classic Michigan dry fly · mid to late 1970s
Hopper Special
Unverified origin Only the archive card, which itself says Batchelder is the probable rather than certain originator.
History
The Hopper Special came out of the Kalamazoo area, and Tom Deschaine thought it most likely the work of C. L. Batchelder, the same tyer credited with the Killer Diller. He placed it in the mid to late 1970s.
It is a fussy tie, with knotted peacock-herl legs that are fragile and do not stand up to much casting.
Materials
| Hook | 4XL (Mustad 79580), sizes 10 to 12 |
|---|---|
| Thread | Black 6/0 |
| Tail | Mottled turkey |
| Body | Pale yellow-gray-green yarn |
| Rib | Grizzly hackle, palmered and clipped |
| Underwing | Yellow golden pheasant crest |
| Overwing | Mottled turkey |
| Legs | Peacock herl from the eye feathers, knotted for the joint |
| Hackle | Brown |
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.