Streamer flies - real underwater footage

[@hankvana2149]

Hi Guys! Thanks for posting this - it's probably the only way many fly-fishers will see their flies under water! I always check my fly patterns "wet" to see how they look and how they respond the various retrieves - I'm surprised that most people just tie the fly on and chuck it out there without knowing how to fish it. For the winter fly-tying season when the lakes are frozen, I made a test tank out of some old window-glass, PVC pipe and a cheap cake-mixer for checking my flies. All the patterns that I am designing/developing are tested in a natural environment and filmed with an underwater camera to check silhouette, action, balance, and buoyancy. Interesting to watch how the flies swim. I (typically) tie for hook-point-up balance and a more subtle jigging/gliding motion as the fish I'm after feed heavily on bottom orientated stuff like crayfish, sculpins, darters, and dragonfly nymphs. I will let the fly settle on the bottom, pause for a bit, then lift/glide the fly forward a foot or so then repeat that. The length of pause depends if the fish are hitting the stationary bait or grabbing it on the lift/glide. Find that sometimes a rapid jigging action works best (bass) and a lot of the time (perch, walleye) a stationary or slow gliding fly is better. I let the fish tell me what they are in the mood for. No heavy strikes in on-the-bottom fishing - the fly is just inhaled and you feel the weight as the fish moves off. I prefer lightly weighted flies (bead-chain instead of lead-eyes fished on sinking lines) and soft, spikey furs instead of marabou as they make the fly easier to inhale. Actually, that is why I use the summer deer hair for pectoral fins on my darters/sculpins patterns - in addition to stabilizing the fly sitting on the bottom it makes them easy to inhale. :) Excellent video Ulla, Michael - great to see the flies the way the fish do rather than dry and fluffy on the vise - wish that more fly tying channels would post underwater shots. Cheers! Hank

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks Hank. As usual some great additional thoughts and input deeply rooted in practical fishing. And yes, the only way to really find out how a fly or a jig works is to see it in action underwater. I should try to film those subtle fly movements, that often pays off during winter. Thanks for your insights. Cheers, Michael :0)

[@brianbochow]

Congratulations Michael they are great tied streamer flies featuring rabbit zonkers and stuff. Very well filmed Ulla. I think all of those flies would get eaten by hungry fish. Great presentation great work. Regards B.J.

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks mate. Cheers, Michael 🙂

[@timothyroche6445]

Michael Jensen, the MASTER

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks a lot my friend. Cheers, Michael🙂

[@joeduca8582]

Another example of excellence in fly tying and design as well as videography! Thanks to both of you!

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks Joe. Cheers, Michael 🙂

[@alexACR3167]

Thanks Ulla!....oh ya....thanks to you Michael! Cheers!

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks Alex. Cheers, Michael :0)

[@alexACR3167]

By the way, Michael.....that fat burger would destroy smallmouth in my waters. I tie one simular, but in my case, I use an arky style head with a weed guard. This thing is killer. Great job. Cheers!

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks Alex. Might try that pattern on a jig hook as well. Cheers, Michael :0)

[@Ecofish1]

Your underwater footage is great! Thanks for sharing your creations……

[@MichaelJensensAngling]

Thanks a lot for your feedback. Cheers, Michael 🙂