classic Michigan dry fly · c. 1948
Bicolor Walker
Also called Hanna's Brown Drake, Biwalker
Likely origin One public source credits Hanna and gives the recipe, but the date and the reported misattribution are unconfirmed.
History
Ralph Hanna tied the Bicolor Walker for the brown drake, the big mayfly that hatches on Michigan rivers like the Au Sable just ahead of the Hex. Tyer Paul Beel calls it Hanna's most popular fly and counts Hanna as a strong influence on Michigan dry fly tying.
The fly combines two ideas. A sparse deer-hair wing lies flat along the back, and white hen wings stick out to the sides like a spent spinner. A yarn loop past the bend suggests the long abdomen of the drake.
The 1948 date, the other names and reports that the fly has been credited to other Michigan tyers all come from the Michigan Dry Flies archive and have not been checked against a public source.
Materials
| Hook | Dry, 2XL, sizes 10 to 14 |
|---|---|
| Thread | Black 6/0 |
| Tail | Pheasant tail fibers split into a V |
| Body | Reddish-brown yarn, with a short loop left sticking out past the bend |
| Body wing | Sparse brownish-gray deer hair tied flat, trude style, reaching past the bend |
| Spent wing | White hen hackle tied out to the sides |
| Hackle | Brown and gray mixed |
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.