What are the white flies that are supposed to be prevelant in Michigan during the fish-in?? Is there a pattern to tie from?
It is the ephoron mayfly. I use a size 14 all white mayfly pattern and spinner pattern. Another option is to carry some cream varients which will do for both. Unless they run a little earlier on the Au Sable than they do down here the hatch will just be starting and not the blizzard of White mayflies that occurs near the end of the month.
I like a white wulff for that hatch in a size 12. Also one thing to remember is that the WHite Fly is unique in that it doesn’t have a dun stage in it’s life cycle, it emerges as a spinner.
OLB The whitefly does have a dun stage it is just very short with maturation often occuring within minutes of emergence. That is based on Hatches II as I haven’t tried to catch any and observe the process.
Yup you’re right :oops: Pulled out Hatches II, “The male moults into a spinner immediately after hatching,the female does not moult ino a spinner at all.”
Betty;
My chart show, White Fly size 12 - 14. And, White Miller Caddis size 14 - 16. Now I’ve got to find out the differance!!
Seem to be fairly large flies! I keep thinking of the little white flies in Arizona … 50 could fit on a dime.
Jack, what’s a white miller caddis?!?
:? &
Betty;
I’m going to have to do a Google Search for it!
Capt. Tony sent me a receipe for a beetle that he’s had good luck with.
16 Dry Fly hook
peacock hurl body
2 white CDC feathers tied over the back
Hi Vis White tied over that.
The CDC must look like little legs when floating in the surface.
Hi Betty,
Not sure what the pattern would be, but when I was growing up in Nova Scotia small white moths were called Millers. Here’s what I use as an immitation:
Tail: white fibers
body: white wool
rib : silver wire
hackel : grizzle, palmed up the body
wings : white slips tied in wet fly style
throat: black fibers (or a few strands of peacock sword looks good)
This is what I call a “white invicta”, as the construction is basically an Invicta, only changing the colour of the materials.
We used to fish a small wet fly, which was called a white miller, that pattern was simply:
Tail: white fibers
body: white floss
rib : silver wire/tinsel
wing: white slips (wet fly style)
throat: white fibers.
I like the “white Invicta” though, as I think the palmered hackle gives more movement. However, the latter does allow one to tie smaller sizes.
- Jeff
Betty are you going to the Michigan Fish In? Just wondering? Ron
Betty and her hubby are scheduled to attend, check the “Going List” :lol:
Hi Betty,
I know you fish soft hackles, so you could try a white bodied spider as well (maybe use a pale grizzle hen hackle, or a white partridge hackle).
For a dry fly, I would just substitute a dry fly hackle on the wet fly White Miller above (probably would just use a grizzle). Perhaps a change in the wing to a tent style would look more “moth like”?
- Jeff
:shock: I wonder if the C-clamp for my vise will fit the open door of the glove box in the car!! I’ll be tying all the way to Michigan!!
Well, you know where I’ll be today!! And tomorrow, and …
My Dad used to have this thing he’d say about a camel is a committee’s idea of what a horse is …
I took suggestions from many of the responses to this thread, and keeping in mind I’ve never seen a white fly!, I came up with this …
S’pose it’ll work? :shock:
Hi Betty,
I think you’ve recoverd the horse from the camel! Nice fly.
- Jeff
Thank’s Betty. I don’t think mine will look that good though!
Betty, what wing material is that? Very nice looking fly. Have you used the wing material before? Could it helicopter?
Ducksterman,
The wing material is MFC Wing Material from the Montana Fly company. Comes in 6 different colors, and can be cut easily with the wing cutters they make. I use it quite a bit, for caddis, mayfly, hoppers, and stonefly (anywhere you’d use turkey feathers), and have never had a problem with helicoptering.
Betty
Hey Betty,
Beautiful fly! Just a word of warning about tying on the road. Air bags
inflate about 200mph.G While it would undoubtedly be original, a vise
as a belly button ornament might smart. :lol: Do be careful. Warm
regards, Jim
Betty, i’ve done very well in this part of the world, with a white “Usual” or white parachute for the white mayflys. I’ve also found that using a light cahill wet can be very productive.