Dolly Lama flies

[MGM]

Last fall fishing for coho’s in Alaska , I tried a pattern that I hadn’t used before. The dolly lama ,4”in pink and white,1/0 stinger. I watched several YouTube videos prior to tying them and they all seemed pretty similar . The first morning the silvers were all over the fly, hooking 10-11 fish, all but one came unbuttoned. I switched to a rabbit clouser which they didn’t hit quite as aggressively but didn’t lose a fish the rest of the day. I’m trying to determine if I’m tying these incorrectly or fighting the fish incorrectly as I very seldom use stinger hooks. I really want to keep using these dolly lamas as I couldn’t believe how effective they were. Considering not cutting off the sacrificial hook as an experiment. Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[_WW_]

Try a different hook. Drop Shot in 1 aught.

 

[MGM]

Try a different hook. Drop Shot in 1 aught.

Thank you ! I did notice in a couple of the video's they were using that style of hook. I will try it

 

[Chucker]

For Alaska coho, you seldom really need a stinger hook. Just tie the same fly on a single, it’ll work. Add a bit of blue UV flashabou and it will work better!

The only reason that I have used a stinger in Alaska for coho is when I have used a very fine wire bronze hook that I can easily straighten if I foul hook a big one, or when I am sick of playing yet another silver to hand just to take the hook out and let it go!

 

[MGM]

Thanks Chucker, like you I have used single hooks for coho exclusively over the years. I read somewhere about the dolly lama being one of the top producing flies in Alaska so I thought I would try a few on the coho's. Not that coho's are timid but their aggressiveness on this pattern seemed to go up a notch, I just couldn't bring them to hand. I think WW's suggestion on the drop shot hooks might solve the issue. I agree with you on the blue UV flashabou suggestion, especially on cloudy days.

 

[Wade Rivers]

Any guidance on the retrieve?

Fast low steady?

 

[MGM]

Personally, I mix it up depending on where I’m casting. Upstream lies I strip pretty fast just to keep the line as tight as possible. Across and down I use the rod to jig the fly as I strip. Nervous water in the shallows , I get it in front of them and strip like mad.