modern Michigan dry fly · by 2009
Bee Visible
Likely origin Only one source, Deschaine's own Fly Anglers Online column, which does not give a design date.
History
The Bee Visible is Tom Deschaine's yellow and black take on the Bi-Visible, the all-hackle fly credited to Edward Hewitt. Deschaine named it for its bee colors and treated it as an attractor rather than an imitation of a real bee.
He chose yellow on purpose, citing fisheries research that trout show a preference for yellow food, and he found the yellow and black mix his best producer on bright, sunny days. The white face hackle keeps it easy to see, and it was his first pick for fast water.
Materials
| Hook | Dry (Mustad 94840 or 94833), sizes 10 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Thread | Black 6/0, over a firm thread base |
| Body | Yellow and black hackle wound in alternating bands, twice through |
| Face | White hackle |
| Underbody (optional) | Gold tinsel |
Sources
- Deschaine, T. "Bee Visible." Fly of the Week, Fly Anglers Online (column path dated 04/06/09).
- Willers, W. B. Trout Biology. 1981 (cited by Deschaine on trout and yellow).
Know more about this fly's history, or spot a mistake? Send a correction.
No photo yet. Every photo on michfly is of a fly tied for the site, so they're added a few at a time.
Original recipe cards for many Michigan patterns are kept at the Michigan Dry Flies archive, built by the late Tom Deschaine.