What flys do you use for dollies in the river during summer time? Ive used egg paterns with some success but they just dont go as crazy for em down here as in Alaska.

Im thinking that stripping streamers would be the ticket. Some that are smolt or minnow imitations. Im sure they will hammer anything that is bright and has some matalic to it or looks like a small fish.

Am I on the right track here?

Ive caught the fly fishing bug, Ive been nymphing for cutties almost every day. Hooked a couple of summerruns nymphing but havent landed any yet. Ive been having trouble putting my fly rod down and picking up the drift rod. It seems that I would rather catch 14 inch cutties on the bug rod then springers and steelies on gear lately.

Some of the most popular flies for Cutthroat in my opinion is the Allard Fly and the Cutthroat Candy.
For imitations, I would go for the Sinfoils (which imitate dead smolts)

I catch a lot of dollies on dark woolley buggers and bunny leaches. Usually purple but sometimes black. Standard patterns and egg sucking patterns seem equally effective. Something that I don't use as often, but has been a dollie magnet, is a teal maribou pattern.

Rich,

for dollies, cutts, and summer steelies, I like the same fly. A silver hilton (gee, what a surprise) tied a little different than standard. I tie them on a size six, 3 XL streamer hook. The pattern is, red calf tail tail, black chenille body with fine silver ribbing, grizzley hen hackle wings, tied flared out, guinea feather tied as a folded hackle. This fly will catch them all if fished in the right spot. I weight it just a bit, about 10 turns of .020 lead.

A good fly to alternate with this is a mickey fin. The steelhead don't care for this one as much as the hilton, but it's death on cutts and dollies. Again, a size 6 works pretty well, tied on a 3 XL hook.

I fully understand the lure of the bug rod. If the fly fishing is good, my gear rods tend to stay in the garage.

I am with ya Rich,I am having more fun geting beet up with my new bug rod than I am fishing my trusty spoons.Damn I have alot to learn about a natural presentation with a bug rod in a river.Time ,time nad more time I guess is the best teacher!

I am hoping to do a little upper river exploring over south of you for dollys and a famed summer run trib,so the fly question also helps me,thanks guys,just hope the poulsbo fly shop carries them!

After you left I found a personal message concerning my favorite river up by your parents house.I am sorry I never got back to ya as I did not know about the personal message thing,shoot me an email if I can stil help ya out,it might be worth your time.

Just a heads up -
"ALL FRESHWATER AREAS are CLOSED to fishing for SALMON, DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT and GRASS CARP unless listed as open." page 56 of the 2002/2003 edition of sport fishing rules. Only a relatively small handful of waters are listed under special rules as being open to fishing for Dolly Varden/bull trout. Believe the Olympic Park has similar regulations.

Also on page 16 Marine area Rules:
DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT - CLOSED

Tight lines
Smalma