Coho (Russian River)Fly

Coho (Russian River) Fly
This is the most important fly in my tackle box. Shown here in the classic red and white, it can be tied in almost any variant of color bucktail and hook. It can be bought at Wal Mart at 3 for a buck or at Gwin's (if you don't know, you likely haven't fished the Russian) for 75 cents. I know costs me more, but I actually prefer to make my own.

For me, it is all in the hook. The store bought versions tend you use the cheapy hook. You do get what you pay for. The cheap hooks dull quickly, bend, or snap at inopportune times (like when you have a fish on). I prefer the Size 2 Gamakatsu T10-6H. These buggers are nasty wicked sharp. The penetrate skin with just the weight of the fly, as my thumbs can attest. Plus, the have a high yield strength, thus less bent hooks on snagged rocks. I have seen a tendency to bend the last eigth of an inch from time to time, but doing this once or twice a day is really not that big of a deal. Many times, I have been able to plier them back to shape and keep fishing the fly. I use dyed buck tail and head cement to keep the fly together. A friend of mine caught six reds in a row, before he had to retire one of these.

Like I said, this fly is the most important in the box for me. I have caught pinks, reds, and rainbows, but the target is of course the Kenai Sockeye. Rumor has it that people are sight fishing silvers out of Ship Creek with these this year. Maybe I will add a coho to the slaughter list. Hmmmmm. Fish On!!!