Michigan Flies

Flies / Streamer

Feenstra's Halloween Leech

A

Kevin Feenstra, Muskegon River

Black marabou and schlappen over peacock and orange Ice Dub with pink and copper Flashabou, on a 25 mm Senyo shank with a trailer or a Daiichi 2461. Originating on the Muskegon, it is 'great through fall' when steelhead have switched from lake alewife to river shiners and respond to flash. Swing it from October through December.

#2–4Black and orange with peacock and pink/copper flash
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the Feenstra's Halloween 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 · Halloween 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
  • Emerald shiner
Fish it for
SteelheadBrown troutCoho salmonChinook salmon

Setups

  • Swinging flies (spey / switch)
How it's tied
A
Halloween Leech. A staple that has produced for years. From the tier's published pattern sheet. Recipe by Feenstra Guide Service (2015).

Materials

Hook
Daiichi 2461Sizes 4 to 1/0.
Eyes
Lead eyes to suit local conditionsTied in a quarter of the shank back from the eye.
Tail
Black marabou
Hackle
Dark schlappenWound through the body.
Body
Peacock or olive Ice DubEnds three-quarters of the way up the hook.
Collar
Large mallard flank feather
Wing
Holographic pink, holographic black, and copper FlashabouTied above and below the hook, pink first, then copper, then black.
Head
Fuchsia cactus chenille, large, behind the eyes; a veil of hot orange Ice Dub in front

Steps

  1. 1.Cover the hook with thread and return the thread to the front of the hook.
  2. 2.Tie in lead eyes a quarter of the way back from the eye of the hook.
  3. 3.Return the thread to the rear of the hook and tie in some black marabou for the tail.
  4. 4.Tie in a dark schlappen feather and dub a peacock or olive Ice Dub body.
  5. 5.Wind the schlappen through the body, which ends three-quarters of the way up the hook.
  6. 6.Tie in the mallard feather and take a couple of wraps with it as the collar.
  7. 7.Tie in the pink Flashabou as a wing above and below the hook. Repeat with the copper, then the black.
  8. 8.Behind the lead eyes, take a few wraps of the fuchsia chenille and tie it off.
  9. 9.In front of the lead eyes, tie in a veil of orange Ice Dub.
  10. 10.Tie off the fly.

From the tier

  • This fly has been a staple for the last several years and continues to produce.

Fly Pattern Sheet: Halloween Leech (PDF) Transcribed from the guide service's pattern sheet; the sheet lists materials without parts, so parts are assigned from the steps.

Materials to buy
Everything one Feenstra's Halloween Leech takes, each item once: 9 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 1/0 · Daiichi 2461

    Hook

  • Lead eyes1 pair

    Weight to suit the water

    Eyes

Feathers and fur

  • Black marabou1 feather

    Tail

  • Schlappen1 feather

    Dark

    Hackle

  • Mallard flank1 large feather

    Collar

Synthetics, flash and legs

  • Ice DubA pinch each

    Peacock or olive for the body, hot orange for the head

    BodyHead

  • FlashabouA few strands each

    Holographic pink, holographic black, copper

    Wing

  • Cactus chenilleA few wraps

    Fuchsia, large

    Head

Thread and finish

  • Tying thread1 spool

    HookHead

    Not named on the sheet.

Sources