The Salmon River MEGA Prince!

In this video, I tie my version of the Mega Prince—specifically a blacked-out variant that I’ve refined over the years targeting steelhead on the Salmon River. Note: The tying portion is a voiceover-focused walkthrough. The deeper background, history, and fishing application of this pattern are outlined here in the description. The Mega Prince builds off the foundation of the Prince Nymph, evolving into a larger, more aggressive attractor nymph that excels in higher flows and pressured conditions. Over time, the Mega Prince developed into a staple for Great Lakes steelhead anglers looking for a fly that combines visibility, weight, and movement without relying on exact imitation. From early Fall runs through Winter and into early Spring dropbacks, attractor nymphs like this continue to produce because they: • Maintain profile and presence in heavy current • Trigger reaction strikes rather than selective feeding • Offer a consistent silhouette fish can key in on My Blackout Variant This version is something I’ve spent about three years dialing in—adjusting proportions, materials, and color balance until it consistently performed. The goal wasn’t to overcomplicate it, but to refine: • A strong, dark primary profile • Subtle red and yellow trigger points in the legs • A clean but slightly suggestive thorax and collar It’s a pattern that’s proven itself in tough conditions and one that can turn a slow day into a very good one!