Gil's Deceiver

Member's Comments:

I designed this fly in 2005 soon after returning from a week of salmon spring fishing on Canada's Miramichi River. While there, I was using a local green and yellow fly called the "Renous Special" while Jim Slade, my fishing partner and the best salmon fisherman I ever saw, was using (to the amazement of most locals)  Lefty's Deceivers saltwater flies in various colors but all with the traditional white hackle tails.

Since we both out-fished everyone at the Lodge that year, I thought about combining the two patterns, meaning the colors of the Renous and the shape of the Deceiver. So, for the following year (2006), I tied one Gil's Deceiver prototype.

In the Spring of 2006, I started to fish using several salmon traditional patterns with no luck. I then switched to the Gil's Deceiver prototype and, within a half hour or so, I hooked and released one salmon and two grilse. Unfortunately, soon after that, I somehow lost my prototype fly and had to go back to using the traditional Miramichi salmon flies.

As soon as I got home, I tied three Gil's Deceiver flies. Then, my friend, past LIFR President and best fly tyer I know Lee Weil offered to tie me a dozen more. Of course, that was an offer I couldn't refuse.

Hopefully, in 2007, this fly will perform a well as it did in 2006.

Gil Padovani