Kelly Galloup’s take on Mike Mercer’s Missing Link. This version, with the deer hair body cross-wrapped with thread, shows the influence of fellow, earlier Michigan tiers - the Lacey Stephan, Kraimer’s Tilt-Shoot, among others.
Hackle fiber tail, biot bodied versions can also be used for anything from BWOs to Drakes.
hook - Dai Riki 320 #12
thread - UTC 140 tan
tail - pheasant tail
rib - tying thread
abdomen - deer hair
thorax - dubbing tan
underwing - Congo Hair dun
wing - deer hair
Part 1
mash barb, start thread at 2/3 mark, wrap to point above barb
strip off/even tips on a few pheasant tail fibers; measure (hook length), tie in/trim butts
clean, stack, measure (gap width past barb) a small clump of deer hair; 2 soft loops, slowly apply/release/apply tension and let the hair surround the hook shank
spiral rib to the bend, then a couple tight wraps to flare the tips; return crossing wraps to 2/3 mark, tie off, trim, smooth with thread
Interesting pattern although at first blush, does appear to be nearly as versatile as Mercer’s pattern, which is a sort of a general attractor that could be a mayfly, caddis, or midge. This one is definitely more caddis-ish than anything else, as does they “mayfly” variant on Kelly’s site. Bet if floats like a cork, however.
Nice tie, as always, Scott.
P.S. Oddly enough, your tie looks a heck of a lot better than the ones on the Slide Inn site. To my eye anyway. Many thanks for the wonderful patterns.
I really like the Missing Link as general, all purpose dry fly. Going to have to try this variation. Adding the deer hair body and dropping the hackle both seem like good variations.
This is the same body structure as the Robert’s Drake May Fly pattern. Other than that and the tail, it has characteristics of a caddis with the down wing. Maybe the fish don’t care.
