OC Outdoors: A steelhead adventure on Vancouver Island

Steelhead: stuck in the 80s?

The top steelhead flies on the Gold and surrounding rivers are Intruder variations, Wooly Buggers and slinky little worm patterns. To my eastern eyes, Randy’s fly box looks pretty gaudy, but West Coast steelhead love their crimson, purple and hot pinks. I haven’t seen this much day-glo since my 1985 high school yearbook. But they work, as I would soon find out.