Leland on Scott Howell Squidro Sea Food Series Steelhead Flies
The Scott Howell Squidro Sea Food Series puts the “squid” in Squidro. When steelhead leave their saltwater haunts, and make their initial push into their natal freshwater flows, the Sea Food Series gives these dime bright fish a pretty irresistible opportunity to crush that one last squid before continuing the arduous journey ahead.
Whether you are fishing low in a river system in California, Alaska, or anywhere in between, the Squidro Sea Food Series is designed to elicit an aggressive, predatory response from steelhead, that have most likely been gorging themselves on real squid in the days, weeks, months, and years prior to their freshwater return. However, the white-based color combinations also provide a great alternative to the subdued earth tones that most anglers turn to when the flows drop and the water clears higher up in the system.
The Squidro Sea Food Series provides an unmatched combination of profile, movement, sink rate, castability, durability, and versatility – the results speak for themselves!
Specifications:
- Killer color combos for anytime you are fishing close to the salt, or further upstream when you want to show the fish something they have not seen already.
- Large profile activates the silicone legs, and gets steelies excited.
- Maintains a swimming, breathing action while swinging through a wide range of current speeds
- Fish with a loop knot, for faster sink and better movement
- Cast, mend, swing, and HOLD ON TIGHT
- Length: 1.5in. shank, 3in. overall
- Hook: Size 2 trailer hook
Leland on Scott Howell Squidro Series Steelhead Flies
Well folks, after showcasing more than a few of his innovative, outside-the-box steelhead flies and fishing techniques in Skagit Master II, Northwest steelhead guide, guru, and legend, Scott Howell, is letting us all in on another one of his secret steelhead concoctions: the Squidro.
Available in Sea Food, Summer, or Winter Series, the Squidro may, at first glance, look more like a bass jig than a steelhead fly. However, the Squidro is really just a carefully designed, rubber-legged intruder, and the advantages of the Squidro’s rubber-legged construction are many. With a sparse amount of material, the Squidro achieves a large profile, with incredible movement and breathing action. Because the legs do not absorb any water and are neutrally buoyant, the Squidro is easier to cast, and sinks much faster, than any standard fur-and-feather intruder. Plus, the durability and vibrant color combinations made possible with the rubber legs simply cannot be matched by natural materials.
The Scott Howell Squidro Series steelhead flies provide an unmatched combination of profile, movement, sink rate, castability, durability, and versatility, and are designed to provoke an aggressive chase response from steelhead – all you have to do now is hold on!
Leland on Scott Howell
The release of Skagit Master II is letting the world in on a secret that Leland has known for years: when it comes to steelheading experience, knowledge, and technique, Scott Howell is a resource without peer. We think he might just be the fishiest man alive.
For almost four decades, Scott has been fishing the steelhead waters of the Pacific Rim, and for over 20 years, he’s been guiding them professionally. He was one of the handful of Pacific Northwest anglers to pick up two-handed rods in the late 1980s, and was an integral part of the period of casting and line-design innovation known as the "Skagit Revolution." He was also part of the first batch of American guides to fish the unexplored steelhead rivers of Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. His wealth of experience and scope of expertise are difficult to fathom.
For six years, when he was guiding in Alaska every summer, Scott made his home in British Columbia. One year, he promised himself we would fish every day, from the time he got home from Alaska in September, through the winter, until he went back the following May – and he did.
Each year Scott spends over 300 days guiding on his homewaters in southern Oregon, with the vast majority of his bookings coming from repeat clients. Leland feels very fortunate to have this opportunity to work with Scott.
Scott Howell on the Squidro Sea Food Series (SFS)
White/White
When I am fishing close to salt, I like swimming a fly with a hint of ocean-food flavor. As with each Squidro in the “Sea Food Series (SFS)”, the white is my best effort to mimic the very squid the steelhead were eating just prior to entering the river. This is my “go-to” when I am hoping to trigger those predator chase instincts that are still fresh on a chrome steelhead’s mind.
Salmon/White
Even though I designed the “Sea Food Series” Squidro with fishing for fresh steelhead low on a river system in mind, they have proven to be a great clear water option when subdued colors are the answer. When chasing the “pink loving” steelhead of the North, the softer pink tones offered by the SFS Squidro became my preferred option, even when higher in the system, once the river has lost its grit.
Orange/White
The orange “Sea Food Series” Squidro is another great option when I am wanting a little color without being overly obtrusive. This is the fly that gets called to duty when the water has enough vis’ to bench my box’s boldest silhouettes but not yet ready to break out the earth tones. It has even proven to be a great fall option when the olive “Crawdad” doesn’t offer enough flare.
Pink/Orange
The pink and orange Squidro is the boldest color combo in the Sea Food Series. This fly has proven very effective from the heavy water, low vis' conditions on down to just before the river turns that magical green. Rather that having to choose between going all pink or all orange, putting the two together makes my life a whole lot easier when I want to go bright, and pink/orange contrast is killer.
