classic Michigan dry fly · 1940s
Borchers Special
Also called Borchers Drake, Borcher's Special
Disputed origin Credited to both Ernie Borchers and Ann Schweigert.
History
The Borchers family credits Ernie Borchers, who ran his canoe livery on the Au Sable from 1936. Tom Deschaine's research credits Ann Schweigert with the original, tied with a condor body, and Borchers with adding the grizzly hackle.
Either way, it is still one of the most fished dark mayfly patterns on the Au Sable. The upright-wing version is usually called the Drake and the spent-wing version the Special.
Materials
| Hook | Standard dry, sizes 8 to 16 |
|---|---|
| Tail | Pheasant-tail fibers or moose mane |
| Body | Mottled turkey quill |
| Wings | Light blue dun hackle tips |
| Rib | Thread or fine gold wire |
| Hackle | Brown and grizzly dry hackle, mixed |
| Thread | Black 6/0 |
Tying video
How to tie the Borchers Special by Trident Fly Fishing
Sources
- Borchers AuSable Canoe Livery, family history.
- Deschaine, T. "Borcher's Drake." Fly of the Week, Fly Anglers Online, 2010.
- Deschaine, T. "Jack & Ann Schweigert: A Michigan Legend." Fly Anglers Online, 2010.
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.