Wednesday, September 4, 2013

The Picket Finn.....thanks Fran and Mark

Marks version of Betters "Picket Finn"
Years ago while visiting the Adirondacks of New York I stopped in Wilmington and paid a visit to Fran Betters fly shop. There I purchased several flies, and one in particular that i never knew the name of. So I sent an email to Jan Betters, along with a photo of the fly and she responded with the name, the Picket Finn. I did a post on the fly and Mark over at "Fishing Small Streams" got the necessary materials and tied up a few for me. The first time I tried them back in January I hooked a brookie, and a chub. I put the fly in my box and there it stayed until the other day.

While fishing a new blue line, well a new section of a familiar blue line I took the Picket Finn out and gave it a try......it worked.

The new section of small stream. Lots of hemlocks, and tanic water.



While this stream had some deep pockets most of it was thin water. The fly had a beadhead and it brought the fly down fast, and that created lots of hangups. Perhaps Mark could tie a few without the bead.


When the fly was able to work without a hangup it produced some nice fish...even a few to hand.


One such pool that allowed the Picket Finn to work its magic.


A wild brookie and the Picket Finn. I have a few flies that were in Frans personal fly box. On my next outing to this stream I'm going to try them.


Saw these along the stream, don't know what they are but they are so pretty.


Click images to enlarge.

22 comments:

  1. the dappled sunlight hitting the stream is SO pretty! those blooms, too. :) (you know since i don't fish i have nothing cool to add about the lure or the catch. :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl'
      Thanks.
      I do appreciate your comments.

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing Alan, nice little stream and brookies, good looking fly as well!

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    Replies
    1. LQN,
      Thanks.
      A wonderful place, and the volume of brookies is awesome.

      Delete
  3. Did you ever wish our flies could talk? Excellent post.

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    Replies
    1. Howard,
      Thanks.
      They would scream bloody murder.

      Delete
  4. That is a beautiful pool there as you so wonderfully showed with your picture. I found it to be a mesmerizing shot. Yup, the Picket Pin, in various variations have managed many a good fish over the years.

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    Replies
    1. Mel Moore,
      Thanks.
      The simplicity of the fly is what I like, I guess the fish do also.

      Delete
  5. The more I see that fly the more I think I need to try it. It seems to be a hit with the brookies. Your white flower might be white snake root but Im not positive.

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    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      Give it a shot Chris. Thanks for the info on the snake root.

      Delete
  6. Another great outing Brk Trt..love the colors of the trout and your surroundings..

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    Replies
    1. penbayman,
      Thanks.
      It all seems to be coming together.

      Delete
  7. Nice going Alan ! I tried that fly two weekends above up in the Adirondacks and after taking a couple brookies on top with a Royal Wulff, I put the Fin on and hooked a handful more. I was definitely impressed. I've been fishing it without the bead or with a glass bead for small streams and it works very well without the excess wt; although the bead comes in handy for deep plunge pools. I wonder if it is so effective because it looks like a brook trout fin, which the old timers claim was a great "bait" for brook trout.

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      I will tie some up with out the bead. I think I have a few that you tied left.
      The Brook Fin.

      Delete
  8. Great looking fly. Keeping to the old adage - put orange on it and it will kill the brookies all day long.

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    Replies
    1. Joel D,
      Thanks.
      Old adages our never to be forgotten.

      Delete
  9. Your use of the Finn is deadly! Well done. A quick Google of snakeroot brings similar results.... including Abe Lincoln's mother, who possibly died from milk contaminated by snakeroot.

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    Replies
    1. Swamp Yankee,
      Thanks.
      Abe Lincolns mom. I've got to check that one out.

      Delete
  10. Awesome web site...great work.

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  11. Alan
    Have you tried the Finn on the Farmington? Tight lining this fly might be the ticket there. The colors on the fly are certainly an attractor. Thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I have not as of yet. It has been good on small streams.
      I plan on using it in Maine on our trip later this month.

      Delete