Story and Photography by Ian Ricketson

Also called the Yolk Sac or Egg 'n' I, the Alevin was first originated by Tom Brayshaw for use on British Columbia’s Adams and Little Rivers. It is a very simplistic pattern designed to imitate those salmon fry still showing a yolk sac after hatching from their eggs in the spring. Brayshaw noticed that large trout focused on the alevin as a major food source in the early spring, mainly March and early April, and had much success with the pattern. He tended to vary his wing material, using both white polar bear hair and gray mallard flank. Originally, Brayshaw used a small Indian Crow feather to imitate the yolk sac of the alevin; however, this material is virtually impossible to obtain today. Usually, a small amount of wool is used as a substitute. The modern dressing of Brayshaw's Alevin is usually as follows:

Hook: Number 6 or 8
Body: Flat Silver Tinsel
Throat: Tuft of Red or Orange Wool
Wing: Strips of Natural Mallard Flank

Step 1: Attach tying thread and wind it back to the bend of the hook. Attach in a piece of silver tinsel. Holographic tinsel is often a good idea to give the pattern some added flash.
Step 2: Wind the tinsel forward leaving 1/8 to1/16th of an inch at the eye of the hook.
Step 3: Attach a throat of red or orange wool on the underside of the shank and trim it so it is about 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch long. A tip here is to tie in half the amount of wool needed and then fold it back onto itself, trimming it to the correct length with scissors. This way, the wool does not pull out as easily and the fly is more durable.
Step 4: Select a few strips from a natural mallard flank feather and tie in the wing so it extends the length of the hook.
Step 5: Whip finish, cut thread, and apply head cement.

Fish this pattern with varied retrieves as alevins are not accomplished swimmers and often exhibit erratic behavior because they are weighed down by their yolk sac. This fly is a good universal pattern for the spring in almost any river where salmon spawn. Locations where creeks supporting salmon runs flow into large lakes are often a good place to try the Alevin as cutthroat, rainbow trout, and dolly varden will take this fly with vengeance. If this fly does not produce, it could be due to the fact that the salmon fry have already passed through the alevin stage. In this case, a small, natural rolled muddler is a good idea. Good Luck!

End Note: Ian Ricketson is a Vancouver Island fly tier and fly fisherman whose passion is chasing steelhead. He is currently doing his third year of a Bachelor of Science degree (Biochemistry Major) at the University of Victoria, with the hope of becoming a medical doctor. His website is at: http://www.members.shaw.ca/cjricketson/