With our guides and clients on the river every day of the year, we know what patterns are producing. Long known for the hottest and most creative patterns in the Midwest, the Pere Marquette River Lodge has flies that work!

Our guides have assembled the Guides' Choice assortments so you can get the latest patterns. Stop in or call us at 231-745-3972 and we'll set you up with the best. Just tell us how many flies you want, when you're going to be fishing, and we'll pick out patterns that will produce. Standard flies are $1.95 each or $21.00 a dozen (mix and match), eggs are $1.00 each. All flies are on Tiemco or Dai-Ichi chemically sharpened hooks. We use heavy wire hooks designed for steelhead and salmon, not trout hooks that will bend under pressure.

Steelhead and Salmon Flies

Egg Flies - $1.00 each Typical Glo Bug eggs satisfy most needs, usually in more muted colors like Oregon Cheese and Egg except when water is colored.  For steelhead, size 8 is typical with size 6 used early in the season when the water is colored. Size 6 is preferred for salmon.  Nuclear Eggs are very effective in creating a highly realistic silhouette.  Our eggs are the highest quality on strong, chemically sharpened hooks.

Hex Nymphs - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen Hexagenia limbata – or simply “the Hex” – is the largest species of mayfly in the world.  It is abundant in trout streams with sandy or silty areas, like the Pere Marquette and Au Sable.  In the spring, the nymphs emerge from the silt and drift to relocate to greener pastures, but often get sidetracked in the bellies of steelhead.  A good assortment of Hex nymphs is a must for steelheading.  Bear’s Hex, Oscar’s Hex, PM Wiggler (pictured), and Sparrow nymphs all work at the right time.

Caddis Larvae - - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen The green caddis of the genus Rhyacophila are found in almost every rocky stream in North America.  Their ubiquitous presence and abundance make them a favorite food of trout, and steelhead and salmon can’t seem to resist them either.  The PM Caddis (pictured) is our favorite, in sizes 6-10.  The new Viagra Caddis is really hot now. Make sure you get them from us because some shops use light wire hooks that straighten out when a big fish is on.  If you tie your own, get Tiemco 2457 curved nymph hooks.

Stonefly Nymphs - - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen Black stoneflies in a variety of sizes are frequent in the Great Lakes steelhead and salmon streams.  Ranging from the giant Pteronarcys to smaller Early Black Stones, steelhead and salmon see a lot of these float by as they’re sitting in holes or up on the gravel.  The PM Stone is a proven producer in many sizes.  Be careful about using stoneflies tied for trout fishing when steelheading - the hooks will straighten out.

Hares’ Ear - - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen The most productive trout nymph ever is also a great pattern for steelhead.  Tied in a variety of colors, size 10-12 Hares’ Ears produce well.  Get them on strong hooks or tie your own, because Hares’ Ears tied for trout won’t hold.

Sparrows - - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen Some people say it’s a nymph.  Some say it’s a small streamer.  But all agree, IT CATCHES FISH!  The Sparrow comes alive in the water and is a very tempting morsel for steelhead, salmon, and trout.  In sizes from 6-10 and in colors from tan to black (olive is traditional), it produces.  Try a Peacock Sparrow for a little variety.

Egg Sucking Leaches - - $1.95 each or $22.00 a dozen When the fish aren’t in the mood to bite, they’ll hit an Egg Sucking Leach before they’ll even look at anything else.  Ugly but effective, the Egg Sucking Leach combines a Wooly Bugger with a Glo Bug egg for a high contrast, high excitement pattern.  Black with chartreuse or purple with pink are the traditional patterns, but we’ve found that white with chartreuse or pink heads work great too.