classic Michigan dry fly · 1920s to 1930s
Madsen's Hatching Caddis
Likely origin Tyer agrees across sources; the date and the parallel-body credit vary.
History
The name says caddis, but this is a drake fly, fished after dark during the Hex and brown drake hatches.
Madsen and Clarence Roberts are both credited with pioneering the deer-hair body tied parallel to the hook, the method behind most Michigan drake patterns. The date is uncertain: sources place the fly anywhere from the 1920s to the late 1930s.
Materials
| Hook | 2X long, sizes 2 to 8 |
|---|---|
| Tail | Pheasant-tail fibers |
| Post | White deer body hair |
| Body | Brown deer hair, tied parallel to the shank and cross-ribbed |
| Hackle | Brown dry hackle, oversized |
| Thread | Yellow 3/0 |
Sources
- Deschaine, T. "Madsen's Hatching Caddis." Fly of the Week, Fly Anglers Online.
- Darkes, J. "Tie One On: Grayling, Michigan Style." Fly Tyer, 2022.
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.