modern Michigan wet fly · date unknown
Hubbard's Swinging Smolt
Likely origin Only the tyer's own account (on the Outfitters North guide site); Hatch Outdoors confirms his Michigan base.
History
Pere Marquette guide Jeff Hubbard tied this small streamer to swing to resident trout and late steelhead in spring, when king salmon fry and smolts are moving downstream. In his write-up he says he worked out the method over two springs with light switch rods and short Scout heads, finding that the slow swing drew more grabs in cold water than stripping.
Materials
| Hook | Daiichi 1750, size 4 |
|---|---|
| Tail | Two soft grizzly hackles, tied Matuka-style off the back |
| Body | Green caddis Ice Dub, built up into a shoulder |
| Wing | White Arctic fox, reverse-tied and pulled back over the shoulder, with a strand of pearl lateral scale each side |
| Collar | Natural mallard flank tip, palmered |
| Eyes | Medium silver bead chain |
| Head | Laser Dub (silver minnow), trimmed to shape |
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.