Mike Martinek Jr.

Photo courtesy of Benjamin Rioux - Up North Maine Fly Casting

Mike's Streamers
Mike's Biography

In the 1960's a young Mike Martinek began attending the newly formed United Fly Tyers meetings in his home state of Massachusetts. Enamoured with streamer flies, a frequent subject at these meetings, he began tying the patterns of early streamer masters like Herb Welch, Bill Edson and Carrie Stevens. At one particular meeting, fly historian Austin Hogan took note and offered to take Mike under his wing, showing him the characteristic differences between particular styles of streamers like those of Mrs. Stevens. Since that time, Mike has become the torchbearer for the classic streamer fly. He has been featured in numerous books and magazines, has created a series of streamer tying videos, for decades has been a staple at fly tying and fishing shows worldwide, and has authored two self-published books of streamers. Mike is not only highly respected for his historical knowledge of classic streamer flies and design styles, but his mastery of materials and color blending makes him a true artisan of the long fly.