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.

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Mystery Fly Identified

Fran Betters original "Picket Finn"

Well the mystery fly has been identified. After searching the net and asking a few anglers and fly tyers I was able to nail it down. The answer came from someone who was very close to Fran, it was Jan Betters, his wife.

I sent an email to her along with a photo and she responded quickly. She told me it was one of Frans favorites. Well I guess I should tell you the name. It's called a "Picket Finn"

Mark tied up a few similar to it and we tried them out Saturday.. The second cast I made a brook trout hit and was on. Although I lost him it was a good start. In that same pool I hooked 2 more, and in a stretch of riffles I hooked another. The fly works. The only problem was the bead may have been a bit to heavy, and working the fly was difficult in the small stream.

Marks BH Variation

I sat at the bench with the materials shown here and tied up a few variants of my own. Different body dubbings, wing materials, and some with hackle. The flies are not weighted and should ride in the stream a little better.

My variations of the Picket Finn

I'll give these a workout soon and let you know how they worked.

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