alantic salmon wetfly. silver blue. silver body with black wing and blue throat
alantic salmon wetfly. silver blue. silver body with black wing and blue throat

Atlantic Salmon Fly, Hairwing, Silver Blue - Black Wing

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Description

The Silver Blue – Dark Wing is a traditional Atlantic salmon wet fly featuring a reflective silver body, fluorescent blue throat and contrasting black hairwing. Its combination of flash, colour and dark silhouette makes it a versatile choice for fishing Atlantic salmon in a variety of river conditions.

A classic hairwing pattern well suited to traditional wet-fly swing presentations, particularly in clear water, shaded pools and lower-light conditions.

Tied in Canada by DcTackle.

Pattern History

The Silver Blue is an established Atlantic salmon fly with roots in the Scottish salmon-fishing tradition. The pattern appears in George M. Kelson's The Salmon Fly (1895), where a dressing attributed to W. Brown features a silver body, oval silver rib, blue throat hackle and teal wing. The Silver Blue later became associated with the simpler, sparsely dressed salmon flies popularized on Scotland's River Dee.

Over time, the Silver Blue has been adapted into numerous hairwing dressings, retaining its recognizable combination of reflective silver and blue while introducing different wing materials and construction techniques.

The DcTackle Silver Blue – Dark Wing uses black opossum hair in place of the lighter traditional wing, creating a stronger silhouette while preserving the silver body, blue throat and classic character of the pattern.

Fishing Notes

The Silver Blue – Dark Wing is a versatile Atlantic salmon wet fly that combines the reflective qualities of a silver body with the contrast of a dark hairwing and fluorescent blue throat. This combination makes it particularly appealing in clear water, shaded pools and overcast conditions where a defined silhouette can be effective.

Fish it using a traditional across-and-downstream wet-fly swing, allowing the current to carry the fly naturally through likely salmon holding water. Adjust the casting angle and line control to vary the speed and depth of the presentation.

The pattern is well suited to fishing through pools, runs and slower holding water, particularly when a smaller, more understated presentation is preferred. Its contrasting materials also make it a useful general searching fly across a range of Atlantic salmon river conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size Atlantic salmon fly should I choose?
Fly size depends on factors such as water level, water temperature, clarity, season and fishing conditions. Larger flies are often selected for higher or colder water, while smaller flies are commonly used as water levels fall and temperatures rise. Local preferences and river conditions can also influence fly selection.
Are these flies suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Yes. These patterns are suitable for Atlantic salmon fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, although individual patterns, sizes and presentations may be better suited to particular rivers or conditions. Where useful, additional information is provided in the Pattern History and Fishing Notes for the individual fly.
Are these Atlantic salmon flies tied in Canada?
Yes. DcTackle Atlantic salmon flies are tied in Canada by DcTackle using carefully selected fly-tying materials.
What materials are used in these Atlantic salmon flies?
The materials vary by pattern. The Pattern Recipe on each product page identifies the dressing used for that particular fly. Where appropriate, the Material Alternatives section also identifies other materials that can be used in place of traditional or specified materials.
Can I substitute different materials when tying this pattern?
Yes. Many traditional Atlantic salmon patterns have been dressed with different materials over time, often because of availability, regional preference or changes in fly-tying materials. Where suitable alternatives exist, they are identified in the Material Alternatives section of the product page.
Can I purchase the materials used to tie this pattern?
Where materials are available from DcTackle, they are shown in the Shop the Pattern section of the product page. Availability varies by pattern and material.

Shop the Pattern

Everything you need to tie this pattern, matched to the exact materials used.

Pattern Recipe

SW-008 · Silver Blue - Dark Wing

Hook
Maruto M30
Thread
Semperfli 8/0 Black CWT Thread
Tip
Oval Silver Tinsel
Tag
Uni-Stretch Nylon - Green
Tail
Golden Pheasant Crest Feather
Butt
Black Ostrich Herl
Body
Flat Silver Tinsel
Rib
Oval Silver Tinsel
Throat / Collar Hackle
Fl. Blue Schlappen tied as a throat
Wing — Layer 1
Black Opossum Hair or substitute
Head Finish
Black Thread and UV Black Resin - Ultra Thin

Tying Video

Tying video coming soon.

This recipe represents the DcTackle dressing. Traditional Atlantic salmon flies often have multiple accepted variations, and materials may differ between historical, regional and contemporary dressings.

Image Note: Some product graphics use AI-assisted presentation. Fly imagery is based on actual DcTackle-tied flies; AI may be used for backgrounds, supporting imagery and visual presentation.

Pattern Notes

The fluorescent blue schlappen is tied as a throat beneath the wing rather than as body hackle. This creates a concentrated blue accent while leaving the silver body exposed.

Black Opossum Hair is the standard DcTackle wing material for this dressing. Its natural taper and soft fibres provide movement while maintaining the dark-wing profile that distinguishes this version from lighter Silver Blue dressings.

Finish with a neat black thread head and a thin application of black UV resin, taking care to preserve the shape and mobility of the wing and throat.