Thor Steelhead Fly

Thor: Hook: 7999 or 7989, sizes 10 - 1/0 Thread: Red Tail: Orange Hackle Fibers Body: Red Chenille Hackle: Natural Brown saddle hackle or Schlappen Wing: White Bucktail

Cerise Thor: Hook: 7999 or 7989, sizes 10 - 1/0 Thread: Hot Pink Tail: Orange Hackle Fibers Body: Cerise Chenille Hackle: Natural Brown saddle hackle or Schlappen Wing: White Bucktail

The Thor was first tied by C. Jim Pray, a professional fly tier located in Eureka, California in 1936. He named the fly after a fishing friend, Walter J. Thoresen. On 26 December 1936, Thoresen caught five steelhead on the Eel River using a size 6 Thor tied by Pray; the largest was an eighteen pounder that won the Field & Stream annual fishing contest that year.

The original Thor was tied using Red Chenille. I use fluorescent chenille for the body color (Cerise or Hot Pink) for fishing Winter Run Steelhead.

Winter Run hatchery Steelhead caught 24 March 2004 with a Cerise Thor. You can clearly see the fly in the steelhead's mouth.

Native Steelhead caught 15 April 2005 with a Cerise Thor.