Michigan Flies

Flies / Streamer

Feenstra's Aquatic Nuisance

A

Kevin Feenstra, Muskegon River

Feenstra's rabbit-strip and flash sculpin, sold by shops as the Aqua Nuisance: a size 1 or 1/0 fly that 'shines during the fall and spring months when fish are aggressive,' in low light and stained water, for steelhead, salmon and large trout. Feenstra fishes it fall through spring and rates it best in water over 38 F. Swing it on a heavy tip through the deep runs of the Muskegon and Big Manistee.

#1–2Rainbow/copperOlivestained watermorningevening
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the Feenstra's Aquatic Nuisance tied by others, shared by their photographers. Not our flies; our own product photos replace these as they are shot.

Photo © Feenstra Guide Service, used with permission · Aquatic Nuisance

Season
Months this pattern is in play across Michigan, derived from what it imitates.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec
Imitates

Forage

  • Sculpin (slimy and mottled)
  • Round goby
Fish it for
SteelheadChinook salmonCoho salmonBrown trout

Setups

  • Swinging flies (spey / switch)
  • Streamers
How it's tied
A
Aquatic Nuisance. A trigger fly for aggressive steelhead, fall through spring. From the tier's published pattern sheet. Recipe by Feenstra Guide Service (2015).

Materials

Hook
Daiichi 2461 size 1 or 1/0, or a 3XL to 6XL streamer hook
Tail
Dark brown or dark olive rabbit stripTied in at the bend and pulled forward over two-thirds of the hook.
Body
Olive, peacock, or brown Ice Dub or other dubbing
Hackle
Copper Hackle Flash wound through the rabbit stripOlive schlappen or black emu are good substitutes.
Collar
Large mallard flank
Wing
Abundant copper Flashabou topped with a great deal of Kelly green or bullfrog Flashabou
Head
Australian possum or dark olive wool, tied sculpin-head styleA clump of dark olive Ice Dub also makes an interesting head.

Steps

  1. 1.Cover the hook with thread and return the thread to the front of the hook.
  2. 2.Tie in the rabbit strip above the bend, leaving some rabbit in front of the tail to pull over the back of the fly.
  3. 3.Tie in the copper Hackle Flash at the tail.
  4. 4.Dub a body two-thirds of the way up the hook.
  5. 5.Pull the rabbit strip forward to the same point and tie it down.
  6. 6.Run the hackle through the body.
  7. 7.Tie in a collar of mallard flank.
  8. 8.Give the fly a wing of green and copper flash.
  9. 9.Tie a bunch of Australian possum fur or wool as a clump around the head.
  10. 10.Finish the fly.

From the tier

  • A great fly to trigger aggressive steelhead through the fall, winter, and spring.
  • It is at its best in water temperatures over 38 degrees.

Fly Pattern Sheet: Aquatic Nuisance (PDF) Transcribed from the guide service's pattern sheet; steps lightly edited for clarity.

Materials to buy
Everything one Feenstra's Aquatic Nuisance takes, each item once: 8 items. Quantities are for a single fly. We do not sell components yet; when we do, these will link to them.

Hook and hardware

  • Streamer hook, 3XL to 6XL1

    Size 1 or 1/0 · Daiichi 2461 or similar

    Hook

Feathers and fur

  • Rabbit strip1 strip

    Dark brown or dark olive

    Tail

  • Mallard flank1 large feather

    Collar

  • Australian possum fur or dark olive woolA clump

    Head

Synthetics, flash and legs

  • Ice Dub or other dubbingA pinch

    Olive, peacock, or brown

    Body

  • Hackle Flash1 length

    Copper

    Hackle

    Olive schlappen or black emu substitute.

  • FlashabouA generous wing

    Copper, topped with Kelly green or bullfrog

    Wing

Thread and finish

  • Tying thread1 spool

    HookHead

    Not named on the sheet.

Sources