June 4, 2015 · 7:00 am

Bicolor Walker

Bicolor Walker - tied by Paul J. Beel

Bicolor Walker – tied by Paul J. Beel

The Brown Drake hatch is kicking off on the Au Sable River in Northern Michigan right now. Next to Hex, these are the largest mayflies seen in the area, so needless to say, anglers are excited and drooling at the sight of these bugs! To see a beautiful brown drake check out the photo below taken this week by North Branch Outing Club‘s guide Chris Lessway. It doesn’t get any better than that!

With Ralph Hanna really being a big influence on my Michigan dry fly tying, and with the brown drakes hatching, this is the perfect time to shine some light on Ralph’s most popular fly, the Bicolor Walker. This is a fly you can use if you are fishing the brown drake hatch. Be sure to read more about Mr. Hanna in a post I wrote a couple of years ago. You might be thinking about fishing a Borcher’s Drake, Roberts Yellow Drake, or a McClain’s Drake for this hatch and those are excellent choices. But maybe show the fish a little something different this time around and try a Bicolor Walker. I bet you’ll be glad you did.

Materials list:

Hook: Partridge H1A Size: 10-14 2XL
Thread: Black, 6/0
Tail: Pheasant Tail Fibers, tie in a ‘V’
Body: Reddish/Brown Yarn, tied with a tuft or loop at the end, that extends beyond the bend of the hook.
Body Wing: Brownish/Gray Deer Hair, tied trude, extended beyond the bend of the hook, tied sparse.
Throat Wing: White Hen Neck, tied spent
Hackle: Brown & Gray, mixed.
photo by Chris Lessway

photo by Chris Lessway

2 Comments

Filed under Michigan, Trout flies

2 Responses to Bicolor Walker

  1. Joe @ NTTF
    June 4, 2015 at 10:54 am

    I really like the McClain’s and this… they look buggy, and different. I need to start tying these. Thanks for putting the ‘bug’ in my ear.