The Ausable Wulff, and a Mystery

Dry fly hackle. Brown and grizzly dry fly hackle. This combination of color has produced some of the best dry flies ever cast upon water. This is about one of those best flies.

The Ausable Wulff was created by Fran Betters of Wilmington, N.Y. I'm not sure of the date, but it was perhaps around 1960. It's a fly that has the ability to attract trout, bring them to the surface and take it without hesitation. It's design enables it to float in swift turbulent fast waters and remain highly visible to the angler and fish. I fish this fly so very often on small streams and wild brookies and browns both accept. I like to think Fran created this fly for the small stream angler.

"Ausable Wulff"

The next fly, also a Betters creation is a bit of a mystery, that is to me.

Fran Betters "Mystery Fly"

I picked this fly up at Frans shop. It was there, looked interesting so I picked up a couple. The first time I fished it was the day after Christmas. It was in a small stream with some deep slow pools. Several casts and I was into a fish. I'd like to say that the first fish was a trout, but it was a "chub". I continued to fish the fly that day and had taken a few nice brookies with the fly. I had two of these flies, lost one so I won't fish the last one until I can get some more. Since the shop where I bought the fly is no longer there purchasing some is impossible, and I've never seen such a pattern in other shops or on the internet. Mark, over at "Fishing small streams" who is a wonderful fly tyer has said he would attempt to duplicate the fly.

So if any of the fine readers of this blog happen to know of the name of this fly I would love to know.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

A Sign and Some "Usual" Stuff

In my travels over the last week or so I have visited a few very interesting places. They are located in what many believe to be the birth place of fly fishing in America, and where the first dry fly was cast upon flowing waters. This is a sign showing the major hatches of a river system. It not only tells of the hatches, what times, etc. but has actual tied flies of each insect. I'm sorry the photo was not as good as it should have been. I'll tell more about this wonderful place in a future post.

Now on to some "Usual" stuff.

The Usual is one of Fran Betters classics. It's a fly that can be fished dry or as an emerger. It is tied with a few simple materials and is not difficult to tie. But the main selling point of this fly is that it's deadly.

The main ingredient of this fly is the snowshoe rabbit foot, Fran tied the entire fly just using this one
item. But a fly tyer named Matt Grobert over at "Caddis Chronicles" showed how he ties this fly using a couple different materials which produce an easier to tie fly and one thats just as deadly.

Matt uses a snowshoe rabbits foot for the wing, a few wood duck fibers for the tail, and a cream dubbing for the body. He chooses a tan thread, while I like orange.

This is my version of Matt Groberts version of Fran Betters "Usual".

These are some flies tied by Fran Betters. The "Usuals" are in the top right.

New Waters and Fran's Fly

This was one of those small streams that was on my list to fish. I had never fished it before, but my research said it held brook trout.
Upon arriving at the stream, I found access to be quite easy, with some very handy parking. I said to myself...to easy, and that proved to be right. It was to be an enjoyable outing fishing new and what was to be productive.

I had chosen to fish a favorite fly today, one that is special. The fly has been a success for me most times I've fished it. The fly is a creation of Adirondack fly fishing legend Fran Betters. The fly is tied in a simple rough and rustic fashion, common to many of Frans flies. The fly is the "Aussable Wulff". If you want a fly that floats well, has great visibility, and catches fish, then this is the fly for you.
On this day Frans fly worked its magic on the beautiful wild brook trout, that find their home in this free flowing freestone, small stream.

While parking was easy, fishing required some rough walking to access the good water.

While fishing, time is taken to enjoy the beauty along the stream.

The "Ausable Wulff" as tied by "Fran Betters". This fly was purchased by me in Frans shop in Wilmington, N.Y.

This my attempt at the Ausable Wulff.

And when you come upon a stream like this, and you present an Ausable Wulff, just right. One of natures most beautiful wild jewels will give you the opportunity to hold him.

A male wild brook trout.