classic Michigan dry fly · 1950s
Herring Drake
Unverified origin Deschaine's two columns are the only sources, and the second one doubts that Ann Schweigert originated any pattern; the credit rests on unnamed earlier publications.
History
A deer-hair mayfly built for lake whitefish, which Michigan anglers have long called "herring," hence the name. Whitefish in deep inland lakes come up to mayflies in summer, and the fly is tied on an upturned hook, a rare choice for a dry fly. Tom Deschaine came across it while researching another column and credited it to Ann Schweigert of Roscommon in the 1950s.
That credit is weak. In his profile of Jack and Ann Schweigert, Deschaine himself wrote that publications had been too generous in giving Ann credit for patterns, that she was never quoted claiming one, and that the Michigan fly historian Jerry Regan, who knew her, saw no sign she originated any fly. He also noted that the Herring Drake looks much like Roberts' Yellow Drake apart from a yellow silk rib.
Materials
| Hook | Mustad 94831 (3XL), sizes 6 to 10, tied point up |
|---|---|
| Thread | Yellow 6/0 |
| Tail | Three or four pheasant tail fibers |
| Body | Natural deer body hair |
| Rib | Yellow thread (silk in Deschaine's 2010 Schweigert profile) |
| Wing | Deer hair butts |
| Hackle | Grizzly or brown |
Sources
- Deschaine, T. "Herring Drake." Fly of the Week, Fly Anglers Online, December 20, 2010 (reposted May 31, 2014).
- Deschaine, T. "Jack & Ann Schweigert: A Michigan Legend." Fly Anglers Online, August 30, 2010.
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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.