I am an IT Professional in Lansing, Michigan. I was born and raised by a "dry fly fisherman" in Bigfork Montana. I spent my youth in the lakes and streams of the Flathead and Swan Valleys. My version of the Potts Hair flies is a journey of almost 45 years. The design is a mixture of George Grant, Franz Pott, and my own weaving technique. Over the years, our family has found no better fly for a variety of fish and conditions. Our favorite of the group will always be the "Lady Mite" followed closely by the "Sandy Mite".

Woven hair hackle flies were a favorite of my father who in the late 70's enlisted my brother and I to learn how to tie them. We read the Grant booklets and started tying his patterns. After dissecting many old and worn out flies my father reluctantly let me have, I was able to develop the hackle that gave me the look I wanted...though it is not exactly the same as Mr. Pott's creation, it is close and it has server me well over the years.

/fragments/Flies/Robert-Biggar/up-ztk2021-04-12-12.18.40ZSDMap_Lady-mite
Biggar Lady Mite
These flies have proven themselves (just for our family) in 8 states and at least as many varieties of fish They are effective in wide slow rivers , ponds, lakes, fast rivers, and small streams. They are incredibly resilient due to their construction and materials, and in some cases, after a day of catching fish; the woven body will become "fuzzy" because the hairs stand out when the teeth cut them...sometimes we noticed these flies worked better.

Franz Potts started this tradition in the 30s, I picked it up in the late 70s. These are truly remarkable designs, but the important part is that they work wel