The Bivisible first shows up in literature in 1926,
which certainly qualifies it as an 'old fly' - but it
is one still in use today and can be found in the major
fly catalogues. There are some differences in tying,
such as with or without a tail, in two-tones with the
white face, or in various other colors. However, here
is the original.
Quoting from Fly Patterns and Their Origins,
"The idea of the Bivisible and its apt name must certainly
be credited to Edward Ringwood Hewitt. (See Red Fox).
Mr. Hewitt in his Telling on the Trout, 1926, states:
"Dark colors are more visible to the trout
from below than light colors, and, therefore,
take more fish under most conditions and are
more generally used. They are often, however,
more difficult to see on the water than the
lighter flies. This is the reason for my favorite
design of fly which I call the Bi-Visible which
consists of a palmer-tied brown hackle on the head
of which is wound a small wisp of white hackle. The
white resting against the brown becomes very visible
in most lights to the angler; on the other hand, the
trout see the brown hackle from below better than
any other color used. This fly is by far the best
of any I have yet seen for all species of trout and
it is based on a sound physical principle."
In his A Trout and Salmon Fisherman for
Seventy-Five Years, 1948. Mr. Hewitt, in
mentioning a few flies that are the most taking, includes:
"The Brown Bivisible with the white wisp at its head,
which I myself introduced, although palmer flies
somewhat similar had been in use for many years in
England. The white wisp enables the angler to see
the fly readily, hence the name I gave it - Bivisible
because I can see it and the trout can see it. The fly
in various sizes is certainly the most universally useful
fly we have, and is perhaps more fished now than any
other dry fly. Palmer flies are made in various colors
and are called Bivisibles in tackle stores, but this
is incorrect. The true Bivisible is brown, with a white
wisp of feather at its head."
Credit for the Badger Bivisible goes to Charles Merrill
of Detroit, in his day reputed dean of Detroit fly tiers
and founder of the F.F.F.F. Club. Mr. Merrill died in
1940."
If you note the proportions of the fly shown at the top of this
article you will note the palmered hackles are even in length
across the length of the fly.
This fly (shown on the right) is from a 'popular' fly-tying
catalog. Note the unevenness of the hackle. The fly would
not float in the same manner as the preferred original tie.
Credits: Text from
Fly Patterns and Their Origins by
Harold Hinsdill Smedly. Top photo from
Basic Fly Tying, by Dick Talleur, second
photo (blue background) from Fly Patterns of Umpqua
Feather Merchant by Randall Kaufmann. We appreciate
use permission.
~ DLB
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