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Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Freight Train showing two bright butt sections, dark peacock-toned body, silver rib, short white hairwingIllustrated reference

Wet Fly · guide 107

Freight Train

A classic Pacific Northwest steelhead hairwing with fluorescent butt sections, a dark body, and a sparse pale wing.

Common size
No universal size; match the target species, legal hook rules, tackle, and local forage
Common colors
orange, pink, black, peacock, silver, and white
Imitates
classic steelhead attractor
How to recognize it

The reviewed form shows orange and pink butt sections ahead of a dark peacock-toned body, silver rib, dark collar, and short white hairwing. Modern dubbed, moose-wing, and flash-topped versions remain labeled.

Technical reviewed side profile illustration of Freight Train showing two bright butt sections, dark peacock-toned body, silver rib, short white hairwing
Illustrated reference

Freight Train reviewed side profile

A schematic profile emphasizing two bright butt sections and dark peacock-toned body.

View
reviewed side profile
Color shown
orange-and-pink butt, dark peacock body, silver rib, and white wing
Look for
two bright butt sections; dark peacock-toned body; silver rib; short white hairwing
Open full-size image ↗

On the water

Know when and how to fish it.

Use these tips as a starting point. The river, depth, insects, and fish behavior still decide the final presentation.

01

When to use it

  • Where the target species, water speed, depth, and season support the exact pattern.
  • Use the linked river report as a planning lead, then verify current regulations and local conditions before choosing the fly.
02

How to fish it

  • Choose line density and weight for the target depth, then preserve the silhouette and movement the pattern was designed to show.
  • Change depth, angle, speed, or pause length before assuming color alone is the problem.
03

Mistakes to avoid

  • Treating every similarly colored fly as Freight Train.
  • Using a report label as permission to fish through closures, spawning fish, redds, restricted water, or a prohibited rig.

Common variations

Small changes can make a different fly.

Three reviewed technical illustrations show one identified form, its construction, and its fishing orientation. Hook style, size, color, weighting, trailer-hook system, and local legal status remain labeled variables.

Reviewed identified form

The reviewed form shows orange and pink butt sections ahead of a dark peacock-toned body, silver rib, dark collar, and short white hairwing. Modern dubbed, moose-wing, and flash-topped versions remain labeled.
Colors shown
orange, pink, black, peacock, silver, and white
Weighting
Weight, line density, hook system, and current determine depth; construction alone does not.

Related patterns

Green Butt Skunk ↗Steelhead Wet, Spey, and Hairwing Patterns ↗Silver Hilton ↗

How this guide was checked

Fly information and photo sources.

Guide checked on 2026-07-12. Every image has its own source and usage record. Natural insects and hand-tied flies can vary in shape and proportion.

Pattern sources

Orvis NewsFish Facts: Steelhead↗Flytiers PageFreight Train↗

Image credits