Indigo Guide Service

Michigan Stonefly… Easily Stoned by Phil Cusey

Easy to tie and very effective is Phil's Easily Stoned pattern.  This is Phil's go-to stonefly patterns for his home river of the Muskegon but would also be an effective patterns for any stream.  As good size and profile match to the spring stoneflies that hatch throughout Michigan.

Best For… steelhead and trout

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… Daiichi 1530, size 8
Tail… black goose biot
Body… small black V-Rib
Thorax… pearl/black estaz

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

Steelhead Streamer… Steve's Foxxy Brown

Steve has been working on a streamer that mimics a small brown trout.  The Foxxy Brown looks great in the water, tracks well and most importantly, steelhead want to eat it.  This fly is also a very easy tie.

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

***Materials listed in tying order

Hook… spey style hook, size 4 to 6
Tail… red fox tail, inner fur
Body… ice chenille, root beer
1st Ribbing… red tinsel
2nd Ribbing… gold tinsel SEE NOTE
Under Wing… red and gold tinsel used for ribbing
Over Wing… red fox tail, hairs with black and gray tips
Head… build up a nice head with thread

Notes – 1) Steve ties the second tinsel on the opposite side of the hook from the first, this makes it easier to have them fall next to each other and not overlap.

2) Steve sometimes omits the tail and hasn't decided which version he prefers.

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

Steelhead Tube Streamer… Fred's Ugly Bug (Tube Version)

This trout and steelhead streamer is one of Fred Davidson's favorite, Fred is a local Pere Marquette fly fishing guru.  Fred ties his on a long shank streamer hook like the TMC 300.  Indigo guide Steve Martinez converted Fred's fly to a tube version using an aluminum rivet.

The aluminum rivet has a bit of weight and a flat head that really makes the materials pulse.  Steve watched Aaron McDaniel use rivets at a Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers meeting and has used the idea since.

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

***Materials listed in tying order

Tube… aluminum rivet (pin removed) glued over plastic tube (ends mushroomed) *SEE NOTE
Tail… marabou
Body… estaz
Legs… rubber legs
Under Wing… tinsel
Over Wing… small zonker strip
Inner Collar… crystal polar chenille
Outer Collar… cross cut rabbit

Note – Glue and insert a plastic tube that will fit inside the rivet, a Q-Tip shaft often works perfect.  Trim to length and mushroom near a flame.

References:  Third Coast Fly, Pere Marquette Fishing Report -Dec 21st