World Record Brown, Mayflies in Michigan, Attractor Elements of Good Fly Design

June 29, 2012 By: Erin Block

  • The International Game Fish Association has certified a 38-inch brown trout caught by Eric Haataja in Milwaukee’s harbor as a world record in the all tackle length division, which requires that the fish “be measured by anglers at the site of capture and released so that it swims away on their own and in good condition.”
  • Mayflies have arrived in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. And despite the fact that they’re known locally as “fish flies” for the stench they give off when they die; they’re celebrated with an annual festival and lauded as indicators for the health of the watershed, as well as being a favorite hatch of the fly angler.
  • Learning what design elements are better attractors than others in fly patterns will help with your success on the water. “Complexity helps trout decide if they’re going to end up with a meal or a mouth full of algae,” writes Jason Klass of Tenkara USA. Add a few of his suggestions to your patterns and help entice a few more trout to hand.