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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 (see note 3)

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.

Note 3:  Someone emailed and asked about the exact placement of the eyes… the eyes are tied on the bottom (inside bend) of the hook, they don’t look right tied on top (outside bend) of the hook.  With the number 6 hook, there is still enough hook gap to do the job.

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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

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

Carp Fly… Morlock's Carp Breakfast by Kevin Morlock

This pattern is available at FlyMasters and FeatherCraft.

This carp fly tied in a variety of colors and weights is probably my most used pattern.  It seems like if they are going to hit anything it will be a Breakfast in one color or another.  I named it "Carp Breakfast" because if anything would get an inactive group of fish to break their fasting it was a Breakfast.  This pattern also casts very well in the wind with it's compact shape that does not carry too much water.  I keep the marabou in the tail sparse, this is the look that works best for me.

Best For… carp and smallmouth bass

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Tiemco 200R, size 4

Eyes… Wapsi dumbbell eyes, painted yellow, small (see note)

Tail (marabou)… slight pinch of marabou

Tail (flash)… 6-8 strands tied around marabou, Hareline Dubbin, Krystal Flash

Wire… light copper to cover and protect the peacock body

Body… peacock herl, 3-4 long pieces

Inner Hackle… light yellow mallard flank

Hackle Flash… 6-8 strands tied around mallard the same color as the tail, Hareline Dubbin, Krystal Flash

Outer Hackle… pheasant body feather

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

Note (eyes):  It is important that you have a variety of fly weights for any conditions you may encounter.  My box would have half a dozen color variations of this pattern, each color variation would also be in several weights.

Note (size):  This fly is around 2 1/2 to 3 inches in length.

The Carp Breakfast is tied through Rainy's Flies in four colors and is available at FlyMasters and FeatherCraft, and FeatherCraft also includes the Breakfast as part of their carp assortment.

References:

Rick Mikesell from Trout's Fly Fishing in Denver lists the Carp Breakfast as his favorite carp fly for CarpSlam.

"After catching that big boy on a carp breakfast I sorta got the urge to do some more of it!  We caught 8 or 10 that day all on your fly!"  Click here to see the post.

The Tippecanoe Fly Fishers doing well on the Carp Breakfast.

Article:  In-Fisherman, Prime Time Carp by Kevin Morlock

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Morlock’s Craw Bunny by Kevin Morlock

This relatively simple crawfish pattern is one of my bread-and-butter flies for Great Lakes carp.  I keep the size to about three inches but vary the color, usually having half a dozen or more color variations in my fly box.  With most of my carp flies, it has great action when stripped but will settle tail-up.  This allows the tail (claws) to have action with the slightest water movement — from an approaching fish, wave action or current.

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

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Tiemco 200R, size 4

Weight… lead wire, 12 or so wraps of .030

Eyes… large bead chain SEE NOTE

Tail (flash)… 2 strands blue and 2 strands red, Hareline Dubbin Krystal Flash

Tail (claws)… bunny strip tied so that they spread

Tail (color accent)… small pinch of yellow marabou

Tail (hackle)… schlappen

Body (inner)… yarn that matches the Polar Chenille, tapered toward tail

Body (outer)… Hareline Dubbin, Polar Chenille

Note:  1) This fly is around 3 inches in length.  2) Someone emailed and asked about the exact placement of the eyes… the eyes are tied on the bottom (inside bend) of the hook, they don’t look right tied on top (outside bend) of the hook.  With the number 4 hook, there is still enough hook gap to do the job.

References:

Article:  In-Fisherman, Prime Time Carp by Kevin Morlock

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

Steelhead & Salmon Fly… Grau’s Tracer Bullet (fancy) by Walt Grau

Walt Grau showed me this fly years ago, his answer to dirty water.  Walt’s original tracer bullet is simply a giant nuke egg, sometimes accented with a bit of flourescent tinsel — the fancy is my variation, though I can’t say that it fishes any better.  If you like spending extra time dressing up flies that would fish just as well without the improvements, then the fancy variation is for you.  We use a tube on this fly only because long egg yarn makes a tangled mess with the hook.

Best For… steelhead            Could Also Be Used For… salmon

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… tube

Body… gold holographic tinsel

1st Over Wing… orange Glo Bugs yarn (The Bug Shop)

Under Wing… orange "Glow-in-the-dark" Flashabou (Hedron Inc.)

2nd Over Wing… chartreuse Glo Bugs yarn (The Bug Shop)

3rd Over Wing… green "Glow-in-the-dark" Flashabou (Hedron Inc.)

Head… flourescent thread

Note:  This fly is around 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length.

Original Grau’s Tracer Bullet

References:

Walt Grau, Spey Rod Outfitter and Guide Service

West Michigan Fishing Report for November 30th, 2009 — Fresh Michigan steelhead with the Thanksgiving rain!

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Steelhead Fly Pattern, Glow Nuke Egg by Kevin Morlock

Egg flies are a top choice for steelhead and salmon.  The Glow Nuke Egg works well in high dark or dirty water… when you need a little more of an attention getter.  Using these flies in the daytime allows the sun to charge the material when ever they are out of the water, giving them the brightest glow.  You can tie them in any color combination and size but keep in mind that in high water, bigger is usually better.

Best For… steelhead, salmon and trout

 ***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad C67S, size 4-10

Body… Flashabou GLOW-in-the-dark

Wing… Wapsi egg yarn

Glow Nuke Eggs with the lights out

References Links:

West Michgian Fishing Report for November 10th, 2009.

Pere Marquette Fishing Report (Perfect PM River steelhead, steelhead fly — the Glow Nuke Egg)

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

Grau’s Easy Sculpin by Walt Grau

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, carp, bass and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Dai-Riki #710, size 4

Tail… brown rag yarn

Body… dark orange yarn

Hackle… pheasant rump

Flash… copper Flashabou (6 or so pieces over hackle)

Head… brown rag yarn

References Links:

Walt Grau

Pere Marquette Fishing Report (Pere Marquette Steelhead, Grau’s Easy Sculpin)

Dan Bailey, Dai-Riki hooks (home page)

FlyMasters of Indianapolis (source for rag yarn)

Hedron Inc of Stillwater, Minnesota (makers of Flashabou)

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

Morlock’s UV Rabbit in brown by Kevin Morlock

This is a very good all around fly for Michigan salmon and steelhead, though the Pere Marquette River salmon seem to really have a thing for the uv tying materials.  With the bunny tail it has lots of action on a dead drift but really comes alive when it swings out.  While I tied this pattern for use on the PM River and other West Michigan Rivers for salmon and steelhead, I have used it successfully as a streamer for Michigan trout as well as Great Lakes carp and smallmouth bass.

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

***Materials listed in tying order
Hook… Mustad Signature R74, size 4
Eyes… large silver bead chain
Tail… natural brown rabbit
Body… tan yarn
Hackle… Hareline Dubbin, uv polar chenille, olive copper uv

Variations… I use this pattern in a dozen or more variations, including some that are very bright.

	Morlock’s UV Rabbit in purple/black
	Tying Morlock’s UV Rabbits

References Links:

Kevin Morlock

Salmon…The Right Way by Kevin Morlock

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report (Hot Pere Marquette River King Salmon Fishing)

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report (World Record Bowfin, Morlock’s UV Rabbit)

FlyMasters of Indianapolis (source for uv materials)

Feather-Craft of St. Louis (source for uv materials – home page)

Feather-Craft of St. Louis (uv polar chenille page)

Hareline Dubbin, Inc. (home page)

Hareline Dubbin, Inc. (page with uv polar chenille)

Mustad

Mustad Signature Fly Hooks, R74 Streamer

The video "How to Tie a Nuke Egg Fly" by Kevin Morlock was posted on YouTube on January 17, 2009.  You can view the video on YouTube here.

This video is in poor quality but it is good enough to show the process of tying a "guide quality" nuke egg.  How to tie a nuke egg fly for fly fishing trout, salmon and steelhead. A very simple fly but also very popular in the Great Lakes and other areas, especially among guides. A customer requested tying instructions and posting this seemed like the best way to provide the information.