modern Michigan dry fly · early 2000s
Opal & Elk Caddis
Also called Pearl & Elk Caddis
Solid origin Potter describes the fly as his own in print.
History
Dennis Potter's take on Al Troth's Elk Hair Caddis swaps the dubbed body for flashy opal tinsel. An earlier version used pearl tinsel.
Potter has tied since 1977, runs Riverhouse Fly Company, designs flies for Umpqua, and was a master artist in the Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program in 2002.
Materials
| Hook | Standard dry, sizes 12 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Thread | 50-denier gel-spun (GSP) |
| Rib | Fine gold wire |
| Body | Opal tinsel |
| Hackle | Dun or grizzly dry hackle, one size small, palmered |
| Wing and head | Elk hair, flared |
Sources
- Potter, D. "A Tale of Two Caddisflies." Fly Tyer, 2021.
- Graham, L. "Artisans of Michigan: Angler hooked on tying flies." Michigan Public, 2017.
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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.