A battle with a steelhead would shred the wing, but this fly would still fish. And you’d remember that summer run the rest of your life anyway. Because every one is a gift. If you tie this fly, tie several because you will hate what the first fish does to it. And you will love it!

This is another steelhead fly that tries to have it all. A strike trigger fuschia butt, a little flash, a splash of chartreuse, purple for low light — and peacock sword because trout can’t say no to peacock. You can almost see this Sword Fighter swagger into Hamlet Act 5, Scene 2. In the castle.

Tie the Sword Fighter on a No. 5 up-eye black steelhead hook. For the tag, use gold tinsel and chartreuse floss. Tie in a tail of fuschia-dyed golden pheasant tippets. For the body, use a sparse dubbing wrap with silver wire rib. For the hackle, use purple schlappen. Complete the fly with a peacock sword wing.

—Gary Lewis, for The Bulletin