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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:

Our friends at Tippecanoe Fly Fishers posted step-by-step directions on the Morlock's Goby.

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.

Martinez’s Muddler (a Muddler Minnow variation) by Steve Martinez

This pattern is a variation of the famous and widely used Muddler Minnow.  While maintaining the classic deer hair head, Steve feels that this variation has improved action in the tail, giving it a livelier appearance.

Note:  At Indigo we draw a line in the sand and will never take credit for another tiers creative work.  Though we do think that it is fair and important to show variations when we think they perform better in our waters.

Best For… trout and steelhead            Could Also Be Used For… pike, salmon and bass

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Tiemco, TMC 200R, size 4-6

Tail… olive deer tail

Body… cream antron yarn

Tinsel… 2 strands of gold

Under Wing… small olive barred marabou

Over Wing… long grouse hackle feather

Head… olive deer body hair

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

Hula (Tube) by Unknown

This is a pattern that Indigo Guide Steve Martinez has really fallen for.  It is a simple tie that doesn’t hold much water and gives off a huge profile.  Steve ties it in several color combinations and really likes the pattern for aggressive fall steelhead.

Best For… steelhead            Could Also Be Used For… pike and salmon

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Tube… small Eumer tube

Head… tube style bronze cone

Inner Tail… Flashabou (Hedron Inc.)

Outer Tail… Flashabou (Hedron Inc.) about an inch longer than the inner tail

Hackle… Schlappen

Inner Collar… Hareline Dubbin, UV Ice Dub (dark color)

Outer Collar… Hareline Dubbin, UV Ice Dub (light color)

Note:  This fly is about four inches in total length.

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

Morlock’s 4 Eyes by Kevin Morlock

This steelhead and salmon fly came about as I tried to incorporate two of my favorite fly tying materials, uv polar chenille and Flashabou Mirage into a fly.  The 4 Eyes is what I came up with and it has fished very well.  It glows and sparkles so much underwater that you’d think it has a battery.

Best For… salmon and steelhead            Could Also Be Used For… bass, trout, pike

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R74, size 4

Eyes… brass bead chain (4 long)

Tail… Flashabou Mirage (Hedron Inc.)

Body… Hareline Dubbin, dyed uv polar chenille

Hackle… schlappen

Head… peacock herl twisted on thread for strength and then wrapped behind and between lead eyes

	A flock of 4 Eyes ready to hit the water.
	A Morlock’s 4 Eyes in a fall picture.
	Yet another fall picture with a 4 Eyes

References:
Pere Marquette River Fishing Report… Streamer Fishing for Steelhead on the PM River is OK
Pere Marquette River Fishing Report… Steelhead Fishing on the PM River is Average (in photo)
Pere Marquette River Fishing Report… Good Michigan Fly Fishing for King Salmon, Steelhead and Coho Salmon (in photo)
West Michigan Fishing Report… West Michigan steelhead numbers are ok, conditions and weather are perfect

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

Martinez’s Goby in olive by Steve Martinez

Gobies represent a large portion of the diet of many predators that we like to target in the Great Lakes.  Especially if you like to fish shallow flats for carp and smallmouth bass.  This pattern could also carry over as a sculpin pattern in rivers, though I might tie the head thicker.

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

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Umpqua, TMC 200R, size 6

Eyes… medium dumbbell in red

Tail… rag yarn

Tail… 4 strands of copper tinsel

Body… flat gold tinsel

1st Collar… Hareline Dubbin, Hare’s Ice Dub in peacock

2nd Collar… rag yarn

Head… dear body hair in brown

References Links:

Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) — information about round gobies.

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

Martinez’s Halloween Caveman (tube) by Steve Martinez

Sculpin flies can often be difficult and complex to tie but not this one.  Grau’s Easy Sculpin is the easiest sculpin pattern I’ve seen and best of all it produces fish.  The fish we like to catch in our West Michigan rivers love to eat sculpins and this fat headed, tapering toward the tail fly is just the right look for a sculpin.  More good news, sculpins look a lot like gobies.  Gobies are now a top prey item for most Great Lakes predators and I have used this pattern for Great Lakes smallmouth bass and carp.  For smallmouth and carp in the Great Lakes flats you really need to have the hook ridding up… 6-12 wraps of lead on the body or lead eyes makes this a good hook up carp and smallmouth flats goby fly.

Best For… steelhead, salmon            Could Also Be Used For… bass, pike and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Tube… Eumer, small

Cone… bronze, medium

Tail… barred rabbit strip

Body… Hareline Dubbin, uv polar chenille, silver

Tinsel… pearl crinkle

Collar… barred rabbit strip

References Links:

West Michgian Fishing Report for October 30th, 2009.

Pere Marquette Fishing Report (Solid steelhead numbers but the PM River has high water)

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

Martinez’s Steelhead Caveman by Steve Martinez

When tied bright (as pictured) is a good choice for high dirty water or when the fish are really on the bite.  Tied in natural colors it is a good choice in most conditions.

Best For… steelhead, salmon and pike            Could Also Be Used For… bass and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad Signature R74, size 4

Eyes… large bead chain eyes

Tail… yello, black or brown bunny strip

Body… crystal braid

Head… crosscut bunny strip, same color as tail

Reference Links:

Steve Martinez

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report (High dirty water on the Pere Marquette with goo steelhead numbers)

Mustad

Mustad Signature Fly Hooks, R74