Clarence Roberts, the creator of this fly is no stranger to this site. Clarence was a famous fly tyer and game warden from Grayling, Michigan back in the 50s and 60s. Several articles have been written about him, and several of his fly patterns have also appeared on this site. Today I give you a relatively unknown pattern that he created

Midge (Diptera) undergo a complete metamorphosis like caddis. Hence the term emerger, which we often use for mayfly hatch stage, may not be appropriate in the scientific and taxonomical senses.

However, for spring-creek anglers the term is commonly used. We mean:

1. Pupae that are ascending to and reaching almost the water surface
2.  Midge adults that are leaving (or struggling to leave) their pupal shucks.

While much of the time expended by fly fishers is directed at the species of fish that are considered more glamorous; trout, steelhead, salmon, bonefish, and permit, there are many other fish that provide angling opportunities for fly rod anglers. This recent book by Geoff Bernardo highlights many of the lesser known targets that are available for fly fishers.

This volume has already had high praise from such noted angler/historian as Paul Schullery author of American Flyfishing: A History and Dr. Andrew Herd author of the Fly along with Charles Jardine one of Great Britain's most accomplished anglers and authors. With accolades like these this volumes arrival was eagerly anticipated and once it arrive I jumped right into the text.

Ever since I can remember growing up along the limestone streams of Central Pennsylvania, my world and what was important involved trout. From the brook trout streams in and around my home, to the storied waters near State College and Carlisle where authors fawned over their merits and made all of us wish to wet a line. In the beginning any fish was worthy.

It was one of those days when there was not a chance to do many things. It had rained heavily the day before so there is no working in the garden. No chance to do any other yard work without messing up the yard. So the best thing to do was to head to a pond. I grabbed a rod and the Tenkara rod and headed out. I purposely headed for a pond that is close to the road, in case it started raining again. It was way too wet to try to drive into any ponds with the canoe.

The trophy fishing that is available to the angler fishing Lewis Lake and the Lewis Channel often over shadows the fact that these bodies of waters fish very well throughout the year and that during the months of summer there is excellent surface fishing, however this selection is about fishing streamer and therefore we will move into this subject manner immediately.

Grayling, Michigan is located in the middle of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, billed as the 'gateway to the north.' Located in the mid-west, the Au Sable River is truly one of America's greatest rivers. It is a world class trout stream with easy wading and dependable hatches. The watershed contains brook and rainbow trout but is best known for its world class brown trout fishing. Once a nucleus for the logging industry and later catering to the rich and famous for the now extinct 'grayling' it is still a fishing mecca for thousands of trout fishermen from most every country in the world many of whom come for our famous 'hex' hatch.

"Time it was and what a time it was, it was - a time of innocence, a time of confidences. Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph. Preserve your memories; they're all that's left you." [Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends]

It was late in the day as I drove slowly down the short dirt road to the small parking lot that bordered the river. After I got out of the car I walked slowly down to the edge of the water and looked downstream. The river ran straight down to a gently bend where it formed a deep pool against the log cribbing that lined the bank. On the near bank a large cedar log was firmly anchored to the bottom; a suitable place for an angler to sit and watch the water. I gathered myself together and returned to my car and assembled my gear.