Fishing and Tying the Polar Walt’s, aka The Steelhead Killer
A number of years ago, I was fishing the upper West Branch Susquehanna River and got snagged in a bush on the far bank. This isn’t unusual. My flies often end up in fly-grabbing trees! But what made this one memorable was that, as I waded across this shallow riffle and plucked my nymphs from the foliage, I noticed another fly wrapped around that branch, too. The hook didn’t look rusted, so I collected it and stowed it away in my fly box.
That nymph was, for all practical purposes, a Walt’s Worm, but it was tied with different colored thread. This one had a purple thread collar hot spot rather than the typical fire orange. It stayed in my box a while before I ended up using it, but one day when I ran out of Sexy Walt’s, I turned to this pattern and caught trout.
That night I tied up a few more purple-collar Sexy Walt’s to have on hand, but I also tied a flashier version that I thought might work for steelhead. I had some purple Micro Polar Chenille on hand and figured, what the heck, why not! A few wraps of the Micro Polar Chenille produced a really interesting collar. It looked awesome!
I can’t even tell you how many steelhead I’ve caught on this fly since then. It’s become a staple in my fly box. In fact, I even did a video of tying this fly, and in the video, I called it my Steelhead Killer. In truth, it’s a Trout Killer, too. And it’s a very easy pattern to tie.
How to Tie the Polar Walt’s, aka The Steelhead Killer
Materials:
Hook: Model 20 Jig-Style Hook from Wholesale Fly Company, Sizes 12-16
Bead: Gold Slotted Tungsten
Thread: Purple 8/0 Semperfli Classic Waxed
Ribbing: Semperfli Fly Tying Wire
Body: Hare’s Ear Plus Dubbing
Collar: Purple Micro Polar Chenille (I also tie variations of this pattern using Shrimp Pink and Chartreuse Micro Polar Chenille.)
Start with a size 14 Model 20 jig-style hook from Wholesale Fly Company in the vise. I occasionally tie this in a size 12 as well as size 16, but the size 14, like most fly patterns, is a versatile size for both steelhead and trout.
Work a 1/8 gold, slotted tungsten bead onto the hook and attach some 8/0 purple Semperfli Classic Waxed Thread to the hook shank. I don’t usually add any lead wraps or extra weight to this pattern because the Erie tributaries aren’t deep-flowing rivers. They’re mostly shallow, slate bottom, low gradient streams that don’t have the heavy flows of larger waters. A 1/8 bead is usually enough to get the fly down in most conditions.
Attach the thread and lay down a light thread base, stopping just above the bend of the hook. Next, tie in a strand of silver Semperfli Fly Tying Wire to use as a rib. Create a thin dubbing noodle with a pinch of Hare’s Ear Plus Dubbing and make touching wraps toward the bead, but stop a little short to leave room for the chenille collar. Counter-wrap the ribbing wire over the body with open spiral wraps and secure behind the bead.
Now for the fun part, the Micro Polar Chenille. The fibers on the core of the material will have a natural grain to them, mostly angled in one direction. Tie in a strand behind the bead with the grain of the fibers pointing back toward the bend of the hook. Make 2-3 wraps with the Micro Polar Chenille, enough to form a spiky collar, secure with a couple wraps of thread, trim the chenille, and finish the fly with a whip finishing tool.
When to Fish the Polar Walt's
Although this pattern can be really effective, and an “any time” steelhead fly, it’s not one that I use every day for trout. There seem to specific scenarios when it works well for me for trout, though.
The first is as a changeup on heavily-fished waters. Trout on these streams see a crazy amount and variety of nymphs. Sometimes showing them something different is what’s needed to have success.
Second, on bright sunny days when the water is clear. This is when I think purple as a whole excels, and this pattern in particular catches a lot of fish on these days.
And third, when I’m fishing deeper runs and pools. So much has been written about how trout see color, and how red and purple penetrate deeper into the water column than just about any other colors, which is probably why this works so well there.
But I don’t hesitate to use it for steelhead anywhere, and any day of the week. I’ll even the Polar Walt’s – a.k.a. the Steelhead Killer – with different colors of Micro Polar Chenille. Shrimp Pink and Chartreuse have produced exceptionally well on the Erie tributaries.
Every now and then it’s good to have a few “off the wall” go-to patterns to try in a pinch. These may not be everyday patterns, but there are certainly times when they are “all day” patterns. Mostly, though, I use the Polar Walt’s in a niche role, when water and weather conditions suggest it might be a good choice, or when I just need to show trout something different.
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