Crandall's Guides Choice, Unweighted

Rob Crandall lives in Portland, Oregon, where he operates Water Time Outfitters, which offers guided fishing trips on the Deschutes River for trout and steelhead, as well as guided fly fishing for steelhead on the Clackamas, NF Nehalem, Trask and Oregon Coast rivers in the winter. It is on these rivers that Rob designed and developed his fish-catching patterns. He grew up on the banks of the Clackamas River and has been a licensed Oregon fishing guide since 1992. Rob is also the past editor of Flyfishing & Tying Journal magazine.

Rob Crandall on the Guides Choice:

When I find perfect steelhead-green water and a moment to myself, this is my go-to fly. Coastal steelhead simply can’t resist this pattern but its home water is actually the Clackamas. On my very first test run with this fly, I was certain I had a trout tapping it. Then the tap became a tug and minutes later I landed a 38-1/2 inch wild buck. The pink and orange combo is perfect for green water conditions and can either pinch hit for chinook and coho flies or be the home run fly for the next 30 pounder from Washington’s Quinalt or Hoh River.

It is tied with a stinger style hook to maximize hookups on fussy fish. This pattern is a favorite in the green waters of winter steelhead fishing. Cerise and Orange colors show up well and move and swim in the water. This is a winter go-to pattern.