Indigo Guide Service

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Carp Fly Recipe… Morlock’s Beast Bait by Kevin Morlock

This is pattern and in the yellow in particular is becoming a staple on Kevin’s carp trips.  Though he has been tying and using variations of this pattern for years he has been reluctant to give it a name because it looks like dozens of bunny strip flies that are already out there.

Though this year Kevin has decided to give it a name because people keep asking what it is called and why the recipe isn’t on the site.  And also because this fly has now accounted for two of the four largest carp caught by the Indigo crew… both in yellow.

This is a quick and easy pattern to tie and should be tied in several colors.  Tie them large, you can always cut them smaller on the water.

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

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Mustad R90
Eyes… large red lead eyes
Tail/Body… yellow olive bunny strip (see note 1)
Collar.. light blue crystal flash
Hackle… Brown Schlappen
Head… brown rag yarn (see note 2)

Note 1 – Tie your eyes on and then glue them and let them dry.  Before you put the fly back in the vise, pierce the bunny strip with the hook about 1 inch down from the head end.

Note 2 – The only place I know to get this yarn is FlyMasters, though on this pattern you could substitute anything.

Third Coast Fly – The Beasts of Beaver Island

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Carp Fly Recipe… Martinez’s Depth Charge by Steve Martinez

When the carp are deep you have to get deep quickly to be effective.  This fly is heavy and casts like a kitchen sink but it is effective.  It has became Steve’s bread-and-butter fly for cloudy days when the carp are staying in deeper water.  You can vary the color and size but this is the standard.

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

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 200R
Eyes… large yellow lead eyes
Body Weight… 12 or so wraps of lead wire
Tail… brown marabou
Body… olive brown U.V. Polar Chenille
Collar.. yellow mallard
Head… peacock colored Cactus Dubbing

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

Salmon Fly Pattern… Blueburg by John Kluesing

As the story goes, legindary west Michigan guide John Kluesing wanted to tie a batch of Hornburgs for his next day of salmon fishing and only had a handful of usable mallard feathers left.  As you may remember, the Hornburg has two mallard feathers per fly.  John decided to go for quantity over quality and only used one feather across the back.

The Blueburg has been a favorite among area guides and fisherman for years and has caught everything that swims.  It looks good dead drifted but will start to wobble when it swings out at the end of the drift.  This is also one of my carp flies for tough pods of resting fish in skinny water… you can just dance this fly across their nose.

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

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 105, size 4 – 8
Tail and Body… light blue tinsel
Wing… natural mallard
Hackle… grouse or pheasant
Head… orange or red thread

John Kluesing, Northern Lights Guide Service (231) 745-3792

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

Steelhead Fly Pattern… Morlock’s Baby Salmon by Kevin Morlock

This fly is my evolution of the best spring into summer salmon fry pattern.  From April through June the Pere Marquette River and other Michigan streams become thick with young salmon in the 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch range.  They are an abundant and high protein food source that our resident trout and visiting steelhead focus on.

This is a must have pattern in my box for steelhead and trout swung behind an egg.  When I’m just focusing on trout we will use this fly to fish downstream around cover, riffles and drop-offs.  Or my latest favorite is to fish it behind a larger attractor streamer… 90% of the fish will come on the fry pattern.

Best For… steelhead and trout          Could Also Be Used For…  panfish

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 3761, size 6 or 8
Tail and Body… Flashabou Mirage, 3005 opal
Wing… natural mallard
Head Base… built up black thread
Gill Accent… red thread
Head Finish… your favorite head hardener

 
Morlock’s Baby Salmon, Alevin Martinez with a salmon fry.

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

Steelhead Fly Recipe… Alevin Martinez by Steve Martinez

This fly is designed to fish when swung down-stream or stripped with short strips.  Peak timing for this fly is February through June, focusing on the hatching salmon and then the steelhead.  I tied this fly smaller to better represent the size of a real alevin but have evolved to this larger size because it catches more fish.

Best For… steelhead and trout          Could Also Be Used For…  panfish

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… TMC 3761, size 6
Eyes… black bead chain
Tail… white zonker
Back… loose spun yarn (see note)
Body… sparkle braid
Egg Sac… orange or peach McFoam

Note:  The only place I know to get this loose spun yarn is FlyMasters in Indianapolis.

 
Morlock’s Baby Salmon, Alevin Martinez with a salmon fry.