Michigan Flies

Flies / Streamer

Feenstra's Toadbreaker Sculpin

A

Kevin Feenstra, Muskegon River

Kevin Feenstra's shank-tied sculpin, the fly he says is most often in his box: a rabbit or pine squirrel tail, an emu-feather body palmered with schlappen, Fire Tye flash, a bulky Kraken dubbing head and a marabou veil, with the trailing hook on a braid loop. Swing it with the strip free of the hook, or pierce the strip with the hook to strip it, for steelhead and large browns on the Muskegon, Manistee and Grand.

#1–2OliveTanBrown
What the pattern looks like
Reference photos of the Feenstra's Toadbreaker Sculpin 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 · Toadbreaker Sculpin

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
SteelheadBrown trout

Setups

  • Swinging flies (spey / switch)
  • Streamers
How it's tied
A
Toadbreaker Sculpin. One of Feenstra's favorite flies, frequently in the box for steelhead, trout and even smallmouth. From the tier's published pattern sheet. Recipe by Feenstra Guide Service (2025).

Materials

Shank
A long up-eye shank, typically 50 mm or more
Loop
Braid or wire of your choiceFeenstra leans toward heavy 80 lb braid because his trailing hooks are large.
Eyes
Bead chain, tied a third of the way back from the eyeOr lead eyes.
Tail
Olive, tan, or brown rabbit or pine squirrel strip1 to 2 inches.
Hackle
Large brown or olive schlappen feather
Body
Natural emu feather
Flash
Chartreuse Fire Tye and gold Fire TyeOften with some UV blue Ripple Fiber or UV gray Krystal Flash.
Head
Brown, olive, or yellow Kraken dubbingA great material for any pattern you want large and buggy.
Front hackle
Brown-barred olive marabouStripped fibers tied in as a veil.

Steps

  1. 1.Cover the shank with thread.
  2. 2.Move the thread a third of the way back from the eye.
  3. 3.Tie in a pair of bead chain eyes or lead eyes under the shank.
  4. 4.Tie in your loop. With braid, tie an overhand knot toward the tag end so the fly cannot self-destruct on a violent strike. Cover the whole shank with thread as you go, and add a drop of Zap-A-Gap or other quick glue here.
  5. 5.Tie in a tail of 1 to 2 inches of rabbit strip at the very back of the shank.
  6. 6.Tie in a schlappen feather by the tip at the same point as the rabbit strip.
  7. 7.Tie in a natural emu feather by the tip at the same point.
  8. 8.Wind the emu feather forward to the eyes in a tight spiral.
  9. 9.Wind the schlappen through the emu, leaving spaces in the spiral as you go.
  10. 10.Just in front of the eyes, tie in a few strands of yellow and a few strands of chartreuse flash.
  11. 11.Move the thread a little in front of the eyes and tie in a clump of Kraken dubbing, forming a bulky, unruly head.
  12. 12.Take a marabou feather and strip one half of it. Hold the stripped fibers at their midpoint and tie them in just in front of the dubbing, forming a small veil over the head.
  13. 13.Finish the fly.

From the tier

  • This is one of Feenstra's favorite flies, frequently in the box for steelhead, trout, and even smallmouth bass.
  • Swing it with the strip separate from the hook. To strip it, pierce the strip with the hook.

Fly Pattern Sheet: Toadbreaker Sculpin (PDF) Transcribed from the guide service's pattern sheet; the trailing hook is listed in the bill though the sheet leaves its choice to the tier.

Materials to buy
Everything one Feenstra's Toadbreaker Sculpin takes, each item once: 12 items, plus 1 optional. Quantities are for a single fly. We do not sell components yet; when we do, these will link to them.

Hook and hardware

  • Up-eye shank1

    50 mm or longer

    Shank

  • Braid or wire for the loopA short length

    80 lb braid on Feenstra's own flies

    Loop

  • Trailing hook1

    To suit the fly's size

    Loop

    Not specified on the sheet; added to the loop before fishing.

  • Bead chain or lead eyes1 pair

    Eyes

Feathers and fur

  • Rabbit or pine squirrel strip1 to 2 in

    Olive, tan, or brown

    Tail

  • Schlappen1 large feather

    Brown or olive

    Hackle

  • Emu feather1 feather

    Natural

    Body

  • Marabou1 feather

    Brown-barred olive

    Front hackle

Synthetics, flash and legs

  • Fire Tye flashA few strands each

    Chartreuse and gold

    Flash

  • UV Ripple Fiber or UV Krystal FlashoptionalA few strands

    Blue or gray

    Flash

  • Kraken dubbingA clump

    Brown, olive, or yellow

    Head

Thread and finish

  • Tying thread1 spool

    ShankHead

    Not named on the sheet.

  • Quick-drying glueA drop

    Zap-A-Gap or similar

    Loop

Sources