modern Michigan wet fly · by 2018
Feenstra's Halloween Leech
Also called Halloween Leech
Likely origin Feenstra as designer agrees across his own pattern sheet, Wet Fly Swing, Nomad Anglers and Motor City Anglers; no source gives a year.
History
Kevin Feenstra, a Muskegon River guide who was among the first in Michigan to swing flies for Great Lakes steelhead, designed this black and copper leech for swinging. His own pattern sheet calls it a fly he has relied on for years, and he has named it one of his go-to steelhead flies.
Michigan shops sell it as a fall and spring steelhead fly, often fished alongside his Grapefruit Leech. Nomad Anglers ties it on a shank with a trailer hook; Feenstra's sheet uses a long streamer hook.
Materials
| Hook | 3XL streamer (Daiichi 2461), sizes 4 to 1/0, or a shank with trailer hook |
|---|---|
| Thread | Black |
| Eyes | Lead dumbbell, sized to the water |
| Tail | Black marabou |
| Body | Peacock (or olive) Ice Dub |
| Hackle | Dark schlappen, palmered through the body |
| Collar | Large mallard flank |
| Wing | Pink, copper and black Flashabou, above and below |
| Head | Fuchsia cactus chenille behind the eyes, veil of hot orange Ice Dub in front |
Tying video
Tying Feenstra's Halloween Leech by Nomad Anglers (Fly Fishing - Fly Tying)
Sources
- Feenstra, K. "Halloween Leech" (pattern sheet). Feenstra Guide Service.
- "WFS 013: Muskegon River Steelhead Fly Fishing Interview with Kevin Feenstra." Wet Fly Swing podcast.
- "Tying Kevin Feenstra's Halloween Leech." Nomad Anglers, October 31, 2018.
- "Feenstra's Halloween Leech." Motor City Anglers (product page).
- "Kevin Feenstra" (tag archive). Mangled Fly, November 14, 2018.
Know more about this fly's history, or spot a mistake? Send a correction.
No photo yet. Every photo on michfly is of a fly tied for the site, so they're added a few at a time.
Original recipe cards for many Michigan patterns are kept at the Michigan Dry Flies archive, built by the late Tom Deschaine.