modern Michigan dry fly · 1980s
Rusty's Spinner
Solid origin Tyer agrees across sources. The exact year is not confirmed.
History
Rusty Gates ran Gates Au Sable Lodge from 1983 and spent much of his life defending the river as the founding president of Anglers of the Au Sable. Fly Rod & Reel named him Angler of the Year in 1995 for that work.
His spinner covers several of the river's evening spinner falls. It is a different fly from the generic rusty spinner sold everywhere, which shares only the color.
Materials
| Hook | Dry, sizes 10 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Tail | Moose mane fibers |
| Body | Dark reddish-brown dyed deer hair, cross-ribbed |
| Wings | Grizzly hen hackle tips, three-quarter spent |
| Hackle | Brown and grizzly dry hackle, mixed |
| Thread | Dark brown 6/0 |
Sources
- Snell, M. B. "Angling for a Healthy River." Sierra, July/August 2006.
- Gates, R., Sodeman, B. & Greenberg, J. Seasons on the Au Sable.
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.