Zonker Flesh Fly

Most flesh flies imitate the life stage of the salmon once it has spawned, died, and is starting to rot. The decomposing carcasses of salmon return much needed nutrients to the streams to sustain the salmon the new salmon offspring. These decaying carcassing also provide nutrients to the trout and char that live in the stream.

Almost all flesh flies you will find in fly shops are white, grey, ginger, light pink, or light orange. These flies are highly effective later in the season. It is best to fish them on a dead drift with minimal weight, right on the bottom.
While on the Kenai and Russian rivers I had a new flesh fly experience. The Dolly Varden and Rainbows were keyed in on salmon flesh but it was not the variety of flesh that is imitated by the colors stated above.
The Kenai and Russian rivers get huge runs of salmon. They also attract huge amounts of people and bears competing for the fish. Throughout the course of a day there will be dozens if not hundreds of salmon filleted at the cleaning stations that are set up in river. These cleaning stations help keep anglers safe from bears.
This means that there are guts, roe, flesh, and carcasses thrown in the river all day long. The trout know this (or at least their stomachs do!) and they line up downstream.

Hook: Daiichi 1720 size 6
Thread: Uni-Thread 6/0 Orange
Tail: Rabbit Strip Orange
Body: Chenille Orange
Collar: Strung Chinese Saddle Hackle Hot Orange


Pic #1: Wrap some lead on the hook. You don't want too much lead though, you want the fly to drift naturally. Wrap a thread base on the hook.
Pic #2: Tie in the rabbit strip toward the bend of the hook.





Pic #3: Tie in the chenille in front of the rabbit strip and wrap forward.
Pic #4: Pull the rabbit strip over the top of the chenille and tie off.




Pic #5: Tie in the orange saddle hackle and make a few wraps. Create a thread head and tie off.