classic Michigan dry fly · mid-1950s
Berger's Deer-Hair Hex
Unverified origin Only the Michigan Dry Flies archive supports the tyer, date and recipe; no public source was found.
History
William Berger of Flat Rock is credited with this all-deer-hair Hex fly from the mid-1950s. Everything on it, from the segmented tail to the spent wings and the flared collar, comes from deer hair. The Hex (Hexagenia limbata) is the largest mayfly on Michigan trout streams, and it hatches mostly after dark from late June into early July.
The extended body runs both fore and aft of a small size 10 hook, which keeps the weight down on a fly that looks much larger. It is known as a difficult tie.
Materials
| Hook | Dry, size 10 |
|---|---|
| Body | Deer hair, extended both behind and ahead of the hook, with the tail segments bound off separately |
| Wings | Deer hair butts set out to the sides as spent wings |
| Hackle | Deer hair flared around the hook in place of feather hackle |
Sources
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.