Anyone who has been reading this blog, or those who have fished with me know how much I respect the Ausable Bomber. Ever since I made a stop at Fran Betters shop many years ago and purchased a few of these flies they have been a part of my fly fishing life. Over the years they have produced more fish, trout, bass, and panfish than any fly I have used. In my opinion the "Bomber" is the greatest small stream brook trout fly ever. From Maine to Virginia brookies have fell to this fly. In every month of the year I have taken brookies on this fly. I can't know what was in Fran's mind when he came up with this fly, but I'm so happy he did.
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| Alistair's "Yorkshire Bomber" |
A fellow from the United Kingdom who's name is Alistair tied up some of these "Bomber's"...he gave them the name "Yorkshire Bombers"...I have been fishing these flies for awhile and guess what, Connecticut brookies like them.
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| Geoff Klane's "Lowell Bomber" |
My friend from Massachusetts gave me his version of a "Bomber" back in February when I met him at Red Brook. Geoff Klane did not name the fly but I did...I call it the "Lowell Bomber"
So my friends this fly now has international interest as well as interest here in New England...by the way I sent some of the Bombers to a fly fisher in Japan. The Yamame approved of them also.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteFran certainly hit upon a winning recipe when he came up with the Ausable Bomber as shown by taking salmonids from the America's to Europe to the Far-East! By the way, it has made my day that your trout like the 'Yorkshire Bomber'!
On another note, we have had plenty of rain this week here in the UK which has made the local rivers and streams fill up nicely, with a bit of luck, I may get chance to wet a line over the next few days.
Thanks
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair a group of us has pondered his thoughts on the bomber. I really can't figure it out but I'm sure glad he came up with it. I'm not to surprised as to the reception the bomber has had. It just looks like something a fish should eat.
Get out and fish mate.
I found found the Bomber here on the pages of SSR so thank you, Alan. Another fly of Mr.Betters, the Haystack, has been a small stream favorite of mine for many years. Nice to see you and Alistair have introduced an international flair to the Bomber.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike the Haystack is another one of Better's great creations. The man was an innovator and knew how to tie flies that fish would eat.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%. The Bomber and the Ausable Wulff are great flies. Virtually unsinkable, easy to see, and the Brookies just love them.
A must have.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe dropping a bomber into a plunge pool and watching it pop right up with a brookie right on it is amazing. That fly just finds fish.
Is this post about bombers?
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark you nailed it.
Are you fishing yet?
Next week we have a trip planned to a new lake and I'll be fishing.
DeleteMark that's great. It's been some time since your last outing. Good luck.
DeleteI think there just something extra special with body-hackled dries. In my area, I only need to fish caddis-wing style flies like the Charley, Charley Special,and Cutthroat Candy. One of these days I'll give a bomber a try. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Harding
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Matt there's a couple of patterns I'll have to research.
The bomber just might work on your coastal cutts.
Alan
ReplyDeleteWhat impresses me about this fly is the full body design and the indicator white hackle making it a killer fly. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill when Fran put this one together it had all of the attributes that a great fly should possess. Brown and grizzly hackle a key part of the bomber.
Alan, it was your wonderful posts over the years that got me started using the bomber and I love when you do it again, with a different twist. I also have started to exsperiment with different body colors of Australian opposum. The fly itself makes one of best indicator flies I've ever used. You can see it well and it floats like a cork, what more could you ask for. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad it's like watching a favorite movie over again.
I also vary the color of dubbing. There is one batch that featured a deep brown to it and it works very well. Your right about the bomber being a good indicator.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for yet another wonderful post about our dear friend, the Ausable Bomber! When you look at the finished fly, it seem like a bi-visable dry fly on steroids! But, there is something more than this! It has all the favorable characteristics that brookies seem to love and who are we to argue with the discriminating taste of the worlds favorite char?
I love to hear the story of your visit to Fran Betters shop and how you got started tying and fishing this great pattern!
From the den,
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug, I love the words "discriminating taste"...the brookies is all about unpretentious...
If I had only taken more time at those visits to write down what time seems to have clouded I could have told a few detailed stories. He was quite a man.