Fly Pattern Dictionary: Brad’s Brat
Brad’s Brat is a classic Pacific Northwest steelhead fly developed by Enos Bradner.
Originally published in Steelhead Fly Fishing and Flies, 1976.
Enos Bradner is something of a Washington institution. Thousands know him as the former outdoor editor of the Seattle Times, a position he actively held for 26 years. More remarkable than his length of tenure was his age—50—at the time of employment. When many men are consigning themselves to the armchair and thinking retirement, Bradner led five fishing expeditions into the remote corners of Alaska. He was among the first to catch trophy rainbows and grayling from the Brooks and Nonvianuk rivers in the Katmai Peninsula. He helped produce a motion picture that showed sockeye salmon taking a fly, and with another party he caught the legendary sheefish from the Kuskokwim River near Aniak.
When the U.S. Navy conducted “Operation Crossroads” in 1948, Bradner was aboard the U.S.S. Haven with Dr. Lauren Donaldson, Clarence Pautzke, and Art Welander. Their mission was to test fish for radiation after the atomic bomb blast on Bikini.
Bradner grew up in Powers, Michigan, where his family operated a small country store. His parents sent him to live with an aunt in Marinette, Wisconsin while he attended high school (class valedictorian). He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in literature and business administration. After serving with the Army during World War I and seeing action with the 10th Field Artillery at Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne Forest, he returned home to work in the family store.
A vacation trip to Washington in 1929 changed his life. He fell in love with the area and n the first years of the Depression purchased a bookstore on Capitol Hill in Seattle.
A one-armed Irishman taught him to tie flies for “a pint of whiskey a lesson.” (Surely this was Dan Conway; see Conway Special.) Letcher Lambeth, Ralph Wahl, Ken McLeod, Sandy Bacon and many others became his fishing companions. He helped to found the Washington Fly Fishing Club and assisted in its efforts to make the Stillaguamish River’s North Fork a “fly only” water for its summer run.
The Seattle Times published an article on Bradner’s steelhead flies. The recognition was remembered by both parties when the position of outdoor editor became available in 1947.
Brad’s Brat was introduced in 1937 for summer-run steelhead on the Stillaguamish River and its Deer Creek tributary. With the advent of fluorescent materials, the pattern has become an all-season favorite for Washington waters. It is used in a wide variety of sizes: 4 to 2/0 for winter-run fish and 4 to 6 for summer fish. It is an effective sea-run cutthroat pattern in the smaller sizes and has produced well on lakes as a No. 10 or 12 wet fly.
Enos Bradner authored Northwest Angling, and 25 years after publication it is still required reading for the serious Washington angler.
Brad’s Brat - Tag: Fine flat silver or gold tinsel. Tail: Fluorescent, hot orange over white. Body: Dubbing, rear half hot orange, front half red. Ribbing: Oval silver or gold tinsel. Hackle: Long, brown widgeon flank, Cheeks: Jungle cock. Head: Red. Original Design: Enos Bradner.
Dressing notes and image of Brad’s Brat from Flies for Atlantic Salmon & Steelhead (2023).