Fly Of the Month – Michigan Stone

By Dave Thorn,

Schools Director of Family Tyes

Michigan Stone

I am dedicating this fly to a former principal, mentor, and friend with whom Paul Hindes and I were fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to share many hours of fishing.  George Aiken taught me how to tie the Michigan Stone and it is my fly of choice while fishing for native Brook Trout during the months of May to October.  Anyone who knows me realizes that I prefer fishing dry flies over all other methods. 

George Aiken took Dave to this very spot

I can blame George for this fishing focus because it was through him that I learned to love small mountain streams with all the flora and fauna that are found in this environment.  He forfeited untold hours of his fishing time to teach us how to fly fish. 

            This fly represents the Stonefly known more commonly as the Little Yellow Sally.  It can be tied using a standard dry fly hook in sizes 12 – 20.  I have found that sizes 14 and 16 are the most effective when exploring small mountain streams.  The fly’s main attributes are that it is easy to see and rides high on the water.  The only drawback is that you need more hackle because of the fore and aft design.

1. You begin by tying in, with tan thread, and wrapping a grizzly hackle at the bend of the hook.

2.  Compress the wraps by pushing toward the bend with your lead thumb and index as you anchor with the other thumb and index finger.

3.  Dub the center of the shank from the hackle forward to a point behind the eye.  A nice bright yellow dubbing works best to imitate the natural on most streams.

4.  Select and stack a clump of deer hair (dyed yellow mask hair, if you have it) and tie in with the tips extending past the bend by ¼ to ½ the shank length.  Be careful to not use too large of a clump, for oversized wings make it difficult to properly finish the fly.

5.  Tie in and wrap a collar hackle keeping it as close to the wing as possible.

6.  Half hitch and whip finish for a completed fly.

7.  I always use a good head cement to insure durability because it takes more time to tie than a one hackle fly. 

"Take time to see the flowers"

 

Hope you find this fly as effective as I have and remember to stop and take pictures of the flowers. George would expect that of his pupils.

He will be missed by his wife, Nell, his family, and all his friends but his request “to pass it on” lives on in the Family Tyes mission.