Uncommon flies
Below are videos demonstrating some unique designs meant to improve calling power to draw fish.
10 inch jointed fly
This rainbow trout fly was specifically designed to draw out very large trout, mimicking planted trout. I was inspired by the AuSable river below Mio, MI opening up on April 1st for the 1st time. This is an all tube fly, and designed so that you lose the hook but save the fly. It has a diving lip, an interchangeable rattle, and segmented to move like a rapala. Since this video, the fly has been improved for aerodynamics, swimming uprightness, and a treble hook (ugh) to improve hook set.
On the first trip, both my guide partner and I saw a 30+ inch trout tee bone the fly twice. It was the largest trout we have ever seen in Michigan rivers. |
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Gulley Fish Fly
The first time I used this fly was in raising laid up trout on the Trophy waters below Mio, MI. I had the most action out of this fly since it had the wobble of a wounded minnow. As you can see from this pic, Peacock bass don't mind it too.
Winter steelhead fishing around the Great Lakes often produces with hot-n-tot, a lipped crank bait with rattles that are held in position over a fishing hole. This fly is easily modified to add a rattle, and further modified to be tube to get the lose-the-hook/ save-the-fly in design. Using the right timing, the right combination of rod and line, and the right presentation angle, the Spey fisherman is capable of producing the same producing conditions as above. As for castability? Hey, for deep column work, using my el cheapo 14 foot LL (Scandi) Bean Rod with a custom Frankenstein S4/ S6 Scandi Head, I was able to bomb this fly out while shooting 36-40 feet of running line. That is almost 90 plus feet total. For little icing on the guides, I used the same setup as the 15 foot on the Manistee (see video Long Rod) and managed one Snake Roll pickup and 100 feet in one continuous movement. The menu has just opened up even further |
_Unique Cast
Conventional Single Hand rod
Spey style, Switch Rod
Spey style, Scandinavian Rod
Spey style, Long Rod
Conventional Single Hand rod
Spey style, Switch Rod
Spey style, Scandinavian Rod
Spey style, Long Rod