The Complete Fly Tying Recipe Library

The Tequila Sunrise is a salmon and steelhead attractor developed by George Cook as part of his Alaskabou series of marabou flies. Originally created during Cook’s guiding years in Alaska, it later became particularly popular for winter steelhead in Washington rivers such as the Sauk, Skagit, and Skykomish. The fly is normally fished on a controlled swing, although it can also be stripped through pools or worked with a sinking-tip line. Its marabou construction produces strong movement even in slow current, making it effective for salmon and steelhead holding in deep or cold water. The main tying consideration is keeping the marabou mobile and well balanced without adding so much material that the fly becomes difficult to cast.