Our signature tyers encompass some of the most skilful around the world. They perfect their creations through countless hours on the water and at the vice, ensuring their innovative patterns are proven fish catchers. Among them, Signature Tyer Mike Mitchell brings a number of iconic saltwater fly patterns that are worth highlighting. If you’re interested in learning more about Signature Tyer Mike Mitchell, read on to get his backstory and learn about what has shaped him as an angler and fly tyer!
About Signature Tyer Mike Mitchell
Michael Mitchell was born in 1975 in San Diego, California. At the age of 5, Michael’s father, an outdoorsman, realized California was not where he wanted to raise his children. They uprooted and headed for the wide-open spaces of Idaho—specifically the Big Lost River Range. The nearest neighbor was a mile away, but the river was closer.
With the Big Lost River only a short bike ride away from Michael’s house, it was no wonder that he fell into a deep passion for the river and fishing. He spent any time he had fishing with his old Zebco “Snoopy Series” fishing pole and tackle box. It didn’t take long for Michael to outgrow that rod and reel and beg his parents for a new and better setup. By the time Mike was in his early 20’s, he had developed a deep fixation for fly fishing.
Michael is a fourth-generation mason now living in Hailey, Idaho. In 2012, Michael guided on the Aniak River in Alaska while the US economy and construction were slow. Construction picked back up in 2013 and Michael’s masonry business was busy again, otherwise he would have kept guiding in Alaska. Michael continues his relentless pursuit to be on the water—salt or fresh—fishing and fly tying any chance he gets.
Question: You live in Idaho—a landlocked state—yet you travel to many saltwater locations and design brilliant saltwater flies. What drew you to the world of saltwater fishing and tying?
Answer: In 2007 I took my first saltwater fly fishing trip to San Pedro, Belize. San Pedro offered every species (bonefish, permit, and tarpon) that I had dreamed of catching on the fly. A “grand slam” was on the mind. The first day out with my guide my senses erupted at the first sight of tailing bonefish. This feeling was indescribable, and my heart rate climbed rapidly. I was instantly a junkie. I learned quickly after blowing up a school of bonefish that this was a skillset I needed to put a lot of work into. How was I going to catch a permit if I couldn’t even catch a bonefish? I did end up catching a few bonefish on that first trip to Belize but at the same time I felt unsatisfied with myself. The selection of flies that I tied was absolutely terrible when looking back today. The fact that I always try to better myself probably is the biggest factor of drawing me into saltwater fly fishing and tying.
17 years after that first trip with many bonefish, permit, and tarpon landed, I can now say my skillset and flies have gotten a hell of a lot better. Not perfect, and probably never perfect, but damn good. Knowing this is what motivates me to be better. I want to catch fish on my own patterns and I’m always thinking about the next design or solution to get more eats. I’ll risk not catching a fish to test drive a new pattern with no regret.
Question: Your most well-known fly is the Itchy and Scratchy. When did you design it, and what did the testing and development process look like?
Answer: The development of Itchy and Scratchy started as a carp fly around 2010. Having an addiction to saltwater flats fishing, something not available in Idaho, the closest parallel I could find was carp fishing. Here we have several reservoirs on and around the Snake River that hold carp. You will find flats at these locations where you can sight fish for tailing carp. The pattern was working well for carp. “If Itchy is working well for carp, why not bonefish?” I asked myself.
2012 was the first year that I had taken Itchy and Scratchy to Belize and the results were fantastic. The bonefish loved it. In 2014 the Tan Itchy and Scratchy had hooked its first Permit. Testing was going really well! My guide, Abbie Marin, asked for all my leftover flies before leaving Belize. That was the moment when I realized Itchy and Scratchy was a great pattern. When a renowned guide like Abbie Marin wants your fly box that means something. He has seen and used so many patterns and he wants my flies. WHAT?!
The design and materials of Itchy and Scratchy have definitely changed slightly over the years with the input of great guides such as Abbie Marin and Wil Flack in Belize and Mike Hennessy in Hawaii. Itchy and Scratchy has proven itself to be one of the best utility flies to have in your fly box, not by me but also many others who I have tied for over the years. In 2023, Drew Chicone had Itchy and Scratchy in his book, Belize Flies: Eleven Proven Patterns for Belizean Bonefish, Tarpon, & Permit. It was a great honor to be recognized in Drew’s book.
Itchy and Scratchy is a great pattern for bonefish, permit, triggerfish, and many other species of fish on the flats. Offered in both a weighted option and lighter bead chain option, sizes 4, 6, and 8.
Mitchell’s Stealth Itchy & Scratchy
Tied using bead chain eyes in order to achieve a slow sink rate and have a stealthy presentation to spooky fish.
Mitchell’s Weighted Itchy & Scratchy
Tied using dumbbell eyes to help put your fly on the bottom and in front of fish quickly or in deeper water. Available in three colors, size
Question: Another popular pattern of yours is the Nipple series of flies. In what application do you use this over your other patterns?
Answer: The Nipple series, a shrimp pattern, is the first pattern that I developed. I started tying this pattern in 2008 for bonefish primarily, then eventually permit. It started as a great bonefish pattern and then I caught my first permit on it in 2009. After gaining confidence in it for permit, my friends and I have caught several permit using it in Belize. If Itchy and Scratchy is getting refused, it’s the next pattern I tie on for “shrimpy” situations with permit. Bonefish are usually a given when it’s presented properly.
Itchy and Scratchy and the Nipple are my go-to patterns for bonefish without a doubt. At the same time there is definitely a time and place to throw them at permit. If I’m approaching a permit that is digging and tailing, I’m probably going to throw a crab pattern of some sort. If I see cruising permit, permit hanging with rays, and schooled up permit I will definitely throw an Itchy and Scratchy or a Nipple at them with no regrets (even if they don’t eat it). That’s permit fishing, more refusals than eats. Permit on the fly isn’t easy and I have seen every pattern on the planet get refused by Permit!
Mitchell’s Stealth Nipple Shrimp
Mitchell’s Weighted Nipple Shrimp
More Saltwater Flies from Signature Tyer Mike Mitchell
Mitchell’s Crustacean Pie
Mike says, ” This crittery pattern has been in the works for a couple years now. Designed for “Tailing” Bonefish and Permit, but also applies to Permit feeding with rays. “Crustacean Pie” imitates a “crab” or a “Bigclaw Snapping Shrimp”. This pattern has a little bit of everything from claws, eyes, antennae, rabbit fur carapace, and winging to create a tasty slice of “Crustacean Pie”. Hence the naming of this pattern by renowned guide Travis Sands at Soul Fly Lodge in the Bahamas. It’s a “stimulator” pattern that stimulates a feeding reaction from Bonefish, Permit, and many other species of the “Flats”
WTF Creepy Crawler
Michael says “This very unique pattern’s name isn’t meant to offend anyone, but once you have one in hand you’ll be saying “WTF”! This new pattern has a lot of “flats critter” in its DNA. I lost sleep at night coming up with the design of this pattern. I wanted to do something very different with “flexo” body tubing with great results and I believe this is it. Designed for Permit “tailing” and feeding with rays in mind, but it also did well with larger bonefish and triggerfish. It’s another pattern of mine caught between being a crab or a snapping shrimp. This pattern is meant to be “crawled” and not swam at a rapid strip. “WTF” has a defensive posture and looks death into the face and backs away but doesn’t run from it, “if you catch my fish…. or drift”.
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