modern Michigan streamer · 2000s
Schultzy's Swingin' D
Also called Swingin' D
Likely origin Schultz as designer is confirmed by Frankenfly, CNY Troutfitter and his own interview; the date comes only from Schultz's recollection.
History
Mike Schultz of Schultz Outfitters developed the Swingin' D on the Huron River, his home water near Ypsilanti, for its smallmouth bass. He wanted a fly that would hang in the current and dart side to side on a sinking or intermediate line, instead of only rising and falling like a leech or crayfish pattern. The D stands for Larry Dahlberg, whose diver head the fly uses.
Schultz names Mark Sedotti's Kickin' Chicken and long double-deceiver tails as influences, and Frankenfly notes it borrows from Tommy Lynch's Drunk & Disorderly while being faster to tie and tougher. In a 2026 interview he dated it to the early or mid 2000s. Frankenfly called it the top smallmouth fly of 2014, and it was the first video in Schultz's Bar Flies series in 2015.
Materials
| Hook | Articulated: size 2 to 4 rear hook on a shank, 2/0 wide-gap worm hook in front |
|---|---|
| Thread | GSP or flat nylon, to match |
| Rear hook / shank | Shank with trailer hook, size 2 to 4 |
| Tail | Rooster saddles and marabou with a little flash |
| Body | Flash brush (Predator Wrap or Translucy brush) |
| Collar | Hen hackle and mallard flank |
| Weight | Lead wire or a tungsten scud body on the shank |
| Head | Foam Dahlberg-style diver head (Rainy's) |
| Rattle | Optional, in a rattle box on the shank |
Tying video
Schultzy's Swingin' D 2.0 by Schultz Outfitters
Sources
- "S2, Ep 2: A Deep Dive into the Swingin' D: Techniques and Tips with Mike Schultz." The Butcher Shop (The Articulate Fly), January 29, 2026.
- "Swingin' D Fly by Mike Schultz." Frankenfly.
- "Bar Flies: Schultzy's Swingin' D." CNY Troutfitter, January 17, 2015.
- "About Us." Schultz Outfitters.
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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.