The other night Paul and I had a conversation in the Chat Lounge about his upcoming trip to the Au Sable Rivers this week and it got me thinking about
fishing those sweet tea colored waters in the spring as the Hendrickson's fade into the Sulphur's. Those are special waters and this seemed like a
very fitting FLY OF THE WEEK.
This is the famous (at least here) Bob Smock Sulphur. Just like Cameron, Bob was my fly tying inspiration. Bob had a shop in his garage in the middle of
Grayling. Bob Smock was the last of the real old timers still tying flies in Grayling. Unfortunately Bob passed about two years ago but he was still tying four
dozen flies a day even in his last few weeks.
Hanging out at Bob's shop before fishing was a ritual for me for years. He could tell stories all day. Bob actually fished with Clarence Roberts (Roberts Yellow Drake), Earl Madsen, Ernie Borcher, and fished with and worked for Fred Bear. The most distinctive component of this fly is the dirty orange hackle. Bob was very generous with his knowledge and was happy to give me the recipe. He said "just dump two packs of Rit Tangerine in a pot of hot water, add a cup of Vinegar and throw in three or four necks and leave 'em for fifteen minutes."
This fly was developed for fishing on the South Branch of the Au Sable river. If you have ever been to the South Branch you know that it is always stained because of the iron content in the water. This iron in the stream bed turns the Sulphurs much more dirty orange than you find on other streams.
