Been trying to tie some brassies and Copper johns and thought before I get too far I would ask if anyone has ever used them for steelhead. They are big enough for steelhead but I have never seen them listed as steelhead fly. Anyone ever use anything similar? I thought maybe the black and green larger ones would imitate stonefly nymphs at least a little if not imitate those carcasses I saw floating down the river so many years ago.

If anyone thinks they might work, any suggestions to change or improve them?

Yes, those will catch summer steelhead, especially the stonefly-looking dude and copper johns with red or green wire. Think low, clear conditions....

I think you're tying some good, fishy stuff in general, and I think it could all catch fish. If I had to make one suggestion to you about your fly tying, it would be to make your bodies, wings, etc. more sparse. Fish that eat bugs key in on profiles, and most of the naturals have very thin bodies. Wings and tails are typically very fine. If tying wets, go as sparse as you can stand and then go back and cut out a few more hairs. For dries, use the smallest amount of wing material possible that will allow the fly to float. Bulky dressings, while they often look nice, usually don't fish as well as more sparse versions.

Thank you, that will help me to get them down to size. I figured I would start tying them larger so I could get the hang of it then work my way down to small stuff.

Only steelhead I got on a fly was float fishing a 6 inch huge black leech. Ugliest tie I had in my box but it worked.

What size would you recommend? Or it sparse more important than size?

The sizes above should work. As you know from your experience with the big leech pattern, how big depends a lot on the fly pattern and a little on conditions. Generally speaking, the more clarity and lower the flows, the smaller your flies should be.

Or like the old timer once, well a dozen times told me, if it doesn't work, find something that will. If you don't throw it you won't know if they will hit it.