Fishing "The Hitch" for Atlantic Salmon

Originating in Newfoundland by locals who were given flies a Silk Gut Eye, from British Mariners, which unfortunately over time the silk gut would decay and the eye would break . Forcing fisherman without means of new flies to attach old ones to their leader the best way possible, resulting in a series of Half Hitches over and behind the head of the fly, hence the name of this unorthodox why of fishing.

But it was the Legend Lee Wulff who made The Hitch famous in his videos and writings while he pioneered the exploration of Newfoundland & Labrador's Atlantic Salmon rivers, massive Brookies and breathtaking back country. It was Lee Who Dubbed this method "The Portland Hitch" after Portland Creek River On Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, which was certainly one of Lee's favorite Salmon Rivers and the hitch works very well on most of that river, well about every river really!

I've seen the hitch tied on by many different anglers in many ways, I'm going to describe to you how I like to do it and why...

We will star with your fly being tied on with a fresh clinch knot and Depending on the side of the river you are standing on depends on the side of the fly in which you wish to have your lead coming off the fly. So for demonstration purposes we will assume we are on river right standing perpendicular to the river holding the fly with the head facing upstream, slide your clinch knot to the side of the fly facing you,

Now make a loop in your leader making a half hitch sliding over the eye and over the head and you draw it tight on the side also facing you ideally you want to put this hitch coming off between 6 and 9 on a 45° angle from the bottom to the side of the fly as seen Below in the photograph. You will also do the same if fishing from River left this makes a difference in how your flies swings and the normal turn a salmon makes on your fly for Superior hookups.

This is certainly a Technique all Atlantic salmon fishing in should have in their Arsenal regardless of the river or geographical location in as it's proven to work all over the world give it a try on your next swing through a pool!