Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 26
How to Fish
Multiple Flies
for Steelhead
by Nick DelVecchio
photos by the author
The return of the annual steelhead run brings with
it some of the most exciting action of the year for
Pennsylvania anglers.
As these large fish emerge from the depths of Lake
Erie and move into the tributaries for migration,
imaginations run wild with anticipation of acrobatic
jumps and strong, powerful runs that have reels
screaming. Steelhead are sometimes difficult to catch,
and anything anglers do to increase their chances
of hookups is worth the effort. One of those things
is using multiple flies to increase the odds that
something on your rig is the flavor of the day and
will result in a fish on. It is not as easy as just tying
on a second fly. There are techniques and strategies
that should be considered and planned to ensure that
having multiple flies helps your efforts rather than
hurts your endeavors.
How to rig
Tangles are one of the challenges of fishing multiple
flies. Tangles may occur by the sheer nature of having
26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
more hooks and more line out in the water. While it
is often legal to use three flies, most anglers targeting
steelhead usually stick with two lines until they get the
hang of things. Building the rig itself is pretty simple.
Starting at the fly line, tie a 71/2-foot leader on with
a tippet ring attached at the end of the leader using
a clinch knot. Then, attach a 12- to 15-inch section
of tippet onto the tippet ring down to your first fly.
Another section of tippet is tied onto the first fly
leading down to where the second one will be placed.
When set up correctly, anglers need to know nothing
except a clinch knot, and it is an easy and effective way
to fish multiple nymphs at a time on one rig.
Types of flies
For the fly angler, nymphs are typically the name
of the game in order to find success. Streamers also
provide some action, but nothing will produce quite
like nymph rigs imitating stoneflies, caddis, or egg
patterns. When running a rig with multiple nymphs,
varying the flies may be an effective strategy. A stonefly
tied down to an egg or caddis is a great way to find
what fish are after that day. Since eggs are often the best
choice, running a Sucker Spawn tied to a single egg is a
good bet. It is not just fly selection that matters but also
colors. Even on days when fish are keying in on eggs,
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 15
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 31
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 38
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 43
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 46
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 51
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 55
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 57
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 61
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 64
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - Cover4
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