Sackfly Fly

About the Sackfly Pacific & Steelhead Fly

The Sackfly is a deceptively simple winter steelhead fly created by Don Haaheim. Built from a single strand of brown burlap (gunny sack) with a criss-cross rib and red accents, it offers a scruffy, natural profile that suggests food tumbling along the bottom; the kind of easy meal steelhead will take when water is cold and flows are up.

Fishing Tips:

How it works

• Natural, buggy silhouette: The burlap body creates a rough, translucent look that reads like drifted “riverbed protein” rather than a bright attractor; ideal as a subtle steelhead fly pattern in winter conditions.
• Trigger accents: The red tail/hackle provides just enough colour to suggest life and vulnerability without overpowering the fly.
• Slim and sink-friendly: A sparse steelhead nymph / wet fly profile cuts through faster winter water and fishes well near the deck.
• Proven pedigree: Credited to Don Haaheim (tier/creator), which is a strong trust signal for serious Pacific & steelhead anglers.

How to fish it

• Fish the Sackfly like a winter steelhead nymph/wet fly: get it down, keep it slow, and let the current do the work.
• In heavier flows, use a sink tip or weighted leader setup so it tracks close to the bottom (where winter fish tend to hold).
• Try a slow swing with occasional gentle pulses, or fish it under an indicator with short lifts to imitate a tumbling morsel.
• When you feel a stop, set firmly; winter takes can be subtle.

Creator of this pacific & steelhead fly: Don Haaheim

Tier of this pacific & steelhead fly: Don Haaheim

Country of origin for this pacific & steelhead fly: Canada

Pattern Dressings

• Hook : Size 4.
• Tail : Red embroidery thread.
• Body : A single strand from a brown burlap gunny sack.
• Ribbing : Black thread crisscross.
• Hackle : Red squirrel tail.
• Head : Optional thin peacock herl.
• Wing : Red squirrel tail.
• Thread : Invisible mending.