Indigo Guide Service

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Steve’s Steelhead Stone by Steve Martinez

This stonefly pattern was a steady evolution over the years, it is easy enough to tie and has a nice look.  I like the bead head to give a segmented look and a little weight to fish heavy, like a stonefly.  I found that some of the stones had a slightly lighter underside than their back and I think the high contrast on this pattern is good at getting noticed.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R70, size 8

Head… medium tungsten in black

Tail… black rubber legs

Body… *medium sized, tan rubber band

Hackle… brown grouse

Back… oil can foil

*Use a black Sharpie marker to darken the back.

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Morlock’s Spring Stone by Kevin Morlock

Our first hatch of the year in west Michigan that is important to steelhead anglers are a couple species of black or dark stoneflies, they range from size 10-20, but most are in the 12-14 range.  The steelhead are not critical on size and many feel that a bit larger stonefly pattern will produce more action, stonefly patterns tied on size 6-8 egg hooks are a good choice.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad C67S, size 6

Tail… turkey tail

Ribbing… light copper wire

Body… 3-5 strands of peacock herl

Hackle… pheasant neck

Back… *turkey tail

*This is the same turkey tail piece that was used for the tail, now brought forward for the back.

References:

West Michigan Fishing Report for February 23rd, 2010

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Carp Fly… Morlock’s Goby by Kevin Morlock

This fly is an absolute go-getter for both carp and smallmouth bass but on the tough side for tying — I sit on a rock and cry for a few minutes every time I break one off.  I’m not usually one for over-the-top flies but this one is worth the effort.  I’ve simplified it in the past but keep coming back to this design, the others just don’t fish as well.  This pattern is a goby in the water, a perfect imposture.

My friend and fellow Michigan guide Walt Grau gave me a sculpin pattern that he had came up with that was tied in this style.  I wasn’t interested in another sculpin pattern but I was looking for a goby.  After years of changes this is what has evolved.  I haven’t made any changes for a few years, In my mind this fly has hit goby perfection.

Best For… carp and smallmouth bass            Could Also Be Used For… trout and steelhead

***Materials listed in tying order (this fly is triple articulated)

***This fly is about 3 1/2 inches long

Head Section

Hook… Tiemco, TMC 105, size 4

Eyes… Wapsi Dumbbell Eyes in yellow, size medium

Note:  secure the eyes in the middle of the hook, cement and put aside to dry.

Tail Section

Hook… any light and cheap short shank hook (it gets cut-off at the bend)

Tail… a medium small pheasant feather with lots of contrast

Hackles… build forward starting with very small, then progressively larger pheasant feathers — the tail section should take between 4 and 5 feathers to complete.

Note:  choose contrasting feather colors to give the fly a mottled look.

Joining tail section with the middle section and building the middle section

Cut… cut the tail hook off at the bend

Joint… 6 inches of 20# Power Pro or another braided casting line

Hook… any light and cheap short shank hook (it gets cut-off at the bend)

Hackles… build forward starting with medium, getting progressively larger pheasant feathers — this section will only take two or three feathers as they are now larger

Joining middle (and tail) with the head section and finishing the head section

Cut… cut the tail hook off at the bend

Joint… 6 inches of 20# Power Pro or another braided casting line

Hackle(s)… 1 or 2 large pheasant feathers

Throat… pinch of yellow marabou

Collar and head behind the eyes… spun deer body hair

Front head and between the eyes… deer body hair applied with a dubbing loop

References:

Tying perfect carp flies on a cold morning

In-Fisherman, Prime Time Carp by Kevin Morlock

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Carp Fly… Morlock’s Quick Craw by Kevin Morlock

I was shown a similar crawfish fly years ago by Dorthy Schramm of Pentwater, Michigan.  I do not remember exactly what Dorothy’s fly looked like or if it was her creation or someone else’s.  This fly has been in continuous use and has been evolving for again, over ten years.  It is a very easy crawfish pattern, as crawfish patterns go and fishes very well when conditions are right.  The right conditions are inactive fish in relatively shallow water and/or flat calm — this fly hits the water very softly.  Each day I will have this fly in several color combinations, with each color in several weight combinations.

Best For… carp            Could Also Be Used For… smallmouth bass, trout, steelhead and panfish

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Tiemco, TMC 200R, size 6

Weight… 0-10 wraps of .025 lead wire (see note 1)

Tail… fox squirrel tail, tied down the bend of the hook

Flash… 1 strand each red and blue Hareline Dubbin, Krystal Flash

Hackle… grouse or pheasant hackle

Eyes… bead chain eyes

Body… yarn

Legs… rubber legs (see note 2)

Note 1:  I wrap the lead wire, then go over the entire hook and wire with thread and then cement.  I usually lead wire/cement several hooks at a time, this gives the cement time to dry.

Note 2:  I tied this pattern with a better looking finished look but it was more work and didn’t fish better.  I do my best to match the thread and yarn, tie off the yarn at the hook eye, wrap back to mid-body and tie in the rubber legs, then wrap back to the eye and finish.  It is a little sloppy but actually gives a bit of a cross hatch look.

Visit our West Michigan Fly Index page for a quick look at our collection.

Steelhead Fly… Morlock’s Pearl Jam Shrimp by Kevin Morlock

Years ago I guided a young couple on a tough April steelhead trip on the Pere Marquette River — lots of people and few fish.  He had brought some of his own flies that he wanted to use, one was a pearl/white/pink shrimp pattern.  If I remember we went two for two with both fish on his pearl shrimp.  I’ve been trying different material combinations and styles for years trying to replicate that pattern.  To be honest I really only have a vague idea what his fly looked like or if it was just a fluke that day.  This spring I tested a new shrimp variation and it has worked great, I ended up naming it the Pearl jam Shrimp.

Best For… steelhead

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad Signature C67S, size 6

Tail… tiewell, blue pearl Sparkleflash (I got my Sparkleflash from Chris Helm’s shop, Whitetail Fly Tieing)

Abdomen… Hareline Dubbin, Ice Dub UV Callibaetis

Back… 2-3 strands of peacock herl

Thorax… GlissenGloss, Estaz lights UV White

References:

Pere Marquette Fishing Report, Clouds and rain make for great steelhead fishing on the Pere Marquette River, April 21st, 2009