellow)
HA Bridge Pool 5cm
(Item nr 107094)
Guideline HA Bridge Pool 5cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A low tide or late summer fly for the humus rivers. Fish it on cloudy days with a line that does not go too deep and relatively fast, again to surprise the salmon that has usually seen hundreds of flies before, the bite often comes hard and suddenly when it melts into the river and the fish sees it very late. Recommended hook size: #10-12 treble, #8 double, #6-8 single.
(Total body length 15mm)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 6mm US tube 0,20 gram
HA Bridge Pool Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107095)
Guideline HA Bridge Pool Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A variant of Sierrakorva but with fluorescent material in the body, dubbing and wing, the rust brown color makes it best suited in humus-colored water or during floods when the river usually gets dirty. Fish it a little higher up, for example with a FIs3 line to get a more marked silhouette. Recommended hook size: #6-8 treble, #6 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) hot orange
HA Camping Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107096)
Guideline HA Camping Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A variant of In Flames that is packed with fluorescent material and suits most rivers for early fishing as the water is high and cold and fished slowly in the middle layer. The newly caught salmon are usually incredibly aggressive on it. A given pattern for the premiere. Recommended hook size: #4-6 treble, #4 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) fluo pink
HA Fuldset Pig Fluo
(Item nr 107097)
Guideline HA Fuldset Pig Fluo is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. This fly is highly fluorescent and is a clear favorite in the humus rivers and fishes well all season but best in spring and late summer. Use this fly in the deepest pools where the water goes slowly and heavily and as deep as you can with a real sinker line with a jerking gait so you make the fly pulsate. This one has many salmon on its conscience often when the fly is moving very slowly. Recommended hook size: #8 treble, 6 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 25mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 14mm Sean Stanton tubes 0,80gram (cone shaped)
Soft hook holder (silicon) hot orange
Sprouted from wild boar (fluo orange)
HA Porridge Pool 5cm
(Item nr 107099)
Guideline HA Porridge Pool 5cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A twilight fly for summer fishing or for the smaller rivers with a small fluorescent cutting point in the dubbing and a clear silhouette wing. Recommended hook size: #10-12 treble, #8-10 double, #6 single.
(Total body length 15mm)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 6mm US tube 0,20gram
HA Porridge Pool Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107098)
Guideline HA Porridge Pool Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A twilight fly that suits all water colors where the upper wing gives a good silhouette and the green fluorescent body gives a clear cut point in the cold high water of the early fishing. Recommended hook size: #6-8 treble, #6 double, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) hot green
HA The Neck Fluo 9cm
(Item nr 107100)
Guideline HA The Neck Fluo 9cm is a salmon tube fly and part of a fly series designed and tested by renewed angler and fishing guide Hajas Andersson. Distributed exclusively by Guideline. A night fly where the purple / pink fluorescent dubbing and angel hair give a wonderful effect against the night sky. Fished high and fast on the necks with float or intermediate line. Recommended hook size: #6-8 treble, #6 doubles, #4 single.
(Total body length 30mm with hook holder)
Inner tube: 1,8mm medium hard
Weight: 10mm US tube 0,40gram
Soft hook holder (silicon) transparent
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