"Big River Reflections"

Rangeley River

You have the right blog. "Big River Reflections"

While my love for fishing small streams is first, there are times when I'll string up my 5wt and fish some big water. My attack plan on these rivers is about the same as on little ones. I pick a very small section that's likely to hold fish and fire away. The rivers shown here are from Western Maine, and Northern New Hampshire.

The upper Connecticut River in New Hampshire

This section of the Connecticut River is located in Pittsburg New Hampshire.

The Magalloway

These next two photos are of the Magalloway in Western Maine. The first shows a gentle flowing stretch where I have taken salmon and brook trout. I love fishing streamers here in the fall.

The Magalloway

This section of the Magalloway is located downstream from the Aziscohos dam. It's quite turbulent, but will hold some nice salmon in the pockets. Care is needed in here.

The Androscoggin River

The Androscoggin River located in northern New Hampshire. Big water that has a great fishery. Brook, brown, rainbow and salmon can be caught in this river. These photos are of the river near Errol, N.H.

The Androscoggin River

In a follow up post I'll show some of the fly patterns fished on these rivers.

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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Winter Brookies, Dry Flies, and An Old Friend

Thursday morning was still frosty as I made my way to the little blue thread I was going to fish today. The sun as it worked its magic soon had me feeling good. Funny how in January, sunshine and 4 degrees can make a big difference. While walking to the stream I was assaulted by its protectorate "nasty bull thorns", these will rip ones unprotected parts to shreds, not to mention total destruction of clothing.

As I neared the water I noticed many small stoneflies on the snow. I tied on a small Adams parachute and worked the stream. I was nott given much of a response, and continued on. Reaching a tail end to a riffle I observed a rise. This happened a few times. I watched a brook trout who was in approximately 4 inches of water rise and gobble up something. I flipped the parachute towards the bank and as it floated over the spot where the fish lay he rose and took the fly. Moments later the brookie was at hand. As I attempted to take his picture we departed.

Thorns, what better trout protector.

I fished along the stream, bringing a few more to the surface and enjoying the fact that I was fishing dry flies in January. I could only imagine if I knew how to fish a nymph.

I came to this pool and observed several rising fish. One problem, the obnoxious current of the pool. Trying to drift a fly to where the fish were was hard. By the way if you look you can see 2 trout lying in the current.

Well in time I was able to get the fly in position, and when I did the trout came up and took the fly.

When hooked he headed for the only obstruction in the pool, luckily I was able to change his direction. Soon I placed my hand under his belly and lifted him up to admire him. Looking closely the brookie looked "very familiar". He was the same trout I had taken on New Years eve on a EH caddis.

This time a "Adams Parachute"

You can see his photo in my post The Last Brook Trout Of 2012....Catch and Release does work.

These little egg dropper are what they were eating

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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.

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