Michigan Flies

Flies / Streamer

Feenstra's Grapefruit Head Leech

A

Kevin Feenstra, Muskegon River

A bright pink and chartreuse head over a leech body on a #2 to #4 3XL streamer hook, 'one of the most reliable Midwest swung fly patterns' and exceptional in cold winter water when steelhead are lethargic. Swing it slow and deep on a Skagit head and sink tip from November through the spring on the Muskegon, Manistee and U.P. rivers.

#2–4Pink and chartreuse head over natural bodyall day
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the Feenstra's Grapefruit Head Leech 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 · Grapefruit Head Leech

  • Photo © Quinn, used with permission

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

  • Leech
  • Sculpin (slimy and mottled)
Fish it for
SteelheadBrown trout

Setups

  • Swinging flies (spey / switch)
How it's tied
A
Grapefruit Head Leech. One of Feenstra's most dependable winter flies. From the tier's published pattern sheet. Recipe by Feenstra Guide Service (2015).

Materials

Hook
Daiichi 2461 or equivalent 3XL streamer hookSizes 4 to 2/0.
Tail
Black marabou with sparse red flash
Hackle
Black or purple schlappen
Body
Black marabou featherWound forward as a body.
Collar
Large mallard flankBlue-eared pheasant also works.
Flash
Green, silver, and blue FlashabouLayered: silver, then blue, then Kelly green.
Head
Fuchsia large cactus chenille followed by a veil of chartreuse Ice Dub

Steps

  1. 1.Cover the hook with thread using tight wraps and bring the thread to the back of the hook.
  2. 2.Tie in a tail of black marabou and add a few strands of red flash over the top.
  3. 3.Tie in the schlappen feather by its tip.
  4. 4.Tie in a black marabou feather by its tip and wind it forward to about two-thirds of the way up the shank.
  5. 5.Wind the schlappen through the marabou, binding down as few fibers as possible.
  6. 6.Add a collar of mallard flank or blue-eared pheasant in front of the body.
  7. 7.Add flash to the top of the fly in layers: silver Flashabou first, then blue, then Kelly green.
  8. 8.Tie in a piece of cactus chenille and wind it forward a couple of turns, leaving a little room behind the eye.
  9. 9.Force a clump of chartreuse Ice Dub behind the eye and bind it so it forms a circular veil over the cactus chenille.
  10. 10.Finish the fly.

From the tier

  • This is one of the most dependable winter flies. Feenstra uses it whenever there is snow on the ground.

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

Materials to buy
Everything one Feenstra's Grapefruit Head Leech 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

  • 3XL streamer hook1

    Sizes 4 to 2/0 · Daiichi 2461 or equivalent

    Hook

Feathers and fur

  • Black marabou2 feathers

    TailBody

    One for the tail, one wound as the body.

  • Schlappen1 feather

    Black or purple

    Hackle

  • Mallard flank1 large feather

    Collar

    Or blue-eared pheasant.

Synthetics, flash and legs

  • FlashabouA few strands each

    Red, silver, blue, and Kelly green

    TailFlash

  • Cactus chenilleA couple of turns

    Fuchsia, large

    Head

  • Ice DubA clump

    Chartreuse

    Head

Thread and finish

  • Tying thread1 spool

    HookHead

    Not named on the sheet; black or fluorescent pink to taste.

Sources