Walker Stalker

I first tied the Walker Stalker in August of 2023 for the East Walker River located in Bridgeport, CA.

I wanted a leech pattern that would sink fast to get into the tight, deep slots behind rocks with fast moving currents and could be used with an indicator rod setup or European rod setup.

I also wanted the pattern to be heavy so I use a Fulling Mill Jig Force hook with a slotted tungsten bead, a little clump of marabou and Krystal flash for a tail, and Polar Chenille for the body. Thread is important too, because the thread provides a hot spot behind the bead. The orange hot spot on the orange/black or the red hot spot on the olive/red are key to this fly pattern and should not be overlooked.

Walker Stalker Orange/Black and Red/Olive

After meeting up with my good friends Rob and Luke from Golden Trout Guiding Company on the East Walker, I began to use this fly and it absolutely kicked ass. I was catching both trophy brown and rainbow trout and couldn’t keep them off the line. Good times all around.

East Walker Rainbow Trout

When I returned to my home water on the Merced River, I began to test out this fly and once again it was a great success. My clients were catching most of their fish on the Walker Stalker when we were nymphing for trout and I knew I had a new favorite, easy to tie deadly fly pattern.

It can be fished year round, but in the fall and winter months this is pretty much all I used. Tie some up and get out there!

Tight Lines,

Greg