Flies / Streamer

White Zonker

U.P. steelhead guides add white Zonkers and White Deaths #8 to the spring rig when smelt and shiners are in the lower rivers. Dead-drift it under an indicator or swing it through runs from April into June on Lake Superior tributaries and the St. Marys.

#4–8WhiteWhite/pearl (White Death)

What the pattern looks like

Reference photos of the White Zonker tied by others, shared by their photographers. Not our flies; our own product photos replace these as they are shot.

White Zonker reference photo — Photo © Quinn for Fly Deal Flies, used with permission · Zonker White/Pearl

Season

Months this pattern is in play across Michigan, derived from what it imitates.

Imitates

Forage

Emerald shiner
Spottail shiner
Rainbow smelt
Alewife

Fish it for

Steelhead Brown trout Coho salmon Atlantic salmon

Setups

Streamers
Swinging flies (spey / switch)
Indicator nymphing

Sources

Caddis Shack Guide Service, Steelhead in the Upper Peninsula
Rivers North, St. Marys Atlantic Salmon