The Magnus Fly: Denmark’s Deadly All-Rounder

Alright, so the Magnus—kinda like the Swiss Army knife of streamers, you know? It’ll imitate just about anything a hungry trout or salmon thinks is lunch: baitfish, shrimp, even crayfish if you tie it right. Funny story—last season I nailed a sea trout on one in this murky estuary, and the thing had half a crab in its gullet. Guess the Magnus looked close enough to dessert.

Tying It (Coffee Required)

Grab a streamer hook—I like a long shank, size 4 or 6, but don’t sweat it. Start with the tail: a few wispy marabou strands (not bucktail—wait, actually bucktail works too if you want it stiffer). Now, the body: here’s where newbies mess up. You’ll wanna overdress it, but resist. A sparse bunch of bucktail or marabou (olive chenille for murky water, trust me) tied along the shank, extending past the tail. That’s what gives it that juicy baitfish profile.

Oh right, the throat hackle! Toss in a couple soft hackle fibers under the shank—twist ’em counter-clockwise while tying for extra wiggle. Old Danish guides call this the "ghost shrimp" move. Head’s simple: whip finish tight, dab of cement. Pro tip: Tie this after your third coffee. Steady hands = no bucktail explosion.

What’s It Mimicking?

Everything, honestly. Baitfish? Check. Shrimp? Especially with that throat hackle pulsing. Crayfish? Flip it weedless and let it crawl. The magic’s in the materials—marabou breathes in current, bucktail holds shape. Personally, I swear by white for saltwater, but hey, match the hatch.

Where to Fish It

Denmark built this thing for sea trout and salmon, and man, do they know their fish. But don’t pigeonhole it—I’ve slayed smallmouth on lakes with a sink-tip. Salt or fresh, just remember: strip it erratic near structure. Fish’ll think it’s a wounded goby and hammer it.
Final thought? Magnus flies are like good bourbon—simple ingredients, endless nuance. And if you lose one to a pike, well, that’s just sacrifice to the fishing gods.