Fly Tying: Chinook Runner

Chrome fresh King (Chinook) Salmon are awesome! It’s an absolute favorite gamefish to target on a Spey rod. They can be challenging to figure out, and even more so to get to the net. There are a few special rivers though where these incredible fish come in silver and aggressive, and this is a go to fly. Because of the snowrunner construction, you get a fly that is not only as durable as they come, but a fly that holds its profile in the hardest of currents as King Salmon often will hold in big fast water.) The fly swims like something alive in the water, and makes a presence for the King Salmon to see. Lots of patterns can bring success while fishing for Kings, but in big water with lots of current is where this fly very effective.

Tie Instructions and photos by Alex Belonga. If you’d like to see more of Alex’s flies or want to inquire about custom flies, you can find him on Instagram- @straitsonthefly_customflies or Facebook- @Yooperfly.

Materials List:

Chartruese & aqua marine Snowrunner/Nayat hair (Skeena River Fly Supply)
Krystal flash
UV flash (Hedron)
Mirage flash (Hedron)
Holo Flashabou (Hedron)
6mm bead (SRFS)
3.2mm glitter tubing (SRFS)
Silver cone (SRFS)
KF blue Spey marabou (Fish Hunter)
50D nano-silk thread (semperfli)

Step 1. Slide a brass bead over the 3.2mm tube. Add some thread wraps first and apply glue before sliding on. Then just ‘criss-cross’ your thread in front and behind to secure in the bead.

Step 2. Reverse tie in some krystal flash 360deg and some UV flash the same way.

Step 3. Cut a medium bunch of hair from your SR patch. Cut the hair in half and restack in your hand to get the natural taper back.

Step 4. Reverse tie all around the tube making sure to keep these first stages on the short side. For the snowrunner, reverse tie this first section. Tie 60/40 proportions. (40% towards the rear & 60% towards the front.) This will give it a nice full shroud and prop.

Step 5. Tie in some mirage flashabou all around longer than the SR hair.

Step 6. Tie in some Aqua Marine snowrunner all around the tube. Keep this sparse and longer than the flash. This will ensure an excellent taper and plenty of movement in the water! Te these in various ‘Chinook’ colors (see pics below), but when close to the salt when the river has that glacial stain, the chartreuse /aquamarine just screams Chinook in the water. I like this color combo at any time of day, sunny or cloudy.

Step 7. Tie in some flashabou all around the tube just slightly longer than the SR hair.

Step 8. Tie in some KF blue marabou.

Step 9a. Slide on your cone over the tube.

Step 9b. It creates a real nice profile as seen here.

Step 10. When wet it will form a beautiful teardrop shape! Flies tied with a long natural hair give a much more fluid and ‘swimming’ action vs ‘wiggly’.This is especially effective on chinook who primarily target baitfish their whole adult lives.