In Michigan, Dennis has been using pearl tinsel on traditional fly bodies forclose to a dozen years,yielding effective patterns such as flashybodied ElkCaddis, etc. But like many, his favorite time ofyear is the Trico hatch ofsummer. And preferring dry fly fishing to all else, he stays topwater with hisspinners – even though it is a hard hatch, tough to draw strikes amidst the raftof naturals. But Dennisalways asked, What changes might make iteasier?

After much trial and error, the Pearl Butt Trico Spinner was born severalyears ago. The pearl flash was chosen to be noticed by the trout (and he isconvinced that this fly is frequently taken preferentially among a host ofnaturals); the Fluorescent Orange post is easily seen by the fisherman. Avery visual fly, and one of great beauty.

Spinner wings are zlon
Tails are Betts’ tailing fibers
The hook he feels is the final critical element, the TMC 2488. The only hookwith a wide enough gape to hook and hold large fish yet short enoughin the shank for a small body. (**Note: one thus gets a size 24 Trico by usinga size 22 hook)