Great Canadian Flies
Pink Eve
By Arthur James Lingren
Considered the sportsman's fishes, the Coho and Chinook [salmon] have
attracted most of the attention from the saltwater angling
community in the last century. However, the pink salmon, when it
returns to it natal stream on its cycle year, provides good sport
for the fly fisher.
The Pink Eve pattern, developed by veteran Vancouver Island [B.C.]
fly fisher, Barry Thornton, in about 1980, has been luring pinks to
the rods of many beach fishers since its inception.
Barry says that "this pattern was initially used at the estuaries
of the Eve, Keogh, and Cluxewa rivers" and that with the reintroductions
"of pink salmon to other rivers like the Oyster and Puntledge it
has become a standard for these estuaries and beach areas." Besides
its attractiveness to estuary pinks, Thornton has also found that
"this is an effective pattern for 'blueback,' pinks and coho during
April, May and June" when he is open-water saltwater fly fishing.
I remember the first time that I witnessed the successes of the Pink
Eve. I had taken my son Charles to the Queen Charlotte Islands for a
late summer fishing vacation and I remember the axiom "pink for pinks"
as I attached a fly to his line. My son had a grand day's sport
hooking about 30 fish in three hours and killing his frist limit of
fly-caught salmon.
Postulations abound in the fishing community and "pink for pinks"
is a classic example. The Pink Eve produced regularly for my son for
the remainder of the trip, but I found it no more killing than my
silver-bodied, mallard-winged standard. What was more critical for
success was fishing at the correct depth and for those conditions we
encountered the critical depth was just under the surface.
Details
Hook: Number 2 to 6 Mustad 34011 stainless steel.
Tail: Pink FisHair or polar bear fur.
Body: Oval, silver tinsel.
Wing: Pink FisHair or polar bear fur.
Originator: Barry Thornton.
Intended Use: Wet fly for pink salmon.
Location: Eve River, B.C. Canada.
~ Arthur James Lingren
Credits: From Fly Patterns of British Columbia
by Arthur James Lingren. We thank
Frank Amato Publications, Inc. for use permission!
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