I fished Ala Spit yesterday during an outgoing tide in the early afternoon. I caught a gorgeous Dolly Varden! This was special for me for several reasons. It may have been my first fish caught there. More special is that it took one of my deer hair poppers that I have focused on for the last couple of years. I have given a lot of these away but have not heard that anyone caught anything on one of them yet. I certainly hoped they would work, but really had no proof until yesterday. It's one thing to tie your own style of flies, but another thing that they actually fool a fish. Here is the fly that worked:

I didn't get a picture of the fish because he inhaled it. After removing the fly, I was just tickled that he swam away. I didn't want to torture him anymore but he was in the 20 inch range. I styled these flies knowing that Sea Run Cutthroat will take a popper and Chum Babies. Compare the tail to a Chum Baby and you will notice the resemblance. Here is one that isn't all beat up:

I also style these after the famous Gurgler with whatever color turns you on. Here is one I tied in March around Saint Patrick's day. Notice the Irish colors:

Still need to do a lot of product testing. One of these days, I am going to catch a Sea Run Cutthroat on them. For now I am tickled with the Dolly.