Saturday, December 5, 2020

A Fran Better's Inspiration part 2

Ausable Wulff Parachute circa 11-2014

In November of 2014 I did a post on a fly I tied. The inspiration for the fly was Fran Betters. The fly was based on Frans fly the Ausable Wulff. The difference was it was tied parachute style. Now you regulars know that I have the most problems tying a parachute fly. For some reason they never turn out proper. But a messy tied fly using a group of materials that Fran used in his Ausable series of flies seem to be the ticket for this all thumbs tyer when it comes to parachutes. So I put together some woodchuck hair for a tail dubbed the orange thread with rusty Australian  Opossum a post of yellow calftail and some grizzly and brown hackle and turned out the Ausable Wulff parachute. That was 6 years ago....now for part two.


Ausable Wulff Parachute circa 11-2020
A week or so ago I tied up my second Ausable parachute. The same materials were used with exception of the wing post. This time I used white calftail instead of yellow. A side note here. The hook used for these flies is the Mustad 9671...this was Frans choice for the Ausable Wulff series.


Fishing a lovely stream in Eastern Connecticut I tied on the Ausable parachute and had a super day In fact it was the only fly I used that day. Honest truth here that fly did not stay on the water for very long before there was a rise and a take.


 


Both brookies and browns loved the parachute.


 


 

Who knew a sloppy tied fly could generate such interest...who Fran Betters that's who. We are experiencing a nor'easter today and you know what I will be tying?



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11 comments:

  1. BeaverdamDecember 5, 2020 at 4:24 PM

    Alan,
    Great looking fly. I wonder if Fran had any idea how successful his fly would be when he first created it.
    JJ

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    1. Brk TrtDecember 6, 2020 at 6:34 AM

      Beaverdam
      Thanks
      Joe I have wondered the same. Having created so many patterns that catch trout my thought is he knew what trout wanted...usual, haystack, mini muddler Ausable caddis..they will go on.

      Delete
  2. mikeDecember 5, 2020 at 5:09 PM

    I think your parachute is a fantastic looking fly, Alan. Fran certainly would approve. I think Fran's philosophy on flies is about like Bob Wyatt's: ain't nothing wrong with messy. I've always been a huge Fran Betters fan (and yours)

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    1. Brk TrtDecember 6, 2020 at 6:37 AM

      mike
      Thanks
      Mike Bob's statement rings true. The two times i had visited the shop in NY Fran gave me the impression he was thrilled when anyone tied is patterns, no matter what they looked like.

      Delete
  3. SteveDecember 6, 2020 at 2:51 AM

    G'Day Alan,
    Great looking fly and no doubt pretty visible on the water--an important quality for aging eyes! To me, a "messy" fly is often a "buggy" one. That last photo looked like that fly had taken a hammering but still catching trout.
    Kindest Regards,
    Steve.

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    1. Brk TrtDecember 6, 2020 at 6:42 AM

      Steve
      Thanks
      Steve those flies are buggy. One of Frans methods was to make sure you use enough thread wraps, make the fly secure. He said if tied the way he showed then that fly should be able to take a 100 trout without falling apart. He also stated that the flies longevity would be shortened if caught in the trees.

      Delete
  4. Bill TrussellDecember 6, 2020 at 4:15 PM

    Alan
    It has be satisfaction when you see the take and land the trout from a fly that you tied. I wish I had you talent on the vice! Thanks for sharing

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    1. Brk TrtDecember 7, 2020 at 7:25 AM

      Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill it's like the old baseball saying "hitting is for show and pitching is for dough"...The dry fly is a spectacular show but the wet fly is for the dough.

      Delete
  5. Mark KautzDecember 7, 2020 at 10:28 AM

    Man, I would fish that Ausable parachute in a heartbeat. Have to wait until next Spring. Upcountry is currently closed.

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    1. Brk TrtDecember 7, 2020 at 5:08 PM

      Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark I'm certain it would work in your neck of the woods. Hopefully by the spring we will have taken control of that virus.

      Delete
  6. trout7June 16, 2023 at 3:16 PM

    Very cool post! I finally framed some flies I bought years ago from Fran Betters at his shop in Lake Placid, including a parachute he tied!

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